Chara skates for 1st time since injury, still 'not close to being ready'

For the first time in a month, Zdeno Chara put on those extra few inches. 

The towering Boston Bruins captain was back on skates Monday, performing laps at TD Garden Arena for the first time since tearing a ligament in his left knee on Oct. 23.

His progression is certainly a welcome sight, but head coach Claude Julien was quick to temper expectations about Chara's potential return to the battered Bruins lineup. 

"It’s a start . . . yeah, it’s a start," Julien told reporters. "He’s certainly not close to being ready yet. It’s his first time in a long time. It’s always encouraging to see your player back on his skates, that’s for sure."

Amazingly, Boston is 9-4 without their superstar rearguard after opening the season with four wins and as many losses.