Zdeno Chara's early struggles may force changes to Islanders' defense

Nothing that happens this season for Zdeno Chara, good or bad, will impact his eventual induction into the Hall of Fame. He's a lock.

But the 44-year-old defenseman and the Islanders are not concerned about future honors. They have a Stanley Cup to pursue and the 6-9, 250-pound Chara was signed to round out their top six and provide defensive stability both five-on-five and on the penalty kill.

The early results have been mixed in Chara’s second tenure with the Islanders (3-2-1), who resume their 13-game road trip on Saturday at Nashville and were off for a second straight day on Tuesday.

He’s still a towering presence in the defensive zone but, at times, has struggled to make passes to clear…