Chara's Drive Remains in Full Gear

EDMONTON, Alberta - Jake DeBrusk turned 22 years old on Wednesday. When the winger was born in 1996, his father, Louie, was one of the National Hockey League's toughest customers.
He fought 115 times across his 11-year NHL career, including one in April 1998 against Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, who was then just 21 and in his rookie season with the New York Islanders.

Fast-forward to Thursday afternoon in Edmonton and things have changed quite a bit. These days it's Jake DeBrusk, now in his second season with the Black & Gold, who is making his mark on the NHL, while his father - retired since 2004 - works as an analyst on the Oilers' television broadcast.
But one thing remains the same since those days in the late '90s: Chara, now 41, is still one of the NHL's most respected - and effective - defensemen.
"It's impressive. I think that's probably the biggest thing I take away from him is just his work ethic, off and on the ice," said Jake DeBrusk. "He's always in the gym. He's one of the first guys in there and one of the last guys out. I think it's just kind of how he prepares for games. He has a set routine, and as a young guy I just try to take as much as I can from him because he's been in the league as long as I've been around.
"Just saying that is impressive. How the game has changed, nowadays the speed of it - for him to be able to adjust, especially at his size, it's very impressive and it's something that we all try to be like."
Chara's longevity is truly something to behold and on occasions like Thursday night it's also something to appreciate. When the Bruins captain takes the ice against the Oilers, it will mark his 900th game with Boston, making him just the sixth player in franchise history to achieve that feat, joining Ray Bourque (1,518), Johnny Bucyk (1,436), Don Sweeney (1,052), Wayne Cashman (1,027), and Patrice Bergeron (969).
"Definitely appreciate it and it's a huge honor, it's a privilege," said Chara, who is in the midst of his 13th season with the Bruins. "It's been, obviously, quite some time, but I've been very proud of being part of this organization and very thankful to have owners like we have; they make it very convenient for me and my family to stay in this organization, in Boston, for as long as we have. It's been great and I'm very thankful."

Overall, Chara will be playing in the 1,430th game of his career, which has spanned 21 seasons with the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, and Bruins. Despite all of that mileage, he remains Boston's No. 1 blue liner and on Thursday night will have the task of shutting down Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who Chara said is "probably the best player in the league" right now.
"I appreciate it more and more every time you see him, especially at his age," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "We talk about some guys that start to hit 30 and we start to get worried about…well he's in his 40s. That speaks for itself right there - prepares himself like no other, tremendous focus on pride.
"He's an effective player for us every night. We changed his role a little bit over the last few years, but he still brings that solid game and he's ready to do anything you ask."
That attitude and work ethic is what the Bruins hope rubs off on the team's throng of young players. And that's part of the reason why over the past three seasons, Chara's primary partners have been Brandon Carlo and Charlie McAvoy, two players expected to patrol the right side of Boston's defense corps for years to come.
"That's what you want. I think eventually it will [rub off]," said Cassidy. "I think that's why we've kept some younger guys around and kind of teach them on the fly here. We want them to learn from those guys. That was part of the plan. We hope for the most part it's worked out, but over time we'll see whether they've taken a page out of his book or not."

At this point in his career, Chara's book of accomplishments is a lengthy one. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Slovakia native won the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman in 2009 and has nine times been voted in the top 10 for the award, including two runner-up finishes. He has played in six NHL All-Star Games and has seven times been named to a postseason NHL All-Star team (three first teams, four second teams).
And of course there is his most prominent achievement - helping to lead the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup championship in 39 years back in 2011.
But none of those accolades have slowed down his drive to improve and adapt.
"I love the game. I love competing against the best players in the world," said Chara, who has played in all six games this season. "I enjoy it very much. There is so much that you can benefit from being part of this league and being around guys every day. Try to get better. That's the motivation. I look forward to coming to the rink every day and working hard and trying to get better. It's a privilege. I really enjoy it."
Chara believes that at this point in his career, with only so many more games to play, it is important to appreciate every moment and realize how fortunate he has been.
"It's not easy to stay in the league, it's not easy to play for a long time," said Chara. "If you don't take care of yourself, if you don't appreciate it, if you don't work hard, if you don't do all these little things, before you know it you can be at the age of being out of the league or out of competition.
"I'm very thankful that I had the guidance very early on at a young age from my father that kept me going forward, kept me working really hard no matter what, not to get complacent, look ahead and move forward, just to live a healthy lifestyle.
"I think all these little things are paying off and probably one of the reasons I'm still playing. I keep doing it because I love it. I'm very grateful for that."