Chara has been Bruins captain since 2006-07 after he signed as an unrestricted free agent from the Ottawa Senators on July 1, 2006. The oldest defenseman in the NHL, he has 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) and a plus-26 rating averaging 23:00 of ice time in 68 games this season.
Based on the way Chara played this season, general manager Don Sweeney said he had no qualms about signing him to another contract. Chara is playing the final season of a five-year contract with an average annual value of $7.5 million.
"He's been a dominant player this year. He takes all the hard matchups still, doesn't shy away from any situations, and had embraced the role that he's kind of emerged into," Sweeney said. "You see his minutes are still way up there, and some nights probably a little too high where it makes us a little nervous about it. But he's still the one saying, 'Open the door, I'm going.'
"Again that just speaks to his preparation and it also speaks to the fact that he wants to continue to play, and that's part of it. He's indicated that he wants to perform at a high, high level. He expects to perform at a high level and he's backed that up. So for me it was a very easy decision."
Chara, who won the Norris Trophy voted as the NHL's best defenseman in 2008-09 and the Stanley Cup with Boston in 2010-11, has 627 points (195 goals, 432 assists) in 1,418 games in 20 NHL seasons with the New York Islanders, Senators and Bruins. He was selected by the Islanders in the third round (No. 56) of the 1996 NHL Draft.
He has missed the past seven games with an upper-body injury he sustained against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 13. He has resumed skating with defenseman Charlie McAvoy (sprained MCL), forward David Backes (leg laceration) and forward Jake DeBrusk (upper body) and could return to the lineup soon. Boston has seven regular-season games remaining.
"I'm feeling better, I'm making progress," Chara said. "And when it's time to be in the game, I'll be ready to play."
