SUNRISE, Fla. — Zdeno Chara may be on the back-9 of his illustrious career. Yet, his two-decade tenure in the National Hockey League isn’t ending anytime soon.
The Bruins announced another one-year contract extension for their 6-foot-9 captain on Saturday. The terms include a $2 million base salary plus $1.75 million in performance-based incentives.
Chara and the Bruins agreed on a one-year deal nearly one year ago to the day worth $5 million. GM Don Sweeney has a little more salary cap flexibility with Chara’s latest extension as Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo and Danton Heinen become RFAs on July 1.
The 42-year-old Chara, who ranks sixth in franchise history with 948 games played in a Black and Gold uniform, has a plus-16 rating and 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 55 games during his 2018-19 campaign. The 2009 Norris Trophy winner and the NHL’s active league leader in plus/minus (plus-256) will embark on his 22nd season in 2019-20.
Chara and Sweeney will both speak to the media prior to Saturday’s Bruins-Panthers tilt at BB&T Center.
Kuhlman recalled as Kuraly joins injured list
The Bruins had their fun during their day off in South Florida on Friday. But one of their teammates wasn’t so fortunate.
Just minutes after the news of the Chara contract extension, the Bruins also revealed another tough hit on the injury front as Sean Kuraly will miss at least the next four weeks with a fractured hand. The third-year Bruin sustained the injury after blocking a shot early in the third period of Boston’s 5-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
Kuraly’s injury leaves a hole on a newly formed third line with Heinen and 7th Player Award candidate Chris Wagner.
The Bruins recalled Karson Kuhlman from Providence on an emergency basis to help fill that bottom-six hole. Kuhlman tallied a goal and an assist to go along with a plus-two rating in his first five games with the big club. The former Minnesota-Duluth standout has 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) and a plus-23 rating in 58 games with the P-Bruins.
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