Boston Bruins Codexery

Zdeno Chara Games Played Record

The tallest NHL player and record-holding defenceman for games played (1,680).

Zdeno Chára holds the NHL record for most games played by a defenceman, with 1,680 regular-season games, surpassing Chris Chelios's 1,651. He won the Norris Trophy in 2009 as the league's best defenceman.

Quick Facts

Captaincy tenure
2006–2020

Lore & Background

Chára was drafted 56th overall by the New York Islanders in 1996. He played for the Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, and Washington Capitals. He served as Bruins captain from 2006 to 2020, leading the team to the Stanley Cup Final in 2011, 2013, and 2019, winning in 2011. He is the tallest player in NHL history at 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m).

Reader's Guide

Chára's record of 1,652 games played as a defenceman is the all-time NHL leader. He won the Norris Trophy in 2009, becoming the first Slovak player to do so. He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2025.

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Elsewhere in Boston Bruins

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