Broad Street Buzz
Fansided

Should the Philadelphia Flyers have signed Zdeno Chara?

By Walt Gebelein

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 10: Charlie McAvoy #73 and Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins defend as Sean Couturier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers waits to deflect the puck onto Tuukka Rask #40 in the third period at Wells Fargo Center on March 10, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bruins won 2-0. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 10: Charlie McAvoy #73 and Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins defend as Sean Couturier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers waits to deflect the puck onto Tuukka Rask #40 in the third period at Wells Fargo Center on March 10, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bruins won 2-0. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Chara Leaves Boston.  Flyers Sit and Watch

This is an end of an era in Boston. Zdeno Chara will no longer wear the “C” for the Bruins, in fact he won’t be pulling the Bruins sweater on at all. After 14 seasons, 3 cup finals and a Stanley cup, Chara is now a Washington Capital, inking a one year deal for $750,000. The Flyers were oddly not interested.

I am a little surprised that the Bruins let Chara go, especially for a contract which is in essence the veteran minimum.  But they have their reasons, retooling is hard with an aged team idol in the locker room. It would be too hard on him a nd the team to ask him to be the seventh defensemen with all that history.

This move makes sense for the Caps, who are watching their window close in much the same way as the Bruins. Chara may not be a top pair guy any more, he may need a little more rest, and he may be a step slower than he was, but he is still in the top half of defensemen in the league. I am not sure what role he will be asked to play for the Caps.

My guess is he will be asked to answer the bell more than is prudent, but will battle through it, as he has done for his entire career.  All to help the Caps make one last desperate run for the cup.

My question is, where were the Flyers?  We chose Erik Gustafsson over Chara?  We have a core of young defensemen who probably learn a thing or two from one of the all-time greats.  We have a defensively  challenged defensemen, wait, the addition of Gustafsson makes two, that could benefit from a still very good defender in Chara, who is still 6 foot 9 and a monster last I checked.

The team is still a little bit more finesse than is ideal.  When TK and Robert Hagg are your tough guys, there is a risk of being pushed around.  No one wants a piece of Big Zee, ever, even now.

There were so many things that made Chara seem like a great fit for this team, it is dereliction of duty by the Flyers front office to not push this to it’s limits. In Fletcher’s defense, I am stunned that the Bruins did not re-sign him. But I also do not have Chara’s agent’s phone number, who should have been called by the Flyers everyday to check on his availability.

Signing Chara would have been a low risk, high reward play for the Flyers. The Flyers have a bunch of tall, young defensemen.  Does anyone know more about being tall and playing defense in the NHL than Chara?  I think they could have learned something.

Further, it would give the Flyers a safety net for Mark Friedman, who was not listed as one of the Flyers 10 prospects closest to the NHL according The Hockey News.

I hate to start the new year off this way, but missing the opportunity grab Chara may be the difference between a great season and a good one. Even if Chara is done, bottomed out, he is still a better defensemen Erik Gustafsson, and certainly a better leader, teacher and mentor.

I ask you, who would you rather one of the Flyers’ young defensemen come to for advice, Gustafsson or Chara?  I am pretty sure even Fletcher would concede that Chara is the right answer.

I wish Chara the best with his new team the Caps, but can’t help feel an uneasiness in the pit of my stomach.  It is telling me that this little move, one we failed to make, is going to cost the Flyers and may have been the difference between a cup run and a playoff run.

Home/Editorials