All about Bruins great Zdeno Chara with stats, records and more

The Boston Bruins made one of their best moves in franchise history when they signed Zdeno Chara as a free agent in 2006.

Chara originally was drafted No. 56 overall by the New York Islanders in 1996. The 6-foot-9 defenseman played with the Islanders for four seasons and the Ottawa Senators for two years before signing his first contract with Boston, where he would establish himself as one of the organization's most iconic players.

After spending his last two seasons with the Washington Capitals and Islanders, Chara signed a one-day contract to retire a Bruin on Sept. 20, 2022. He called it a career at age 45.

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Get to know more about Chara, who will soon be immortalized in Boston with his No. 33 in the TD Garden rafters.

Zdeno Chara's bio

Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 250 pounds
Birthdate: March 18, 1977
Birthplace: Trenčín, Czechoslovakia
NHL experience: 24 years
Jersey number: 33

Zdeno Chara's career stats and records

Here are some of Zdeno Chara's notable career achievements and statistics:

2011 Stanley Cup champion
2013 Stanley Cup runner-up
Six-time All-Star (2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)
NHL First All-Star Team (2004, 2009, 2014)
NHL Second All-Star Team (2006, 2008, 2011, 2012)
NHL All-Star Game SuperSkills Competition Hardest Shot Winner (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)
NHL All-Star Skills Competition hardest shot record – 108.8 mph
James Norris Memorial Trophy (2009)
Mark Messier Leadership Award (2011)
Eddie Shore Award (2012)
Bruins Three Stars Awards (2009)
John P. Bucyk Award (2008, 2019)
NHL All-Decade Second Team (2010–2019)
Tallest player in NHL history
Most games played by a defenseman
Oldest defenseman in NHL history to score a goal in the Stanley Cup Finals – 42 years and 83 days
Oldest defenseman in NHL history to score a game-winning goal in the Stanley Cup playoffs – 42 years and 30 days.
Career stats
- 1,680 games
- 209 goals
- 471 assists
- 680 points
- 301 +/-

Zdeno Chara's contract info

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Chara signed a one-day contract to retire as a Boston Bruin on Sept. 20, 2022.

For his career, Chara earned approximately $100 million.

Zdeno Chara's international career

Chara represented Slovakia in the Olympics (2006, 2010, 2014) and the World Championships (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2012). In those 10 international tournaments (82 total games), he tallied 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points.

Chara helped Slovakia to silver medals in the 2000 and 2012 World Championships. He was named to the IIHF All-Time Slovakia Team in 2020.

Meet Zdeno Chara's family

Chara is married to his long-time girlfriend Tatiana Biskupicová. They have a daughter, Elliz Victoria Cháraon, as well as twin boys, Zack and Ben. Chara's father, Zdeněk Chára, was a Greco-Roman wrestler.