Zdeno Chara

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Chára served as the Bruins' captain for all of his fourteen seasons with the franchise, from 2006 to 2020. He won the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenceman in 2009, becoming the first Slovak player to do so, and the second European player after Nicklas Lidström. In 2011, 2013 and 2019 Chára captained the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final, winning in 2011. He is one of five European-born and raised captains to lead his team to the Stanley Cup championship, and the first to be born and trained in the Eastern Bloc. In 2022, Chára played in his 1,652nd NHL game, making him the league's all-time leader in games played by a defenceman. He was the second to last active NHL player to play in the 1990s behind Joe Thornton.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Chára's captaincy is defined by resilience and record-breaking moments. In January 2011, he achieved a rare feat for a defenseman, recording his first career hat-trick against the Carolina Hurricanes in a 7–0 victory. He celebrated by mimicking retired Slovak star Peter Bondra's celebration, throwing an imaginary hat into the air. That same season, he led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final, winning the championship in 2011. His physical dominance was evident even when injured; in March 2008, he suffered a torn labrum against the Washington Capitals but returned five games later to play through the playoffs until his first-round elimination by Montreal. In 2013 and 2019, he captained the team back to the Stanley Cup Final, though they did not win those years. His tenure ended in 2020 after fourteen seasons as captain, during which he became one of five European-born captains to lead a team to the Stanley Cup.

Reader's Guide

Zdeno Chára was born on 18 March 1977, in Trenčín, Czechoslovakia, to parents Zdeněk and Veronika. Chára's father was a prominent Greco-Roman wrestler who represented Czechoslovakia at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Chára's initial exposure to organized hockey came with his hometown HC Dukla Trenčín, with whom he played four seasons for during the mid-1990s. After being passed over in the 1995 draft, Chára was drafted in the third round, 56th overall, by the New York Islanders at the 1996 NHL entry draft. He would spend his first season in North America with the Western Hockey League (WHL)'s Prince George Cougars. Chára spent four seasons with the Islanders organization, becoming a reliable, stay-at-home defender. He was traded to the Ottawa Senators during the 2001 NHL entry draft as part of a deal to acquire forward Alexei Yashin. In Ottawa, he blossomed into an elite defenceman, posting career highs in goals and points, and earning his first Norris Trophy nomination. On 1 July 2006, Chára signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the Boston Bruins and was named the team's captain. He won the Norris Trophy in 2009. Chára captained the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final in 2011, 2013 and 2019, winning in 2011.

Did You Know?

• Chára is the tallest person ever to play in the NHL.
• He won the Norris Trophy in 2009, becoming the first Slovak player to do so.
• Chára captained the Bruins to the Stanley Cup championship in 2011.
• He is the all-time leader in games played by a defenceman in NHL history.