Boston Bruins star Brad Marchand knows better than shaking former teammate Zdeno Chara, even though he is now an opponent.
“No, you don’t want to put the bear in,” Marchand said.
Chara faces the Bruins on Saturday for the first time since leaving Boston as a free agent, signing with the Washington Capitals in the offseason. The Bruins wanted to reduce their playing time in favor of giving younger defenders a longer look.
Chara, 43, felt he could still be a regular contributor to the NHL, and his 14-year term with Boston ended with a one-year contract in DC.
“I love them like my brothers,” Chara said Friday. “We understand it’s a business. We have to play for our teams and compete there. But at the same time, we have something very deep, that goes back a long way and we will cherish those memories.”
Marchand knows any worship is shared between the Bruins and Chara will not transfer to the ice.
“He’s the kind of guy where, when he’s there, you’re an opponent. He won’t have friends there. He’ll play the game and compete and fight,” Marchand said. “I’m not going to pull the bear in any way. The biggest thing I can do is just walk away from him. If you get in his hands or in his hands, then you’re not going anywhere.”
Chara said that even in their first meeting, they do not expect anything out of the ordinary from Marchand.
“I don’t think it will be any different,” he said. “He’s a guy who will always go out there and compete for his teams. I think we’ve had a lot of practice against each other and we both compete pretty hard. I don’t expect anything else from him or anyone else.”
Chara recorded an average of 20:29 ice time per game for Washington. In eight games, he has a goal and two assists, marking his first as a capital on Thursday in their victory over the New York Islands. When asked if he turned out to be a regular player, rather than the backup the Bruins saw him as, Chara said: “I’m just trying to focus on trying to help this team as best I can. ”.
Saturday’s game (19:00 ET, ESPN +) has more than this emotional reunion: Capitals are in first place in the Eastern Division with 13 points in eight games, and Boston is just behind them with 11 points in seven games.
“I don’t think it will be so much about me playing against the Boston Bruins. I think these are two very good teams playing for two points that will be there tomorrow to take them,” Chara said.
However, it is Zdeno Chara vs. Boston Bruins. The former captain. Defensive star. The man who first lifted the Stanley Cup when Boston first won in 39 years in 2011.
“It will be strange to see him in another uniform,” Marchand said.