The more Stanley Cup champions you can have in the building, the better. For the Boston Bruins it’s the legendary captain Zdeno Chara who is trading his skates for a clipboard and joining former teammate Marco Sturm’s coaching staff for the 2025-26 season.
According to NHL.com, Chara’s official position will be a hockey operations adviser and mentor. A position that senior writer Amalie Benjamin says is a lot more impactful than it sounds.
“Chara, who retired after the 2021-22 season, will work with players and staff in his new role, as a bridge between players and coaches, and will help with the off-ice development of defensemen, among other responsibilities,” Benjamin writes. “After five years away from the organization — he left the Bruins after the 2019-20 season, playing one season each with the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders — he once again will be visible around practices and home games.”
Marco Sturm Says He’s Here For Charlie McAvoy And David Pastrnak
You’d have to look pretty hard to find someone in the city of Boston that does not speak highly of the former Bruin. Head coach Marco Sturm is no exception.
The bench boss spoke on his time sharing the ice with the seven foot monster.
“He set the tone pretty much, starting in practice,” Sturm said of Chara’s presence. “You still want to have fun, whatever, but when it’s time to go and time to work, you’ve got to get the job done and he was a big leader on that. And the [Patrice] Bergeron’s and the Sturm’s, you name it, all those guys, we followed him pretty much.”
The vibe coming out of Bruins camp seems to imply that he was brought in for one very specific reason: to mold Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak into captains.
“I think that is the message he wants to send to [Charlie] McAvoy and ‘Pasta’ and all these guys” Sturm continued. “So sometimes they get sick of me and sick of whoever, but I think he will be just another voice I think in our room that maybe will push these guys forward.”
Chara Speaks On What He Can Provide For McAvoy and Pasta
For now there is no indication from coach Sturm that he intends to elevate McAvoy nor Pastrnak to the coveted captain position in the Bruins locker room.
The coach is on record saying if neither two take the “C” through their actions, the team is comfortable entering the season without one.
Thats where Big Z comes in.
“I’m just another asset they can use, to pick the brain, to help, to give them the advice on certain situations,” Chara said of the two Bruins. “First and foremost I think they are just really good people. They care. Everybody knows they’re amazing players. I think they have good intentions and it just takes a little bit of time to grow into that role, to feel comfortable, and we all went through it. Just if I can be a help, maybe guidance, or a little bit of mentorship in that department to help them grow as people and as [men] and as leaders, that’s what I’m going to do.”
“This is all about communication, being open with each other and having the transparency with players and the coaches and we all work for the same goal, just to improve and get the maximum potential and performance from our team, from the hockey club,” Chara continued.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Bruins Add Zdeno Chara To Staff For One Very Specific Reason appeared first on Heavy Sports.