Longtime Bruins Captain Zdeno Chara Reportedly Signs With Capitals

The Boston Bruins will reportedly select a new captain for the first time in 14 years during the upcoming season.

Veteran defenseman Zdeno Chara has agreed to terms with the Washington Capitals, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced on Wednesday via the team's official website.

"We are extremely pleased to have Zdeno join the Capitals organization," MacLellan said. "We feel his experience and leadership will strengthen our blueline and our team."

Chara was the longest-tenured captain in the NHL, having earned the "C" from the Bruins after signing with the franchise as a free agent in 2006. The 43-year-old recorded 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists,) registered 3:11 of penalty kill time and recorded 101 blocked shots in 68 games during his final season in Boston.

Chara, a native of Trencin, Slovakia, is the tallest player in NHL history, standing at 6'9," 250 lbs. He enters his 23rd season ranking first in plus/minus (+288,) time on ice (37,128:55,) penalty minutes (1,956,) third in games played (1,553) and ninth in shots (3,271.)
Chara is also one of six Bruins players to appear in at least 1,000 games (1,023) and ranks third among Bruins defensemen with 481 points (148 goals, 333 assists,) trailing only Hockey Hall of Famers Ray Bourque (1,506) and Bobby Orr (888.)

Chara also captained the Bruins' most recent Stanley Cup championship team in 2010-11, as well as three Eastern Conference championship teams (2010-11, 2012-13, 2018-19.) The defensemen also played for the Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders -- who drafted him 56th overall in the 1996 NHL Draft -- prior to joining the Bruins in 2006.

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