Countdown to TradeCentre: Could Chara be on the move?

The NHL's Mar. 21 Trade Deadline is approaching and teams are making decisions on whether to buy, sell and decide which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Check out today's trade rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat. And follow TradeCentre on TSN and TSN.ca through Deadline Day for all the updates.

New York Islanders veteran Zdeno Chara tied Chris Chelios' record Tuesday for games played by a defenceman as he skated in his 1,651st NHL game.

Where he will continue to set the new record after the trade deadline, though, remains a mystery. TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports that, while there has been interest in the 44-year-old, the decision will ultimately be in his hands. 

"Teams have started to call Lou Lamoriello and the Islanders who are fading out of the playoff race, they were never really in the race all year, one the league's true disappointments, and they're saying to Lou Lamoriello, 'Hey keep us in mind if you decide to do ​something with Zdeno Chara,'" LeBrun said. "Now this is an interesting situation. Chara does not have a no-trade clause, but he's a future Hall of Famer and the sense around the league is that Lou Lamoriello is going to go to Chara at some point and see if in fact he actually wants to move.

"And if he does, then there's interest already in Zdeno Chara despite his age, 44, the fact he's slowed down a bit, but he's still a major leader and a very physical presence that could help a contender on that third pairing for sure."

Chara, a Stanley Cup champion with the Boston Bruins in 2011, has eight assists in 43 games this season while averaging 18:31 of ice time. He has also played in 200 career playoff games with the Ottawa Senators, Boston