09/18/2021 at 11:56am EDT
via Steven Ellis of The Hockey News,
Big Z is heading home.
According to ESPN's Kevin Weekes, Zdeno Chara is returning to the New York Islanders on a one-year contract.
Chara, 44, began his career with the Islanders in 1997-98, spending four seasons with the team before getting traded to Ottawa in 2001 in a deal that sent Alexei Yashin to Long Island.
Chara played 55 of 56 games for Washington last season, recording two goals and 10 points in a reduced role for the team. Chara spent 14 years with the Boston Bruins before that, serving as captain for the entirety of his tenure while winning a Stanley Cup and a Norris Trophy.
added 11:59am, NYI release is below.
The New York Islanders have agreed to terms with defenseman Zdeno Chara on a one-year contract.
Chara has played 1,608 NHL games, recording 666 points (207 goals, 459 assists) with the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators and Islanders. The Trencin, Slovakia native was originally drafted by the Islanders in the third round (56th overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.
Prior to joining Washington for the 2020-21 season, Chara served as the captain of the Boston Bruins for 14 seasons. Among active NHL players, Chara ranks first in plus/minus (+293), penalty minutes (2,000) and second in games played (1,608). His 481 points with the Bruins (148 goals, 333 assists) ranks third among defensemen in Boston team history, behind Hall of Famers Ray Bourque (1,506) and Bobby Orr (888). He won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman in 2008-09 after recording a career-high 19 goals and 31 assists in 80 games with Boston. He was the recipient of the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2010-11 for his exemplary leadership both on and off the ice. He is a six-time NHL All-Star (2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2011-12) and recipient of the Golden Puck as Slovakia's Player of the Year three times (2008-09, 2010-11, 2011-12).
Chara won the Stanley Cup with Boston in 2011, becoming the second European-born captain to win the Stanley Cup (Nicklas Lidstrom) and the first and currently only from Slovakia. Chara has recorded 70 points (18 goals, 52 assists) in 200 career playoff games, the most games played among active defensemen.
Chara has represented Slovakia in international play on several occasions, including three Olympics (2006, 2010, 2014). He served as alternate captain for Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, scoring two goals in six games to help the team to a second-place finish at the tournament.
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