Zdeno Chara focuses on big picture over new playoff format: 'We have to be grateful for the opportunity we’re getting'

Zdeno Chara isn’t looking for excuses when it comes to the NHL’s revamped “Return to Play” format — especially in regards to a round-robin tournament that could knock Boston out of the top seed over the span of just three games. 

Rather than bemoan the current plan and how it could prove costly for a Bruins club sitting eight, 10 and 11 points ahead of the other top-seeded clubs in the Lightning, Capitals and Flyers, Chara instead took the high road and opted to take focus more on the bigger picture. 

Sure, the current system in place might be unorthodox and doesn’t exactly cater to the track record Boston established over 70 regular-season games. But in the midst of the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Chara stressed that harping on something as trivial as playoff formats should be far from the priority.

Even though the NHL and NHLPA still have many hoops to jump through in terms of getting this resumption of play off the ground, this new format at least offers the Bruins and 23 other clubs an opportunity to see this season through. 

“We heard about the possible formats, different options, etc. It’s not going to be perfect,” Chara said. “I think you have to realize that any time you have this kind of unexpected stoppage with teams being at different points of their peaks of the season and obviously different amount of games, you have to come up with some sort of solution. … I think at this point what we see is probably the best. It does affect everyone and every team, but it’s one of those things that you can’t really blame anyone or feel that it’s unfair.

"For us, I think that we have to be grateful for the opportunity we’re getting. When you kind of look at the real-life perspective, what other people’s families, businesses go through, it’s one of those things that we’re getting the opportunity to basically start almost where we ended the season. Not everybody’s getting the same chance. A lot of people lost a lot of financial support, businesses went down, and they’ll never get the same opportunities, so we have to be grateful for the opportunity and take it as a huge motivation and excitement and kind of embrace it."

Rather than dwell on the negatives that come with getting back on the ice, Chara has used this current stoppage to gain new perspective and appreciation for the positives in his life. During a stretch in which good news is often hard to come by, being granted such an opportunity is a luxury unfortunately afforded to few — a reality that Chara is well aware of.

"You appreciate what you have," Chara said of his mindset over the break. "When you kind of look at the big picture, obviously we talked about how this becomes very uncomfortable for many of us and it's affected so many people. But I'm so grateful that I have family and I've been able to spend some time with them and every day kind of play with my kids and see them interact and keep kind of improving in their skills. When you have a setback like this, you want to kind of step back and take a breather from the days or the routine you were involved in for so long.

"It kind of makes you realize that things are not always going to be perfect, there are going to be some challenges in your life. You just have to remind yourself of what kind of worked before when you’re facing some challenges and adversity and start implementing those same routines into coming back, like we’re facing now. Mostly I’m very grateful and thankful that I’ve been able to have health with my family and spend some time with them."

For Chara, who is back in Boston after spending the first couple of months of quarantine down in Florida, the next step will be to get back on the ice in short order — with the B's captain likely to participate in non-contact, small-group practices at Warrior Ice Arena once Phase 2 of the NHL's return plan is officially given the green light.

Given Chara's stance and the weight that his words carry in Boston's locker room, it seems rather evident that the Bruins are not going to dwell that much on the pros and cons of a revamped playoff format. Afforded another chance at realizing their season-long pursuit of redemption, the 2019-20 Bruins have much more daunting challenges on the docket than whatever minor inconveniences come from a drop in seeding.

Flawed and all, this opportunity represents a second chance for this motivated B's club — one that they intend to make good on in the coming months.