View source for Zdeno Chára

{{Short description|Slovak ice hockey player (born 1977)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox ice hockey biography
| name = Zdeno Chára
| halloffame = 2025
| image = Zdeno Chara - Boston Bruins 2012.jpg
| image_size = 230px
| caption = Chára with the [[Boston Bruins]] in January 2012
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|3|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Trenčín]], [[Czechoslovakia]]
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 256
| position = [[Defenceman|Defence]]
| shoots = Left
| played_for = [[HC Sparta Praha|Sparta Praha]]<br>[[New York Islanders]]<br>[[HK Dukla Trenčín|Dukla Trenčín]]<br>[[Ottawa Senators]]<br>[[Färjestad BK]]<br>[[Boston Bruins]]<br>[[HC Lev Praha|Lev Praha]]<br>[[Washington Capitals]]
| ntl_team = Slovakia
| draft = 56th overall
| draft_year = 1996
| draft_team = [[New York Islanders]]
| career_start = 1996
| career_end = 2022
}}
'''Zdeno Chára''' ({{IPA|sk|ˈzdenɔ ˈxaːra|sl}}; born 18 March 1977) is a Slovak former professional [[ice hockey]] player. As a [[defenceman]], he played 24 seasons in the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) for the [[New York Islanders]], [[Ottawa Senators]], [[Boston Bruins]], and [[Washington Capitals]] between 1997 and 2022. Standing {{height|ft=6|in=9}} tall, Chára is the tallest person ever to play in the NHL,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/tallest-player-in-nhl-ice-hockey/|title=Tallest player in NHL ice hockey|website=Guinness World Records|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref> earning him the nickname "'''Big Z'''". Internationally, he played for the [[Slovakia men's national ice hockey team|Slovakia men's national team]] and won two silver medals at the [[Ice Hockey World Championships]]. At the [[2016 World Cup of Hockey]], he won a silver medal playing for [[Team Europe (ice hockey)|Team Europe]]. In 2025, he was inducted into both the [[IIHF Hall of Fame]] and the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]].

Chára served as the Bruins' [[Captain (ice hockey)|captain]] for all of his fourteen seasons with the franchise, from 2006 to 2020. He won the [[James Norris Memorial Trophy|Norris Trophy]] as the league's best defenceman in [[2008–09 NHL season|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]].{{#tag:ref|[[Nicklas Lidström]] of the [[Detroit Red Wings]], a native of Sweden, was the first European captain to win the Stanley Cup.|group=notes}} 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]].

==Playing career==

===New York Islanders (1997–2001)===
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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8465009 |title=Zdeno Chara #33 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> He would spend his first season in North America with the [[Western Hockey League]] (WHL)'s [[Prince George Cougars]], who subsequently selected Chára in that year's [[Canadian Hockey League|CHL]] Import Draft. Chára spent four seasons with the Islanders organization, becoming a reliable, stay-at-home defender in a primarily defensive role. He earned a reputation as a tough player to play against – intimidating, physically strong and a punishing hitter who could, on occasion, fight. His physical strength also gave him a very hard slap shot, which seemed to improve each and every season, although Chára was never deployed in an offensive role as an Islander. Chára was traded to the [[Ottawa Senators]] during the [[2001 NHL entry draft]] as part of a deal to acquire forward [[Alexei Yashin]]. At the time, it was believed the deal would vastly improve the Islanders, who were never a contending team when Chára played there. Chára was part of a package deal that included [[Bill Muckalt]] and the second overall pick from that year's draft, which the Senators used to select [[Jason Spezza]]. The Islanders initially had a trade in place to send Chára to the [[Boston Bruins]] in exchange for [[Jason Allison]], but team ownership nixed the deal because it would have involved [[Dave Scatchard]], who they did not want to trade because they "liked Dave Scatchard because he visited sick kids in the hospital."<ref>{{cite web |last=Kurz |first=Kevin |title=Zdeno Chara's path from Islanders mystery prospect to the NHL record books: 'He made himself a player' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3142293/2022/02/23/zdeno-charas-path-from-islanders-mystery-prospect-to-the-nhl-record-books-he-made-himself-a-player/ |access-date=29 July 2022 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref>

