Rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy has made all of the headlines this season and deservedly so, the 20-year-old has been everything the Bruins hoped he would be and more.
McAvoy has been awesome, but let’s not overlook how awesome Zdeno Chara has been despite being 40-years-old.
The team’s defensive depth may have become much greater than in the past, but Chara is still the leader of this blue line and has been their best defensive player. The veteran has been a great leader for this up and coming defense, but he’s also been lighting up the stat sheet himself.
Chara is +27 on the ice which is tied with William Karlsson for the best plus-minus in the entire NHL. Let that sink in for a second, a 40-year-old has the best plus-minus in the league. That’s pretty impressive.
He has also been able to get involved on offense with 14 points thus far on the season. The ageless wonder also leads the Bruins in time on ice per game with 23:22.
Chara may not have many elite years left in him, so Bruins fans should appreciate his level of play while it still lasts.
One Response
Fact is, Chara has made a ton of bad passes out of his zone. He’s tripped over his own skates, tumbled at center ice and left an embarrassing lane to the net…leading to a goal. Chara’s been pretty good for 40 year old. But his game has been supported by the best rookie d-man to hit the league in a long time. Every bit as much as Chara’s presence helps McAvoy, McAvoy helps Chara.
I like Chara’s game at 40. Don’t get me wrong. But he’s hardly “elite” any more. or he’d have been chosen for the AllStar game, and he’d be a Norris candidate. A thought that’s close to laughable at this point in his career.
Chara’s a great dman. Still, even at this late stage. But don’t insult his legacy, the greatness that was Chara at his peak, by suggesting he’s still an “elite” defenseman. He may still defend against the best in the league…but he’s lost a step or five…and without fresh legs to back him up, we might be talking about forced retirement about now.