Chara to become 13th player in NHL history to play 1,600 games originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
When Zdeno Chara takes to the ice for Saturday's game against the New York Islanders (7 p.m., NBC Sports Washington), it will be the 1,600th time he has done so in his NHL career. A milestone that looked like it may be out of reach for the 44-year-old defenseman before the season will now be shattered as Chara continues to play and contribute for the Capitals in a way no one could have really expected given his age.
Chara became an unrestricted free agent in the offseason because his long-time team, the Boston Bruins, wanted him to play a reduced role. So the 14-year captain of the Bruins left as a free agent, and their loss has been Washington's gain.
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Chara entered the season 47 games away from 1,600. To get that many games out of a 44-year-old in a 56-game season was a tall task, and yet he will reach that milestone on Saturday with eight games to spare in the regular season.
Hockey is a physically demanding game and it is hard to stay in the lineup. Chara credits his longevity to his strict training and diet habits.
"I was always very disciplined and driven," Chara said. "I had a lot of passion for training and diet and staying on the course. I just really enjoy the whole process. One thing it's always nice to reach milestones, but once you reach them it's just a short moment of kind of celebration or enjoyment, but the process to get to those milestones, it takes time, it takes years, days away from family. I kind of always enjoy that whole process reaching those goals. I love everything about the sport and training and staying fit and being a good pro."
Chara also has benefitted from a fearless mentality. While he is willing to put his body on the line on the ice, he also has the toughness to stay on the ice no matter what. This mentality helped him to play in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final even after he broke his jaw.
For the Caps, the only game Chara has missed this season was Sunday after he was hit by a puck three times, including twice on the same foot, in the game the day before during a penalty kill.
"Obviously it's not the greatest feeling in the world, but pain is temporary and I just try to really focus on keeping the puck out of our net," Chara said of the play.
Saturday's game will be Chara coming full circle in a sense as the Islanders were the team in which he began his career.
"I really appreciate that the Islanders took a chance at me in 1996 and drafted me," Chara said. "They gave me the chance, an opportunity to play in the NHL, the best league in the world. I learned a lot being in this organization so I'm very lucky that I've been able to start my career here. There's a great fan base and it's a great hockey town."
Chara will be just the 13th player in NHL history to reach 1,600 games played. He has the third-most among all active players behind only Joe Thronton (1,671) and Patrick Marleau (1,769) who now holds the all-time record after passing Gordie Howe on Monday.
While that longevity is something worth celebrating, Chara remains focused largely on the team rather than his own individual accomplishments.
"I just try to do my best every night and be a good pro and help my teammates and my team to do as best as we can so that's still my goal and obviously we are not done," Chara said. "There is lot work to do and I'm looking forward to still contribute to this team."