===Ottawa Senators (2001–2006)===
[[File:Zdeno Chara.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Chára during his tenure with the [[Ottawa Senators]] in January 2006]]
The Senators knew from observation Chára would be a reliable defender, and were also aware he was growing into his body and improving his skills each year. However, Chára grew in ways that exceeded all expectations. In [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]], during his first year in Ottawa, he recorded new career highs in goals (10) and points (23) as he turned into a bona fide two-way defenceman. His powerful slapshot continued to improve, and Ottawa began to deploy him on the power play to use it, something the Islanders had rarely done. It resulted in four of Chára's goals being scored with the man advantage that season. The following year, in [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03]], Chára began to blossom into an elite NHL defenceman. He posted new career highs with 30 assists and 39 points and became one of Ottawa's top two defenders, along with [[Wade Redden]]. He also earned his first [[National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL All-Star Game]] appearance, where he recorded the second-hardest shot behind [[Al MacInnis]] in the Skills Competition.<ref>{{cite news|title=MacInnis has still got NHL's hardest shot|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/2003/all_star/news/2003/02/01/closer_look/|access-date=11 December 2008|date=1 February 2003|publisher=[[CNN Sports Illustrated]]|archive-date=30 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630043832/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/2003/all_star/news/2003/02/01/closer_look/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04]], Chára posted career bests with 16 goals and 41 points, and recorded the NHL's third highest [[Plus-minus (ice hockey)|plus-minus]] rating, behind [[Martin St. Louis]] and [[Marek Malík]], culminating in his first [[James Norris Memorial Trophy]] nomination. Although he lost to [[Scott Niedermayer]] as the NHL's top defenceman, he joined Niedermayer on the [[NHL first All-Star team]].

After the [[2004–05 NHL lockout]], in which Chára played in the Swedish [[Swedish Hockey League|Elitserien]] for [[Färjestad BK]], he matched his previous NHL season's 16-goal total and tallied a career best 43 points, good enough for NHL second All-Star team honours. Following the season, Ottawa was faced with the possible loss of its two top defencemen – Chára and Redden – and finances dictated they could only sign one; the Senators opted for Redden.

As Chára did not come to terms on a new contract with Ottawa, he became an unrestricted free agent at the end of [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06]]. Choosing Redden over Chára proved to be a mistake, as Redden's performance declined whereas Chára became one of the league's top defencemen.

===Boston Bruins (2006–2020)===
[[File:Bruins navy.jpg|thumb|right|Chára (left), head coach [[Dave Lewis (ice hockey)|Dave Lewis]] (center) and [[Phil Kessel]] (right) on [[Columbus Day]] with the crew of the {{USS|Doyle|FFG-39|6}} in 2006]]
On 1 July 2006, the first day of the free agency period, Chára signed a five-year, $37.5&nbsp;million contract with the [[Boston Bruins]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Bruins sign Chara to five-year deal|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2506763|access-date=11 December 2008|date=1 July 2006|publisher=ESPN}}</ref> and was named the team's [[Captain (ice hockey)|captain]], a role left vacant since [[Joe Thornton]]'s departure to [[San Jose Sharks|San Jose]] during the [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06 season]]. Chára became only the third Slovak-born NHL player to become a team captain, after [[Peter Šťastný]] of the [[Quebec Nordiques]] and [[Stan Mikita]] (co-captain) of the [[Chicago Blackhawks]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Chara named Bruins captain |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061003.wchara3/BNStory/Sports |access-date=11 December 2008 |date=3 October 2006 |work=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017125955/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061003.wchara3/BNStory/Sports |archive-date=17 October 2008}}</ref> Chára was named to the [[2007 National Hockey League All-Star Game|2007 NHL All-Star Game]] (his second appearance) in [[Dallas]] and scored two goals in a 12–9 [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]] loss. Chára also won the hardest shot segment of the preceding Skills Competition, clocking a shot at 100.4&nbsp;mph.<ref>{{cite web|title=Crosby, East win SuperSkills competition|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/allstar2007/news/story?id=2740694|access-date=11 December 2008|date=25 January 2007|publisher=ESPN}}</ref> While his season was a personal success for many of these reasons, the Bruins were in a rebuilding mode at the time, and the signing was questioned throughout the NHL, as Chára posted an uncharacteristic −21 plus-minus rating that season due to the Bruins' struggles. However, his 32 assists were a new career high.

