Zdeno Chara is going right back where he started from. 

On Saturday afternoon, the Islanders announced the return of the veteran defenseman, who agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the very organization that had drafted him 56th overall in 1996. 

The New York Islanders agreed to terms on a one-year contract with defenseman Zdeno Chara on Saturday afternoon. 

Chara has recorded 666 points (207G, 459A) over his 23-year NHL career. The ageless wonder really needs no introduction, but get to know the newest Islanders defenseman in the latest edition of 7 Facts.

1.   HE WAS DRAFTED BY THE ISLANDERS

Chara's career is coming full circle as the defenseman rejoins the team that originally drafted him in the third round (56th overall) back in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. 

The defenseman played 231 games from 1997-2001 before being dealt to the Ottawa Senators in the trade that brought Alexei Yashin to Long Island.  

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.

There was a time when the Islanders were pedaling on a treadmill to oblivion during the 1974-75 season, seemingly another non-playoff year.

Suddenly, an event took place that would forever change the face of the franchise -- the biggest and most significant back-to-back trades in the club's history to that point in time.

General Manager Bill Torrey got on the phone with his Minnesota North Stars counterpart Jack Gordon. Not once, but twice.

Seeing Anders Lee on the ice in a New York Islanders jersey caused a bit of a stir on social media on Thursday morning. 

Lee was posing for the cameras as part of the NHL's annual player media tour, but the reaction was understandable given it was the first time the Islanders captain was on the ice in uniform in six months. 

The NHL, ESPN and Turner Sports announced the league's national TV schedule on Thursday afternoon, with the New York Islanders slated to play 12 games across national platforms. 

The Islanders will have two games as exclusive ESPN broadcasts, six as exclusive ESPN+/Hulu broadcasts and four games exclusively on TNT. 

See below for the Islanders full schedule:

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Sept. 15, 2020 - The New York Islanders defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 5 of the 2020 Eastern Conference Final.

Jordan Eberle delivered the dramatic double-OT winner at 12:30 as the Islanders avoided elimination against the Lightning. Anders Lee provided the sole assist on the winning goal, while Ryan Pulock opened the scoring in regulation with a power-play goal in the first period.

Semyon Varlamov backstopped the win with 36 saves and made an iconic slide on his stomach into the post-win celebration dog pile along the boards.  

Video: NYI@TBL, Gm5: Eberle nets one-timer for 2OT winner

Single game tickets for the New York Islanders' inaugural season at UBS Arena at Belmont Park will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, September 14 at 1pm. Tickets can be purchased at www.newyorkislanders.com/games.  

The Islanders' first home game will be on Saturday, November 20 against the Calgary Flames. The Islanders will face every team in the National Hockey League at least once at UBS Arena this season.

Sept. 12, 2020 - Islanders President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello wins the 2020 Jim Gregory Award for GM of the year. 

Lamoriello received the award for the first time in his decorated career during his second season with the Islanders. The team went 35-23-10 during the 2019-20 season and advanced to the 2020 Eastern Conference Final, the first conference finals appearance for the team in 27 years. 

Tampa Bay Lightning General Manager Julien BriseBois and Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill were the other two finalists for the award. 

Video: Lou Lamoriello Availability: 9/12