NHL News: Bruins icon Zdeno Chara returns to Boston to assist Joe Sacco, Brad Marchand, rest of the team

The Boston Bruins find themselves embroiled in a dogfight in the Eastern Conference during the 2024-25 NHL season. Once sitting comfortably in the Atlantic Division, Boston is now in the jam-packed battle for the wildcard berths. As Boston searches for answers, former defenseman Zdeno Chara has joined the organization to help out interim coach Joe Sacco, Brad Marchand, and the rest of the team.

Zdeno Chara became synonymous with the Bruins’ gritty, hard-nosed playstyle. That same culture that led them to a Stanley Cup in 2011, and runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2019. During his time in Bean Town, no player wanted to mess with Chara, and therefore, no team would mess with the Bruins. At least not while the six-foot-nine Slovak was patrolling the ice.

Chara retired in 2022 after signing a one-day contract with the Bruins and has since expressed a desire to stay close to the organization, offering help in other ways as his physique had taken a toll over the course of his career. He now gets his chance to stay within the franchise, and hope to help his former teammate Marchand, and interim coach Sacco find a way to climb out of their hole.

Chara is set to rejoin the organization as a front office consultant and a mentor to Boston’s players, per Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe. General Manager Don Sweeney issued the official statement regarding Chara’s addition to the staff.

Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins smiles during the third period of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at TD Garden on December 03, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Hurricanes 2-0.

“The Boston Bruins are excited to be exploring the opportunity to welcome Zdeno Chara in an advisory role that supports our players and coaches,” Sweeney said in the statement. “We have had an open invitation and ongoing dialogue with Zdeno to return in some capacity whenever he felt it was right for both he and his family.

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“While his schedule and role are still unfolding, we believe he can make a positive impact on the organization as a mentor to our players and advisor to our coaching staff.”

Turn the tide

While having Chara back in the building is exciting for Marchand and the rest of the players, many of whom played alongside him, the main focus remains on what’s happening on the ice.

The Bruins must flip the script after their humiliating 7-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, a game that left Marchand enraged as he sent a harsh message to the team.

Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins prepares to take the ice prior to playing the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 02, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.

“We’re obviously desperate right now, and we can’t afford to have games like this where we’re not prepared,” Marchand stated, via The Hockey News. “We need every point, and they’re a better team than what their record shows.

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Sacco’s firm warning

Joe Sacco wasn’t exempt from the embarrassing defeat, delivering a bold wake-up call to every player in the locker room.

“Just the way we managed the game tonight. I didn’t like the way we managed it,” Sacco admitted, per NESN. “You’re going to make mistakes in hockey that happen in the course of a game, but it’s how we respond right after those mistakes. I would say game management was the most disappointing thing here tonight.”