In [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08]], Chára was voted a starter in the [[2008 National Hockey League All-Star Game|2008 NHL All-Star Game]], the first time in his career he received such All-Star Game honours. He repeated as the winner of the hardest shot competition, recording an even-faster 103.1&nbsp;mph (166&nbsp;km/h) on the radar gun.<ref>{{cite news|last=Allen|first=Kevin|title=Ovechkin, Chara dazzle in NHL All-Star prelude|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2008-01-26-all-star-skills_N.htm|work=USA Today|access-date=24 April 2008 | date=26 January 2008}}</ref> On 8 March 2008, during a game against the [[Washington Capitals]], Chára suffered a torn [[glenoidal labrum|labrum]] in his left shoulder. However, after missing five games, he played the remainder of the season, including the [[2008 Stanley Cup playoffs|2008 playoffs]]. Upon a first-round elimination at the hands of the [[Montreal Canadiens]], he underwent a shoulder operation on 29 April.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bruins D Chara has shoulder surgery|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=txbruinschara&prov=st&type=lgns|publisher=Yahoo!|access-date=8 August 2008|date=30 April 2008}}</ref> At the end of the season, Chára received his second nomination for the Norris Trophy after tallying a career-high 17 goals, 34 assists and 51 points, marking the fifth-straight season he had either matched or bested his previous season's points total. The Bruins improved tremendously this season, and the critics who had questioned the Bruins' signing of Chára the previous season were largely silenced by his, and the team's, improved play.

[[File:Chara, Zdeno.jpg|thumb|left|Chára with the Bruins in February 2009]]
In [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09]], Chára was named to his fourth [[2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game|All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Chara, Thomas and Savard added to all-star team|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2009/01/09/trio_named_all_star_reserves|access-date=14 January 2009|date=9 January 2009|work=Boston Globe | first=Fluto | last=Shinzawa}}</ref> As back-to-back champion of the hardest shot competition, Chára initiated a charity drive among the participants ($1,000 per player) to go to the charity of choice of the competition's winner. The 2009 installation of the event featured additional intrigue, as three players widely considered to possess the hardest shots in the NHL (Chára, [[Sheldon Souray]] and [[Shea Weber]]) had all been chosen as All-Stars, and therefore would participate in the event. Having raised $24,000 from the six competitors and their respective teams, the NHL and the [[National Hockey League Players' Association]] (NHLPA), Chára set a new Skills Competition record with a 105.4&nbsp;mph (169.7&nbsp;km/h) slapshot. He donated the winnings to [[Right to Play]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Charitable Chara wins NHL's hardest-shot competition|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/charitable-chara-wins-nhl-s-hardest-shot-competition-1.844137|access-date=24 January 2009|date=24 January 2009|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> and due to Chára's leading role in fundraising for charity, the hardest shot competition that year was punningly dubbed a "Chara"ty event.<ref>{{cite web|title=2009 NHL All-Star Game: Hardest Shot Contest: Now a "Chara"ty Event!|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/115067-2009-nhl-all-star-game-hardest-shot-contestnow-a-charaty-event|access-date=31 January 2012|date=24 January 2009|publisher=Bleacher Report|first=Kevin|last=van Steendelaar}}</ref> The shot passed [[Al Iafrate]]'s previous record of 105.2&nbsp;mph (169.3&nbsp;km/h) from the [[1993 National Hockey League All-Star Game|1993 competition]]. During the season, Chára posted a career best 19 goals and eclipsed his career best points total, reaching the 50-point plateau for the second consecutive year with a goal and an assist in his final game of the season. For his efforts, he won his first Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman, edging [[Mike Green (ice hockey, born 1985)|Mike Green]] of the Washington Capitals and [[Nicklas Lidström]] of the [[Detroit Red Wings]].<ref>{{cite web|title=ZDENO CHARA WINS FIRST NORRIS TROPHY, BEATS NICKLAS LIDSTROM|url=http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/zdeno-chara-wins-first-norris-trophy-beats-nicklas-lidstrom|website=thehockeynews.com|access-date=29 March 2018|date=18 July 2009}}</ref>

Chára would post another standout season in [[2009–10 NHL season|2009–10]], scoring 44 points. His goal total fell to seven from the year before, but his play was as strong as ever, leading the Bruins to lock him up long-term with a contract extension; on 9 October 2010, he re-signed with the Bruins on a seven-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Roarke|first1=Shawn P.|title=Bruins, Chara agree to 7-year contract extension|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/bruins-chara-agree-to-7-year-contract-extension/c-540081|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=29 March 2018|date=9 October 2010}}</ref>

