 |
| Chara is joining some of the NHL's top players in the KHL. (US Presswire) |
Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara is the latest player to join the ever-growing list of locked-out NHLers fleeing overseas. The native Slovakian is headed to the KHL to play for Prague-based Lev Praha.
This comes as little to no surprise for anybody. Chara is a bit behind the eight ball in deciding to go play in Europe as many NHL players, such as his Boston teammate Tyler Seguin in Switzerland, already have made the jump while there is no NHL hockey to speak of.
With Lev Praha, Chara joins fellow locked-out NHLers Jiri Hudler and Jakub Voracek, meaning the team is now at its locked-out maximum. But there are some other names familiar to NHL fans on the team. Marian Hossa's younger brother Marcel Hossa as well as former Florida Panthers prospect Michal Repik and former NHL player Erik Christensen, among others, will be skating alongside Chara and company.
"He has friends there, and it's within hours of his home in Slovakia and it's a great hockey city," his agent Matt Keator told USA Today.
By heading to play for Lev Praha now, Chara gives fans in Boston the chance to watch their favorite monster defenseman playing live hockey soon. On Tuesday the KHL announced a deal with ESPN to stream games on ESPN3.com and announced the first five games of that plan. Included in those five games are two featuring Chara's new team, the first coming on Saturday vs. Ilya Kovalchuk's SKA team.
Bruins fans shouldn't be too concerned about any potential injuries with their former Norris Trophy winner. Chara has been very durable over his career, appearing in at least 77 games in each of the past six seasons. He played in 79 games last season, scoring 12 goals with 40 assists.
For more hockey news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnHockey and @StubitsCBS on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
