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    All-Centennial Team

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    Stanley Cup Champs

    Chara named Norris Trophy finalist

    photo via espn.go.com
         On Monday, the National Hockey League announced the finalists for this year's James Norris Memorial Trophy, which is awarded “to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.”

         Among the three finalist was Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, who won the Norris Trophy in the 2008-2009 season. Chara finished second in voting in 2004, and third in 2008, 2011, and 2012. Alongside Chara is  Chicago's Duncan Keith, and Nashville's Shea Weber.

          Given Chara's stats this season, it's no surprise that he was nominated for the award once again. Chara has been the center piece for the Boston blue-line this season, which gave up the second-fewest amount of goals in the league (171), despite the vicious injury plague that swept through the defensive squad. Largely due to the outstanding defense, the Bruins posted a league-leading +84 GF/GA on the season.

          As for Chara, the Slovakian Captain finished with a +25 rating this season, and completed 57 of 77 games  with an equal or positive rating. He did all of this while being matched up against the league's best goal-scorers, both during even-strength situations, and penalty-kill situations, where he posted 244:44 of shorthanded ice-time (ninth among NHL defensemen). Meanwhile, he scored 10 powerplay goals this season (second among NHL defensemen), which tied the second-highest of his personal career high.

         In a press conference, Chara spoke about the honor of being nominated for the award, some adjustments he's made for this season, and the Bruins blue-line as a whole this season.


         Congratulations to Z, and of course, GO BRUINS!!!

    Follow Cam Hasbrouck on Twitter @CamHasbrouck
    and Bruins Life @BruinsLife


    stats via bruins.nhl.com