In [[2010–11 NHL season|2010–11]], Chára's 14 goals and 44 points were another strong campaign, leading to yet another All-Star selection and new heights as his slapshot continued to break records at the [[2011 National Hockey League All-Star Game|2011 All-Star Game]] in [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]], North Carolina. He eclipsed his own previous record with a shot clocked at 105.9&nbsp;mph (170.43&nbsp;km/h). He also achieved a personal milestone that is exceptionally rare for a defenceman; on 17 January 2011, Chára recorded his first career [[Hat-trick#Hockey|hat-trick]] against the [[Carolina Hurricanes]] in a 7–0 victory. He celebrated the feat by performing retired Slovak NHL star [[Peter Bondra]]'s celebration, where he mimed throwing a hat into the air.<ref>{{cite web|title=Peter Bondra on Zdeno Chára borrowing his hat-trick celebration|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Peter-Bondra-on-Zdeno-Chara-borrowing-his-hat-tr?urn=nhl-308862|access-date=31 January 2012|date=18 January 2011|publisher=Yahoo|first=Greg|last=Wyshynski}}</ref> On 8 March 2011, Chára hit and drove Montreal Canadiens forward [[Max Pacioretty]]'s head directly into an off-ice stanchion at the end of the bench, knocking him unconscious. Pacioretty was taken off the ice on a stretcher.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=555430 | title = Max Pacioretty taken off ice on stretcher / Video |publisher=[[National Hockey League]] | date = 8 March 2011}}</ref> The extent of the injury was revealed the next day to be a non-displaced fracture to the [[Cervical vertebra 4|4th vertebra]] and a severe [[concussion]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://habsinsideout.com/main/46877 | title = Fractured Vertebra for Pacioretty | work = [[The Gazette (Montreal)]] | date = 9 March 2011 | access-date = 9 March 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110312190429/http://www.habsinsideout.com/main/46877 | archive-date = 12 March 2011 | df = dmy-all}}</ref> For delivering the hit, Chára received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct, and videotape of the play was sent to NHL vice president of hockey operations [[Mike Murphy (ice hockey, born 1950)|Mike Murphy]] for review. However, Murphy decided no further punishment was warranted, calling it a "hockey play".<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.nesn.com/2011/03/zdeno-chara-wont-be-suspended-or-fined-by-nhl-for-hit-on-max-pacioretty.html | title = Zdeno Chara won't be suspended or fined by NHL for hit on Pacioretty |work=[[NESN]] | date = 9 March 2011 | access-date =9 March 2011}}</ref> Although a criminal investigation was announced by the [[Service de police de la Ville de Montréal|Montreal Police Service]] immediately after the incident,<ref>{{cite news | title = Pacioretty on-ice hit to be investigated by police |publisher=[[CBC News]] | date = 10 March 2011 | url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/pacioretty-released-from-hospital-1.999400 | access-date =10 March 2011}}</ref> the Crown Prosecutor Office announced on 17 November 2011, that Chára would not be criminally charged.<ref>{{cite web | title = Zdeno Chara of Bruins won't be charged | publisher = ESPN | date = 17 November 2011| url = https://www.espn.com/boston/nhl/story/_/id/7246695/zdeno-chara-boston-bruins-not-charged-hit-max-pacioretty | access-date =17 November 2011}}</ref> Pacioretty eventually made a full recovery, returning to Montreal the following season. The following season the NHL tested and later mandated a change to its rinks to have a curved glass at the end of the player benches to deflect similar impact.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nhl.com/news/league-to-test-curved-glass-at-player-benches/c-587013 | title = League to test curved glass at player benches | date = 17 August 2011 | publisher = [[National Hockey League]]}}</ref> The 2010–11 season culminated in the ultimate glory for Chára, as he captained the Bruins to win the [[Stanley Cup]] against the [[Vancouver Canucks]], the Boston team's first Stanley Cup championship win since [[1972 Stanley Cup Final|1972]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/bruins-capture-stanley-cup/article2062817/ |work=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto |title=Bruins capture Stanley Cup |date=24 August 1912}}</ref> In so doing, Chára became the first Slovak to captain a Stanley Cup champion, and only the second European to do so after Nicklas Lidström of Sweden for the Detroit Red Wings. He also became the first player born in a country behind the [[Iron Curtain]] to captain a Stanley Cup winner.

