Zdeno Chara is coming full circle.
The Islanders announced on Saturday they have agreed to a one-year deal with the 6-9, 44-year-old defenseman, returning Chara to the organization that drafted him in the third round in 1996.
President and general manager Lou Lamoriello has been looking to bolster his depth among left-shooting defensemen since trading Nick Leddy to the Red Wings for salary cap purposes on July 16. NHL veteran Erik Gustafsson, 29, will attending training camp on a professional tryout offer and Paul Ladue, also 29, has been signed to a two-way contract after playing 69 NHL games for the Kings between 2017-19.