Montreal police say charges against Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara have still not been ruled out as they prepare to speak to him in the coming weeks about his controversial hit on Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty.

Chara's hit in March landed Pacioretty in the hospital and ended his season. The towering Bruins defenceman was thrown out of the game but subsequently received no suspension from the National Hockey League.

Montreal police said in March that they would investigate the incident to see if there was any criminal element.

Sgt. Ian Lafrenière of the Montreal police said the investigation was delayed because most of the witnesses were hockey players busy with the Stanley Cup playoffs.

There were concerns Chara would be brought in for questioning when he returned to Montreal during the first round of the playoffs in April, but police said they were in no rush to speak to him.

However, Lafrenière said Tuesday that the investigation is nearing its end and the last step is to interview Chara.

"We haven't met Chara, we don't have his version of the facts, and also at the end of it, [a report is] going to be presented to a Crown prosecutor, and this is the person who will decide whether there will be some accusations," said Lafrenière.

Lafrenière said the lawyer the Bruins had assigned to the incident had been very cooperative, but would not say when or where the interview will take place.