At the [[2012 National Hockey League All-Star Game|2012 All-Star Game]]'s Hardest Shot skill competition, Chára yet again raised his measured hardest slap shot velocity to another record, attaining 108.8&nbsp;mph (175.1&nbsp;km/h). Runner-up [[Shea Weber]] surpassed Chara's 2011 event record by recording a 106.0&nbsp;mph blast in the same contest, but Chára's performance ensured he kept his title.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=614163 |title=Chara sets record while keeping Hardest Shot title |author=Erin Nicks |date=28 January 2012 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=28 January 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Zdeno Chára 2012-11-30.JPG|upright|left|thumb|Chára in December 2012 while with [[HC Lev Praha|Lev Praha]] of the [[Kontinental Hockey League|KHL]] during the [[2012–13 NHL lockout]]]]
Chára is widely considered to have the hardest slapshot in the NHL, and quite possibly the world – the [[Kontinental Hockey League]] (KHL) claims the world record belongs to [[Alex Riazantsev]] at 114.1&nbsp;mph, but due to differences in the mechanics of the KHL competition, the NHL does not recognize this figure.<ref>{{cite web|title=KHL's Alexander Ryazantsev sets new 'world record' for hardest shot at 114 mph|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/khl-alexander-ryazantsev-sets-world-record-hardest-shot-174131642.html|publisher=Yahoo|author=Greg Wyshynski|date=21 January 2012|access-date=31 January 2012}}</ref> Chára won the hardest shot competition at the All-Star Game Skills Competition five times in a row, in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012 (Note: there was no NHL All-Star Game in 2010, due to NHL player participation in the [[Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2010 Winter Olympics]], and also in 2013 as a result of the [[2012–13 NHL lockout]]). Chára played his 1,000th career NHL game on 24 March 2012 against the [[Los Angeles Kings]], and it ended with a 4–2 victory for the Bruins.

During the [[2012–13 NHL lockout]], Chara agreed to play for [[HC Lev Praha|Lev Praha]] of the KHL until NHL play resumed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bruins' Zdeno Chara leads day's exodus to Europe|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2012/10/02/zdeno-chara-prague-khl-tv-deal/1608187/|work=USA Today|author=Kevin Allen|date=2 October 2012|access-date=10 November 2012}}</ref> He returned from the lockout to post another solid season, with 7 goals and 12 assists in the 48-game season. His point totals were down due to some of Boston's struggles down the stretch, particularly on the power play, where Chára only posted one assist all season despite plenty of ice time in man advantage situations. However, he remained solid on defence and a key contributor for the Bruins. In the [[2013 Stanley Cup playoffs|2013 playoffs]], he was physically dominant and played a key role in leading his team to the [[2013 Stanley Cup Final|Final]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2013/06/15/stanley_cup_being_a_bruin_has_brought_out_best_in_zdeno_chara.html |title=Stanley Cup: Being a Bruin has brought out best in Zdeno Chara |first=Damien |last=Cox |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=15 June 2013 |access-date=23 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/6/17/4440438/zdeno-chara-fights-bryan-bickell-blackhawks-bruins-game-3 |first=Nicholas |last=Scibetta |title=Zdeno Chara punishes Bryan Bickell |publisher=SBNation.com |date=17 June 2013 |access-date=23 June 2014}}</ref>

Following the [[2013–14 NHL season|2013–14 season]], Chára was named a finalist for the Norris Trophy. He was nominated along with eventual winner [[Duncan Keith]] and [[Shea Weber]]. Chára finished runner-up in the voting.<ref>{{cite news |last=Roarke |first=Shawn |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=723699 |title=Keith wins Norris Trophy for second time |publisher=[[National Hockey League]] |date=24 June 2014 |access-date=7 July 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Zdeno Chara - Boston Bruins 2016.jpg|thumb|Chára with the Bruins in March 2016|upright]]
By the time the [[2016–17 NHL season|2016–17 season]] had started, Chára was skating as part of the Bruins' top defensive pairing beside 6-foot-5-inch rookie defenceman [[Brandon Carlo]], nearly 20 years younger than him.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/zdeno-chara-and-brandon-carlo-make-a-unique-pair/c-283693394 |title=Zdeno Chara and Brandon Carlo Make a Unique Pair |last= Switaj |first=Karen |date=13 November 2016 |website=nhl.bruins.com |publisher=Boston Bruins |access-date=13 November 2016 |quote=Brandon Carlo used to be the tallest player on his team. When the 6-foot-5 defenceman would head out to the ice, the process was as simple as taking the tallest stick from the stick rack. Now, it requires a bit more notice. Carlo's defence partner these days, standing at 6-foot-9, happens to have a few inches on him. "Now, I come and I look at all the stick racks, and my sticks, I can rarely find them because they look the same size as everybody else's compared next to his," Carlo laughed. "It's pretty crazy." Everything these days is pretty crazy for the young blueliner, who has spent his first days in the NHL being paired with Bruins Captain Zdeno Chara.}}</ref>

