Chara signs 1-year deal with Islanders

Zdeno Chara may be looking to finish his storied career where it all started: on Long Island.

The New York Islanders and the 44-year-old defenseman agreed to a one-year contract, the team announced Saturday.

The terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

Chara was originally a third-round pick of the Islanders back in 1996. He played four seasons with the club before he was shipped to the Ottawa Senators in the deal that brought Alexei Yashin to Long Island.

He even found his old Islanders jerseys for the momentous occasion:

The 6-foot-9 blue-liner spent this past season with the Washington Capitals, where he tallied 10 points in 55 contests while logging 18:19 per game.

Chara's offensive production has dried up in his 40s, but he was still a solid defender in 2020-21.

Under head coach Barry Trotz, the Islanders' system is predicated on strong defensive play, so on paper, Chara's arrival could be a perfect match. He projects to skate on the second or third pairing with either Scott Mayfield or Noah Dobson.