Several noteworthy free agents remain on the market with NHL hockey likely to resume midway through January, but none with a resume as impressive as 43-year-old Zdeno Chara.
Though it is more likely that Chara re-signs with the Bruins than with anyone else at this stage of his career, there's still another option for the 1,553-game NHL veteran. He may just elect to retire from the game, having accomplished just about everything that one can achieve at the highest level.
The Toronto Sun's Steve Simmons has suggested that Chara has held off on making a decision regarding his NHL future due to his desire to review the full range of details in the NHL/NHLPA's Return to Play plan.
As you could imagine, at 43, Chara likely has no desire to live his life in a bubble - and perhaps the idea of temporary changes to divisions or a hectic condensed schedule are things that Chara would rather avoid at this stage in sure-fire Hall of Fame career.
Chara was drafted in the 3rd round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft (56th overall) by the New York Islanders, with whom he played four seasons prior to being traded to the Ottawa Senators in what was one of the more lopsided trades in Sens history.
In 2006, Chara signed a five-year deal with the Bruins as a free agent and was subsequently named captain of the club. In his 1,553 NHL games, Chara amassed 656 career NHL points and 1956 PIMs. In addition, 70 points in 195 playoff games, winning a Norris Trophy in 2008-09 and culminating in a Stanley Cup championship with the Bruins in 2010-11.
Whether Chara chooses to return to action or not for the 2020-21 season, I have no doubt that the Bruins organization will support the captain's decision wholeheartedly after the career he has had in Boston.
