Jaromir Jagr may not be a part of the NHL this year, but that doesn't mean hockey fans won't have at least one graybeard to fawn over.

Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara enters the coming campaign as one of just two 40-year-olds - the other being Minnesota Wild center Matt Cullen - and while he's had a prolific 19-year career, Chara doesn't see 2017-18 as his swan song.

"I definitely want to play beyond this season," Chara told Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com. "It's really hard to put a number on it. Some people do and some people don't. I just obviously want to keep playing beyond this season.

"I love this game too much. I have made no secrets about it. I want to stay here and continue to play."

While Chara may have his sights set on the years ahead, there are no guarantees he'll play beyond 2017-18. That's because he's entering the season on the final year of a seven-year deal he signed in 2011.

Still, earning a contract extension will be only part of his focus this season.

"I love the game. I love everything about it. I love the sacrifice and I love the training. There are so many things that are so positive," Chara added. "At my age, I look at what I can still do and just really enjoy it. I just want to keep improving and play for as long as I can."

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.