Town Hall Q&A: Zdeno Chara

BostonBruins.com -Bruins captain Zdeno Chara joined season ticket holders from his home in Florida on Tuesday morning for a virtual town hall to discuss a number of topics, including how he's staying in shape during the NHL's pause, as well as how the team is keeping in touch throughout this uncertain time. Here's a recap:

ON THE PAUSE

What have you done to communicate with the team during the pause?

It was quite challenging early on. After we got postponed, I think everybody was in a situation of unknown waters. We were listening to the news, we were kind of waiting to see what we were gonna be able to do as a team, as individuals. Would we be able to stay in Boston? Could we leave? And after four or five weeks, I realized we haven't really talked that much. We had a few exchanges through text messages as a group but nothing from that point. The last two or three weeks, regularly, we've been doing some Zoom calls and trying to see each other, talk to each other, stay connected and keep ourselves updated. It's been a lot of fun.

What have you done to stay in shape during this time?

It's a little challenging right now, as you guys can imagine and you guys know. All the practices facilities, all the rinks, gyms are closed. You have to kind of use your imagination and be creative. I've been able to move to Florida. I have a few free weights, bikes, rubber bands, all the fitness equipment that I have in my house available. I can only do it outside. It's nice and sunny, gets a little hot, but also get pretty tanned up. Other than that, I can't complain. It's been challenging, but trying to do my best to be ready.

How long do you think you'd have to train on the ice to get ready for games?

We are so used to skating, even in the summer months. Personally for myself, I start skating somewhat in mid-July and then I skate through August, three times, sometimes four times a week and then pretty much every day or every other day in early September. Then once training camp starts, we are on the ice everyday. I don't know how long it's gonna take if we get into it pretty frequently every day. My guess is that it has to be at least three, four weeks until we actually start feeling comfortable and going back to the routines and feeling like we are picking up the pace and feeling like we are connected on the ice again.

When and if the season resumes, would you prefer regular-season games first or head right into the playoffs?

It's a tough question. I think that the league and the NHLPA are trying to work it out. I think they almost talk daily and try to figure out the best scenario, the best options for the teams who were actually pretty secure in playoff positions, but also for the teams that were on the edge of making the playoffs. Whether we are gonna play regular-season games or are we gonna jump right into some sort of a playoff format, it's still unknown. I just prefer to play hockey, to be honest with you. Whether it's jumping into the playoffs or playing some sort of games to get ready for the playoffs, you've just got to go with the flow.

What would it be like to possible play in empty arenas?

That's what it's gonna be if we start, that's for sure. We won't be able to have fans in the stands, but it will kind of bring memories from back years when we played as kids. We didn't really have any fans in the stands. I know that once I came over to play juniors in the Western Hockey League, I was amazed - 5, 6, 10,000 fans watching games. But back home we didn't have that many fans at all. Definitely it's going to be something different, something we're gonna have to get used to. But I guess that's the only way we can continue to play at this point.

ON HIS CAREER

What did it mean to you to get a standing ovation before Game 5 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final after breaking your jaw?

I was just happy that I was able to get on the ice and be ready. I think that all the doctors, surgeons, did an amazing job to get me ready in less than 48 hours. It took like 30-something hours from the surgery to when I suited up for Game 5. It was absolutely amazing coming from the fans. I felt a very special feeling. That kind of reception and appreciation, I don't take it for granted. It was very amazing. It's something that I will never forget. It just shows how much people care about hockey, players, their health. I was just trying to help my teammates and do my best out there in a such a short span after the surgery.

What have you learned over yours years as a captain about what it takes to lead a team?

I think that early on in my captaincy years, I tried to take everything up on my shoulders and tried to do a lot out there and everywhere. Took a lot of pressure on myself. It was challenging times. The team was going through some changes, some rebuilds, if you want to call it that. We got a new general manger [Peter Chiarelli], new coaching staff [headed by Dave Lewis]. Shortly after the first season, we again got new coaches [Claude Julien]. Players were coming in, players were leaving. There were a lot of different pieces in and out. Everything was a little bit challenging.

As the time went on, you started to realize that you have to share that leadership as much as possible. We started getting more experience and more experienced players with winning Stanley Cups. It really helped me to become a better captain, to have my teammates along with me. It's just one of those things that you have to accept certain situations and go with it. Use your instincts, use your guys making the best decisions for the team, and try to be yourself, never thinking of yourself anymore or less than any other player and try to do the best for the team.

What is your favorite thing about being captain of the Bruins?

My favorite thing about being a captain is being just a regular guy. Being with the guys, seeing them everyday in the morning, to see how they go on with their lives, going through some ups and downs together. Being a friend, being a teammate, it's always very important to me...helping younger players adapt to the game the best I can from my experiences. I just love the game and I don't think it's that much to do with the captaincy, it's just to be there for my teammates any way I can. I have a lot of love and passion for the game.

Is there a player that you've played against that stands out from over the years?

It's hard to pick…if I have to pick a player who, in my opinon, was very unpredictable in every way was Pavel Datsyuk. Pavel was a player who played the game the right way. I can't say enough about the way he played. He played hard. If he needed to be, he was strong. If the team needed, he went to the front of the net. Obviously his skill assets were above 99.9% of the players in the league. You can't really find that many players with so many weapons.

From playing on the same team the last 15 years, obviously Patrice [Bergeron] is one of those guys I don't get to play against in the games, but in practices he's always competing, always doing the right things on the ice. That's another players that I think if I played against, definitely would be ranked among the top.

ON THE BRUINS

How much pride do you take in seeing how Brandon Carlo and Charlie McAvoy have developed?

I can't take all the credit. First credit has to go to the guys, they work hard, they want to learn, they do an amazing job on a daily basis. They are obviously great players. Both of them made unbelievable improvements. I'm just trying to do my job and support them, help them out as much as I can in certain situations that I can. But the rest of it is let them play and be their own players. Again, I can't take full credit for that. There are different players and different teammates, coaches, that are doing an amazing job with them. I'm just trying to do my part and be supportive and help them out.

What kind of a legacy did the 1970 Bruins leave on the organization?

Huge congrats to all the players from the 1970 Stanley Cup champions. It was unbelievable to see some highlights and celebration. I think what it says for us as a team, as a club, it's a certain standard, it's a certain culture. We as players try to follow footsteps that these guys created for us. Thanks to them, we have huge motivation and inspiration to play better and try to win like we did in 2011.