A similar "pairing" for Chára occurred as the [[2017–18 Boston Bruins season|2017–18 season]] got going: the American-born star rookie defenceman [[Charlie McAvoy]] had, by mid-November of the new Bruins season, become Chára's latest "regular" defensive partner for the Bruins.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/no-passengers-approach-serves-bruins-well/c-293081618 |title=No Passengers Approach Serves Bruins Well |last=Russo |first=Eric |date=17 November 2017 |website=nhl.com/bruins |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=11 February 2018 |quote=All of Boston's offense came from its first defence pairing, as Charlie McAvoy kicked off the scoring with a stellar individual effort in the first period, while Zdeno Chára grabbed the winner with a slapper from the point late in the second.}}</ref> By early February 2018, Chára played in his 1,400th NHL game in a 4–1 home ice defeat of the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]], only the 39th player in NHL history to reach the milestone.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-boston-bruins-game-recap/c-295603102 |title=Rask extends point streak to 20 in Bruins win against Maple Leafs |last=Kalman |first=Matt |date=3 February 2018 |website=nhl.com/bruins |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=11 February 2018 |quote="Need to know"...Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara became the 39th player to play 1,400 NHL games}}</ref> On 28 March 2018, the Bruins re-signed Chára to a one-year, $5&nbsp;million contract extension.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Johnston|first1=Chris|title=Bruins sign Zdeno Chara to one-year extension with reachable bonuses|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/bruins-sign-zdeno-chara-one-year-extension/|website=Sportsnet.ca|date=28 March 2018|access-date=1 April 2018}}</ref>

On 17 April 2019, in game 4 of the first round series between the Bruins and [[Toronto Maple Leafs]], Chára became the oldest defenceman in NHL history to score a game-winning goal in the [[2019 Stanley Cup playoffs|Stanley Cup playoffs]].<ref name=":0">{{cite tweet |user=PR_NHL |number=1118694394226454531 |date=17 April 2019 |title=Zdeno Chara (42 years, 30 days) of the @NHLBruins is the oldest defenseman in NHL history to score a game-winning goal in the #StanleyCup Playoffs. #NHLStats}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=June 2020}} On 9 June 2019, during game 6 of the [[2019 Stanley Cup Final]] against the [[St. Louis Blues]], Chára scored an empty net goal and as a result became the oldest defenceman in NHL history to score a goal in the [[Stanley Cup Final]].<ref>{{cite tweet |user=StatsCentre |number=1137949044112855040 |date=10 June 2019 |title=Hitting an empty net for the 5th & final @NHLBruins goal of Gm6 on Sunday night, Zdeno Chara became the oldest on this list of #StanleyCup Final goal scorers from the blueline}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=June 2020}}

On 10 July 2019, following the retirement of [[Matt Cullen]], Chára became the oldest active NHL player. On 5 November 2019, during a game at the [[Bell Centre]] against the [[Montreal Canadiens]], Chára became the 21st player in NHL history to play 1,500 regular season games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/bruins/zdeno-chara-excited-1500th-nhl-game-game-has-given-me-so-much|title=Chara excited for 1,500th NHL game|date=5 November 2019|website=NBC Sports Boston|access-date=10 December 2019}}</ref>

===Washington Capitals (2020–2021)===
On 30 December 2020, Chára signed a one-year, $795,000 contract with the [[Washington Capitals]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Capitals Sign Defenseman Zdeno Chara |url=https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/capitals-sign-defenseman-zdeno-chara/c-319917488 |website=NHL.com |access-date=30 December 2020 |date=30 December 2020}}</ref> He scored his first goal with the team on 28 January 2021, against the [[New York Islanders]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Fernandez |first=Gabriel |date=29 January 2021 |title=Zdeno Chara scores first goal of Capitals career, caps off five-goal period |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/zdeno-chara-scores-first-goal-of-capitals-career-caps-off-five-goal-period/ |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=CBS Sports |language=en}}</ref>

===Return to the Islanders and retirement (2021–2022)===
On 18 September 2021, it was announced that Chára had signed a one-year contract with the New York Islanders.<ref>{{cite web |title=Islanders Agree To Terms On One-Year Contract With Chara |url=https://www.nhl.com/islanders/news/islanders-agree-to-terms-on-one-year-contract-with-chara/c-326200014 |website=NHL.com |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=18 September 2021}}</ref> On 24 February 2022, Chára played his 1,652nd NHL game, surpassing [[Chris Chelios]]' record of 1,651 games played by a defenceman.<ref>{{cite web |title=NHL Celebrates Zdeno Chara's Milestone |url=https://www.nhl.com/islanders/news/nhl-celebrates-zdeno-charas-milestone/c-331165578 |website=NHL.com |access-date=17 September 2022 |date=24 February 2022}}</ref> At the end of the season, he was a finalist for the [[Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy]], awarded to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey".<ref>{{cite web |title=Chara, Hayes, Price named finalists for 2022 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/chara-hayes-price-named-finalists-for-2022-bill-masterton-memorial-trophy/ |website=[[Sportsnet]] |access-date=16 May 2022 |date=16 May 2022}}</ref>

