LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 16: Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) during the NHL regular season game against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Bruins bring back Zdeno Chara as hockey operations advisor
  • Will mentor defensemen and work with development staff
  • Read below for details on Big Z’s return to Boston

The Bruins are bringing back a franchise legend to help guide their blueline.

Boston announced Thursday that they’ve hired Zdeno Chara as a hockey operations advisor and mentor. The 48-year-old Hall of Famer will work closely with players and staff while focusing on defenseman development.

Chara’s responsibilities include building relationships between players and coaches, attending practices and home games, and providing off-ice support to defensemen. He’ll also make trips to Providence to connect with the organization’s prospects.

“The Bruins organization is excited and proud to welcome back Zdeno,” GM Don Sweeney said in Thursday’s announcement. “In his role as an advisor and mentor, Zdeno will share with our players and coaches his experience as a dedicated athlete, a respected leader and one of the NHL’s all-time greats.”

The timing couldn’t be better for Boston. They’ve got young defensemen like Mason Lohrei who could learn plenty from the franchise’s most accomplished blueliner.

Chara spent 14 seasons as Boston’s captain after signing as a free agent in 2006. He led the Bruins to three Stanley Cup Finals appearances and hoisted the Cup in 2011. The 6-foot-9 defenseman won the Norris Trophy in 2009 and remains the NHL’s all-time leader in games played by a defenseman with 1,680.

After leaving Boston in 2020, Chara played one season each in Washington and with the Islanders before retiring in 2022. He signed a one-day contract to officially retire as a Bruin.

Now he’s back in a role that lets him stay involved without the grind of an 82-game schedule. For a team looking to get the most out of Charlie McAvoy’s prime years and develop their next wave of defensemen, having Chara around the rink should pay off big time.

The Bruins haven’t disclosed what Chara’s getting paid or if this is a full-time gig. But bringing back one of the sharpest defensive minds in team history? That’s the kind of move that won’t show up on the stat sheet, but could make all the difference when it matters most.