Bruins captain Zdeno Chara has those who praise him, and he has his critics. In the case of the latter, some question his contract, while others wonder whether he's the right man to be wearing the "C" on his jersey.  

Yet for one of the team's emerging youngsters, Chara has been invaluable. Steven Kampfer has burst onto the scene for the Bruins with four goals over the first 16 games of his NHL career, and has done it with both an enthusiasm and confidence that has made him popular with the fans.

That attitude is something Chara has been able to see from the 22-year-old. The two have seen more time as a defensive pairing over the last two games, but even when the two haven't skated together, Kampfer has used Chara as a major resource for his own development. 

The two couldn't differ more from a technical standpoint -- Chara is a left-handed, 6-foot-9 giant, while the 5-foot-10, right-handed Kampfer is more of a puck-mover -- but when it comes to being a top defenseman in the NHL, Kampfer feels there's plenty to be learned from Chara, and that it's already aided his adjustment.

"Any time you play with a guy who's a Norris Trophy winner, you're going to learn a lot," Kampfer said recently of Chara. "He plays simple, he plays hard, and we talk lot on the ice about how we play. We learn from each other, especially in practice and going through video, and that's been something that's helped me along as quickly as I've been here. 

Chara, as both a captain and someone the youngster looks up to, has been invested in using his experience and knowledge of the game to help Kampfer utilize his potential as quickly as he can. On the ice in practice, on the bench during games and in many other areas, Chara has provided bits of mentorship that he sees the rookie putting to good use. 

"I try to give him as much help as I can, and [give him] advice," Chara said of Kampfer. "He's a really good listener. He wants to learn. He wants to see the plays when we're talking about them after the shifts or after the games."

And why wouldn't Kampfer take that approach? Whether pinching in the offensive zone or throwing a big hit in the neutral zone,the rookie clearly isn't shy when it comes to making decisions on the ice. 

With Chara's knowledge so close nearby, it's hardly a surprise Kampfer, who was only 20 games into his AHL career at the time of his December callup, hasn't hesitated in picking the 2008-09 Norris Trophy winner's brain.  

"He's been in the league for a long time, so you want to learn things from him," Kampfer said. "He's here for a reason, and he's been here for a reason."

"He's the captain, and you definitely want to be a sponge. You want to learn how to do things. You want to make sure that if he tells you something, you're listening and you're working on it. That's something that's helped me along and is going to continue to help me along the way. 

Kampfer admitted after Thursday's win that a year ago, when he was still at the University of Michigan, he didn't imagine he would be making a difference on a contending NHL team so quickly. Chara, on the other hand, has observed something in Kampfer, whether it be a calm, a confidence, or even recent box scores, that shows the rookie is comfortable where he is, and that he hasn't felt forced to alter his style of play to satisfy the demands of the NHL. 

"A lot of times you see guys coming in, especially young guys, and really playing safe, and they have to change their game a little bit," Chara said. "They're kind of afraid to make mistakes. Steven is just playing the same way as he'd be playing probably anywhere else."

Whatever Kampfer has learned, and whatever Chara has taught, seems to be working. The rookie is averaging nearly 18 minutes of ice time a night, and already has six points. All four of his goals have come over the last nine games. Factor in the initiative he's not afraid to take (ex. the Scott Hartnell hit on Thursday night), and it appears that it's all paying off. 

"He's doing extremely well. He's playing way above his expectations, and everybody's really happy and pleased with him," Chara said. "It's a great sign. It's just something that you can only be excited for him going into the future."