After stating just last week that he wasn't sure he'd be ready to start the regular season with the rest of his Bruins' teammates, Boston's Zdeno Chara is now saying he'll be ready to go. After skating in both on-ice session at the start of training camp Friday, Chara says he's feeling much better, although he says he will likely sit out the first few preseason games.
“It was good. We had a good two sessions. I thought the energy was really good,” said Chara. “Basically I'm a part of all the drills. I don't think I'll be playing in the first few [exhibition] games. That's probably something we have to talk about what's going to be after. But with the less [preseason] games than in recent years, I think most of the guys that played all the way to the Final won't see many of those games. But it's something the coaching staff and management has to decide.”
This should come as a big relief to the Bruins' coaching staff, who are already missing John Moore (shoulder) and Kevin Miller (knee) on the blueline. The Bs are also still trying to sign Charlie McAvoy and Brendan Carlo, two of their young RFA defenseman.
Chara suffered a badly broken jaw during game four of the Stanley Cup Finals in June of this year. His jaw was wired shut and he spent weeks unable to eat solid food. He did finish out the rest of the series with a protective face shield as Boston lost in seven games to the St. Louis Blues. Chara also had surgery on his MCL last November and missed at least one game in the playoffs due to a nagging groin injury.
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