By Kevin Paul Dupont, Globe Staff

Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara doesn't have all his weight back after a recent virus sent him to Mass. General to be treated for dehydration, but he gained a few more ounces of prestige today when he was named a finalist for the Norris Trophy that goes to the league's best defenseman.

"I'm very humble and very thankful,'' said Big Zee, who won his first Norris in June 2009 and has been nominated four times. "Especially after you consider how many guys had such a great season -- a breakout season -- I'm just very thankful that people who did vote recognized the definition of the Norris Trophy award."

Chara fits the the classic definition of the position, a player whose role it is to keep the opposition from scoring. Zee is that to a tee, a 6-foot-9-inch shutdown artist who is out there virtually every time the other team rolls its best attackers over the boards.

"The stats at the end of the year,'' mused Boston coach Claude Julien, "I think he's plus-33, and I think that speaks for itself ... if you're talking about the Norris and talking about a defenseman that brings a lot, he's certainly one of them. I don't think there are many players in this league who will raise their hand and say they really enjoy playing against him."

Chara, who finished runner-up to New Jersey's Scott Niedermayer in 2004, collected his first Norris in 2009, with Washington's Mike Green finishing second.

This year's other finalists include Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom, a six-time Norris winner, and Nashville's Shea Weber.