On 20 September 2022, Chára announced his retirement from professional hockey. He signed a one-day contract with the Boston Bruins to officially retire as a member of the team.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chara retires from NHL, will sign one-day contract with Bruins|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/zdeno-chara-retires-from-hockey/c-334789936|website=NHL.com|accessdate=20 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Chara to sign one-day contract to retire with Bruins |url=https://www.tsn.ca/zdeno-chara-boston-bruins-retires-1.1851131 |website=TSN.ca |date=20 September 2022}}</ref>

===Post-retirement===
On 29 September 2025, Chára rejoined the Boston Bruins once again, now serving as a hockey operations adviser. Some of his responsibilities in this role include, strengthening communication between players and the coaching staff, attending practices, home games and providing off-ice development support for defencemen.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chara 'has so much to offer' in new role with Bruins |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/zdeno-chara-returns-to-boston-he-has-so-much-to-offer |access-date=29 September 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=26 September 2025}}</ref>

On 6 October, the Bruins announced that they would retire Chára's number 33 on 15 January 2026.<ref>{{cite web |title=Boston Bruins to Retire Zdeno Chara’s Number 33 on Jan. 15 |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/boston-bruins-to-retire-zdeno-chara-s-number-33-on-jan-15 |website=NHL.com |access-date=6 October 2025 |date=6 October 2025}}</ref>

==International play==
{{MedalTableTop|name=|Chara02172010b (cropped).jpg|200px|Chara at the [[Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2010 Winter Olympics]]}}
{{MedalSport|Men's [[ice hockey]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ih|SVK}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Ice Hockey World Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2000 IIHF World Championship|2000 Russia]]|}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2012 IIHF World Championship|2012 Finland/Sweden]]|}}
{{MedalCountry|[[Team Europe (ice hockey)|Team Europe]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Cup of Hockey|World Cup]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2016 World Cup of Hockey|2016 Canada]]|}}
{{MedalBottom}}
Chára represented [[Slovakia men's national ice hockey team|Slovakia]] in 10 international tournaments, having played in the [[Ice Hockey World Championships|World Championships]] ([[1999 IIHF World Championship|1999]], [[2000 IIHF World Championship|2000]], [[2001 IIHF World Championship|2001]], [[2004 IIHF World Championship|2004]], [[2005 IIHF World Championship|2005]], [[2007 IIHF World Championship|2007]], [[2012 IIHF World Championship|2012]]) and the [[Winter Olympics]] ([[Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2006]], [[Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2010]], [[Ice hockey at the 2014 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2014]]). He won a World Championship silver medal in 2000, later captaining Slovakia to his second silver medal in 2012. He also competed in the [[2004 World Cup of Hockey]] for Slovakia and the [[2016 World Cup of Hockey]] for [[Team Europe (ice hockey)|Team Europe]].

During the [[2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony]], Chára served as the flag bearer for Slovakia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=25228 |title=Bruins' Chara to carry Slovakia flag at Olympics |date=16 January 2014 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=16 January 2014}}</ref>

In 2020, Chára was named into the [[IIHF All-Time Teams|IIHF All-Time Slovakia Team]].

==Personal life==
Before he was drafted into the NHL, Chára's coaches in his native Slovakia attempted to persuade him to play [[basketball]], due to his height.<ref>{{cite news |last=Robinson |first=Joshua |title=Standing Up Tall for Himself |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/sports/hockey/08seconds.html |access-date=19 June 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |date=7 March 2009}}</ref> Also as a result of his height, Chára uses 67-inch sticks (four inches longer than NHL regulations), and received a waiver from the NHL to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/bruins/2019/12/14/nhl-players-mighty-particular-when-comes-their-sticks/NHAny5ORymv1qMAvdEtOZP/story.html|title=NHL players mighty particular when it comes to their sticks – The Boston Globe|website=Boston Globe|access-date=15 December 2019}}</ref>

