Door gets shut for Zdeno Chara…

Zdeno Chara is the oldest free agent still available on the market and one door shut on Monday when New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello revealed that there isn’t an option for the veteran defenseman to return.

For weeks now speculations have surfaced that Chara is considering retirement. He might be waiting for the offseason to be over before making his final decision.

He could be hoping that a new deal comes his way, though we now know it won’t be with the Islanders.

A retirement might come after 24 seasons and 1,880 career games split between the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals and a second stint with the Islanders. Chara put up 209 goals and 680 points in 1680 career regular season games , was the Bruins’ captain for 14 seasons, won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman and hoisted the Stanley Cup as captain of the Bruins in 2011. Oh… and he’s literally the biggest man to ever hit the ice in the NHL. All in all, I’d say that’s one Hell of a career.

In my eyes he’s a first ballot Hall of Famer and potentially the greats Slovakian in hockey history. He’s one of the Bruins’ greatest captains in history, as well and I have no doubt that his #33 will be hanging from the rafters at TD Garden once he announces his retirement.

Some say that when one door closes another opens, but for now, no other team has been linked to Chara for the upcoming season…