Contract extension: Chara to become the next Jagr?

The Boston Bruins have made it clear at the start of the season: they would like to offer a contract extension to veteran defenseman Zdeno Chara. But of course, this ongoing season will determine a lot in the negotiations. Chara, who will turn 41 before season's end, needs to stay healthy and his performance cannot decline too much. 

"Though still early, Chara is averaging nearly 22 minutes per game on the Boston blueline. That’s a far cry from the 25-plus minutes he logged during his prime, but through five games — yes, a small sample — Chara is taking on heavier minutes than any other Bruins blueliner," writes Jarod Clinton of The Hockey News.

It would be great for the Bruins to keep Chara in the fold. He is a Norris Torphy winner, a tremendous leader, but other great players in the NHL had trouble signing a contract extension in the offseason. 

Does Jaromir Jagr ring a bell? Jagr finally accepted a deal with the Calgary Flames, but NHL fans and the future Hall of Famer had to wait until the last minute to know where he was going to be playing next. 

Money could also be an issue for Chara.

"One important question to answer when it comes to extending Chara, as it is with all players in the salary cap era, is the price. One wouldn’t expect the Bruins to be all that open to bringing him back on a deal that pays in the $6.9-million range, which is what he earned on average in each of the past six seasons," adds Clinton. 

"Even if it does take until next summer, it feels as though it’s only a matter of time before Chara signs on to remain in Boston next season and potentially beyond."

Happy to hear that Bruins fans?