Zdeno Chára

Zdeno Chára was a towering Slovak defenceman who captained the Boston Bruins to the 2011 Stanley Cup and won the Norris Trophy in 2009.

Zdeno Chára was born in Trenčín, Slovakia in 1977. New York Islanders selected him 56th overall in the 1996 NHL Draft. His 24-season career produced 209 goals and 463 assists for 672 career points. He won the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011. He won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman in 2009. He was selected to seven All-Star games. At 6ft 9in he is the tallest player in NHL history — his shot, which reached a recorded 108.8 mph in the NHL All-Star skills competition, is the hardest ever officially recorded. He captained the Boston Bruins for 14 seasons — the longest captaincy in franchise history. He won Olympic silver with Slovakia in 2010. He represented Slovakia at multiple World Championships and was one of his country's most celebrated athletes. He played professional hockey until age 45 — his durability reflecting exceptional conditioning throughout his career. He is the most celebrated Slovak player since Peter Stastny.

Chára was known for his imposing physical presence, using his massive 6'9" frame to dominate opponents along the boards and in front of the net. He possessed one of the hardest shots in NHL history, regularly exceeding 100 mph on his slap shot. Despite his size, he was surprisingly mobile and served as an effective two-way defenseman who could both shut down opposing forwards and contribute offensively.

Chára redefined what it meant to be a power defenseman in the modern NHL, proving that size and skill could coexist at the highest level. His leadership and longevity made him one of the most respected captains in league history.

• Norris Trophy 2008-09
• Stanley Cup 2011
• Hockey Hall of Fame 2025

Team Career

Team	Period	GP	Goals
New York Islanders	1997–2001	231	15
Ottawa Senators	2001–2006	299	43
Boston Bruins	2006–2020	1023	148
Washington Capitals	2020–2022	72	2
Slovakia	—	108	3