Troiani Rink Report

Zdeno Chara is back with the Boston Bruins.

At the beginning of the Black and Gold’s training camp, Don Sweeney said the role Chara would play in the club would be made official and the Original Six franchise made good on his word Thursday with an announcement naming the 2011 Stanley Cup champion a hockey operations advisor and mentor for the club.

“The Bruins organization is excited and proud to welcome back Zdeno,” Sweeney said in a release from the team. “In his role as advisor and mentor, Zdeno will share with our players and coaches his experience as a dedicated athlete, a respected leader and one of the NHL’s all-time greats.”

Chara donned the Spoked-B for 14 seasons in Boston after signing with the Black and Gold as a free agent in 2006 and became the Original Six franchise’s 18th captain. He served as captain for his entire tenure in Boston.

The 6-foot-9 defenseman skated in 1,023 games for the B’s, lighting the lamp 148 times while adding 333 assists for 481 points. He won the Norris Trophy in 2009 and had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup when he helped lead the Bruins to their first championship in 39 years in 2011, the same season he won the Mark Messier Award.

During his tenure with the Bruins, Chara played with Boston head coach Marco Sturm from the 2006-07 season until the latter was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in the 2010-11 campaign.

“Having played alongside Zdeno, I know firsthand the leadership, work ethic and professionalism he brings every day,” Sturm said in the release. “We’re thrilled to have him back with the Bruins in this role, where his knowledge of the game will be a great resource for our players and staff.”

In his new role, Chara will work closely with both players and staff to advise the organization in key areas. His primary responsibilities will include building relationships and strengthening communication between players and coaches, attending practices and home games, and providing off-ice development support to defensemen. He will also serve as a resource for the team’s development staff and make periodic visits to connect with prospects at the AHL level, per the release.

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