Zdeno Chara: No More Looking Back For The Boston Bruins
Ristuccia Arena was once again home to the Boston Bruins as the Black and Gold began their informal practices today. Monday’s captain’s practice found nine Bruins (and one borrowed ECHL goaltender) gearing up for their first day of group practice since the end of last season. The captain’s practice wouldn’t be complete without the B’s captain, and Zdeno Chara didn’t disappoint.
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The 38-year old Chara took the ice with a mixture of old and new Bruins. Veterans like Dennis Seidenberg and Patrice Bergeron lined up with Bruins newcomers Zac Rinaldo and Matt Beleskey. The Bruins know what is expected of them, and they’re going to do everything in their power to exorcise the demons of last year’s disappointing season.
Zdeno Chara has spent seventeen years in the league. Last year was a rough year for the big Slovak, who put up only twenty points (eight goals) last season. For him, the focus is on moving ahead with the 2015-16 season. He’s already prepared to fix the mistakes of last season and hit the ice with new determination in October.
“I don’t want to go back too much to last year,” said Chara when asked about his thoughts of last season. “I think the most frequent word that came out of last season was inconsistency, and that’s what we have to work on. We have to make sure we play with that consistency, and not experience those ups and downs like last year.”
Those ups and downs proved fatal to the B’s season last year. The Bruins ended up missing the playoffs for the first-time in the tenure of head coach Claude Julien. The Bruins inconsistencies led the organization to go in new directions. They replaced Peter Chiarelli with Don Sweeney, and made roster moves that both pleased and infuriated the fan base.
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This season the Boston Bruins have a new look. It’s the biggest single season roster turnover since the Bruins won the Cup in 2011. They’ve picked up enough new players to change the dynamic for the Black and Gold. Time will tell if the new look of the Bruins will pay dividends. All in all, Chara understands that change is inevitable and is ready to push forward with his new teammates.
“It’s tough to see guys being gone, but at the same time we all knew management announced that they were going to make changes,” said the B’s captain on the team’s new look. “They were gonna try to improve the team. Anytime they make changes you have to go with it, and that’s the way it goes.
“[Roster changes] are part of sports, and the jobs that we have. It’s something that we’re all used to, and that come with the territory.”