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Bruins' Chara: 'I don't understand why all of a sudden my age is an issue'

Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara isn't happy about people writing him off because of his age.

The 38-year-old blue-liner had a difficult season, missing 19 games due to injury and registering only 20 points.

"That's what struck me - what's different?" the Bruins captain said to the Boston Globe's Amalie Benjamin on Saturday. "One season I'm a Norris Trophy runner-up and the next season I'm too old. One year, all of a sudden you're too old. It wasn't fair.”

Chara was a Norris Trophy finalist last season after a 40-point campaign, but the imposing rearguard suffered a torn ligament in his left knee last October.

He fractured his fibula blocking a shot by Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Booth in April but didn't miss any games.

"I don't understand why all of a sudden my age is an issue just because I got hurt and I missed a lot of games, a big chunk of the season," he said. "I don't like it. I don't like when people start to judge you based on age or the amount of games you played."

Chara said he's hoping to disprove people who doubt he can produce again at an elite level.

“I still feel very motivated, very confident that I’m going to be healthy and strong next season. I don’t know. Obviously I am planning to play beyond what maybe people are guessing or expecting," he said. "My plans have always been to play in this league at a high level for a long time."

Several players older than Chara played at a high level in 2014-15. Jaromir Jagr racked up 18 points in 20 games with the Florida Panthers at age 43 after a midseason trade from the New Jersey Devils.

Martin. St. Louis scored 21 goals for the New York Rangers in the regular season at age 39.

“Age is obviously a number, but some players or some people are meant to play for way beyond that," Chara said.

The defenseman has 1,195 regular-season games and 141 postseason contests under his belt in 17 seasons.

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