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Boston Bruins: 5 players team needs to rest before NHL playoffs

By Sam Minton

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 07: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins looks on during the third period against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden on March 07, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Panthers 4-3. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 07: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins looks on during the third period against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden on March 07, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Panthers 4-3. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2. Zdeno Chara

There is no denying that Zdeno Chara is an old man at this point. Big Z has managed to stay in great shape, but he is still about to be a 42 year old defenseman. The regular season takes a toll on the Bruins captain.

Chara doesn’t like to rest. I’m pretty sure he would like to play 82 games every season. Chara thinks that rest before the playoffs does more harm than good.

"“Then you jump into another level of speed and emotions and I don’t like (having time off),” he said. “Nobody likes to wait seven, eight, or nine days between games. If you miss 10 days due to some minor injury, it takes you two to three games to get back into it. I personally don’t like it, and it’s my job to be in shape and my job to be ready, and I’m always doing my best to be at that level and where I need to be without getting days off.”"

Now I don’t envy being Bruce Cassidy. I wouldn’t want to be the guy that tells Chara he has to take a break, but it is the right thing to do.

Chara isn’t the fastest guy. He needs his legs fresh for the playoffs. We saw the Bruins get torn apart by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs last season because of how fast Toronto was. That can’t happen again.

So even though Zdeno Chara doesn’t want to take a few games off, the smart decision would be to give the captain a break.

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