Should the Bruins trade Zdeno Chara before it's too late?

Despite the Boston Bruins being in a playoff position, there seems to be a general feeling of unrest among the fan base in regards to this years' version of the team. The B's are two years removed from their last trip to the Stanley Cup Final and currently have a two-point edge on the Florida Panthers in the Wild Card race. The Bruins still look like a playoff team, but look like a team that is far from contending for a cup. GM Peter Chiarelli has been one of the most active GM's in the NHL as of late, and is actively looking to improve the team before the postseason. There is one player that has been on many people's minds as of late, that man is Zdeno Chara. Some believe the Bruins need to make a bold move by trading captain Chara before the 37-year-old (38 on March 18) slips further from his prime. This idea strikes a chord with fans everywhere as trading away your captain is never an easy decision. One analyst weighed in on the pros and cons of dealing Big Z. Sportsnet’s Mark Spector felt the idea has merit even if it’s not likely: Zdeno Chara turns 38 in March, and has become to the Bruins what Jarome Iginla was to the Calgary Flames: that ageing superstar whom the Bruins need to make the playoffs for the next couple of seasons, but whose value will then slip to the point where any trade return on him is negligible. History shows that the Calgary Flames should have dealt Iginla two years before they did. Instead, the Flames missed the playoffs in both of Iginla’s final two seasons in Calgary, then settled on two middling prospects — Ben Hanowski and Kenny Agostino — and a first round pick (Morgan Klimchuk) in a trade from Pittsburgh. Of course, Chiarelli’s dilemma runs deep. There isn’t a GM in hockey — and he’s one of the best, IMO — who would submit to this obvious trend and deal Chara now. Not with a playoff spot still a very real possibility. But the decline has begun, and here’s why we are mighty sure that the Bruins are not Detroit, a team that has bucked the trend: Look at the Bruins drafting record since 2007, and you’ll find the answer to why their opponent tonight has fallen on such hard times. It’s why Calgary is rebuilding. It’s why the Canucks are no longer an elite contender. And it’s why the Maple Leafs are as bad as they are. Think of the salary cap. Chara comes with a roughly $6.9 million annual hit through the 2017-18, so moving him would provide the Bruins with the kind of flexibility they’ve been hurting for in recent years. Despite the longevity of Chara's contract, he would still be very interesting to a great number of teams. He comes in with a superb resume and the fact that he can still log top minutes. If the Bruins are going to trade Chara eventually, they must act fast because the window is closing. Should the Bruins consider trading the captain away while he still has value?