Chára married his long-time girlfriend Tatiana Biskupicová on 14 July 2007, in a Catholic church in [[Nemšová]], Slovakia.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hamill a true surprise pick|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/articles/2007/07/08/hamill_a_true_surprise_pick/?page=full|work=Boston Globe|access-date=24 April 2008 | date=8 July 2007 | first1=Fluto | last1=Shinzawa}}</ref> Tatiana gave birth to the couple's first child, daughter Elliz Victoria Chára (Chárová), on 27 April 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2009/04/29/zdeno-chara-welcomes-daughter-elliz-victoria/ |title=Boston Bruin Zdeno Chara Welcomes Daughter Elliz Victoria |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=28 April 2009 |access-date=23 June 2014}}</ref> Their twin boys, Zack and Ben, were born on 7 March 2016. All three of their children were born in [[Boston]]. His father, Zdeněk Chára, was a prominent [[Greco-Roman wrestling|Greco-Roman wrestler]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Dupont|first=Kevin Paul|title=Perfect fit|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2006/08/25/perfect_fit/|work=Boston Globe|access-date=26 April 2008 | date=25 August 2006}}</ref>

Chára is an athletic ambassador for [[Right To Play]]. In July 2008, he spent two weeks in Africa, visiting [[Mozambique]] in support of the charity, and climbing [[Mount Kilimanjaro]] with former NHL player [[Robyn Regehr]].<ref name="Kilimanjaro 1">{{cite web|url=http://bruins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=368305|title=Chara's Challenge: Zee vs. The Mountain|publisher=Bruins.com|author=Simpson, Rob|access-date=15 July 2008}}</ref><ref name="Kilimanjaro 2">{{cite web|url=http://bruins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=368389|title=Bruins, Boots and Blisters|publisher=Bruins.com|author=Simpson, Rob|access-date=15 July 2008}}</ref>

Chára was one of the first NHL players to endorse [[You Can Play]] and acceptance of gay players in professional hockey.<ref name="bare_url_c">{{cite web|title=Zdeno Chara, Jason Pominville, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres|url=http://youcanplayproject.org/videos/entry/you-can-play-team-captains-zdeno-chara-jason-pominville|publisher=The You Can Play Project|access-date=9 November 2015|archive-date=25 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125235840/http://youcanplayproject.org/videos/entry/you-can-play-team-captains-zdeno-chara-jason-pominville|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Chára is a [[Polyglotism|polyglot]], speaking six languages outside of his native [[Slovak language|Slovak]]: [[Czech language|Czech]], [[Polish language|Polish]], [[Swedish language|Swedish]], Russian, German, and English.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bishop|first=John|title=Bruins by the Numbers: 33|url=http://bruins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=534759|publisher=BostonBruins.Com|year=2010|access-date=4 August 2010}}</ref> He also has a [[financial planning]] diploma from Ottawa's [[Algonquin College]].<ref name="BGlobe"/> In early 2015, Chára received a license to sell real estate in [[Massachusetts]].<ref name="BGlobe">{{cite news|last1=Chesto|first1=Jon|last2=Benjamin|first2=Amalie|title=Zdeno Chara scores a new goal in getting real estate license|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/02/06/bruins-captain-scores-new-goal-his-real-estate-license/zYaTfqEDHDrpsNGpYasPXL/story.html?p1=Article_Trending_Most_Viewed|access-date=26 September 2016|work=Boston Globe|date=7 February 2015}}</ref>

In 2021, Chára was awarded the [[Order of Ľudovít Štúr]] 2nd Class, Slovakia's second-highest state honour. The recognition was for his extraordinary merits in sport and for spreading the good name of his country abroad.<ref>{{cite web |title=2025 Induction Celebration: Zdeno Chara |url=http://www.hhof.com/induction/induction2025/about_Chara.html |website=Hockey Hall of Fame |access-date=4 September 2025}}</ref>

Since retirement, Chára has competed in multiple marathons, [[triathlon]]s and the [[Ironman Triathlon]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Metzler |first=Brian |title=This Future Hall of Fame Hockey Player Can't Stop Running Marathons |url=https://run.outsideonline.com/people/hockey-great-zdeno-chara-has-become-a-passionate-marathon-runner/ |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=Outside Online |date=14 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Athlete Spotlight: Zdeno Chara, NHL to Endurance Sports |url=https://nixbiosensors.com/pages/athlete-spotlight-zdeno-chara-from-the-nhl-to-endurance-sports |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=Nix Biosensors}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ormond |first=Cameron |title=Former NHL star Zdeno Chara crushes Ironman 70.3 in standout time |url=https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/former-nhl-star-zdeno-chara-crushes-ironman-70-3-in-standout-time/ |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=Canadian Running Magazine |date=20 August 2025}}</ref>

During game one of the [[2024 NBA Finals]], the [[Boston Celtics]] honoured Chára with the Heroes Among Us award in honour of his community service across New England. The Heroes Among Us award is the Celtics' community outreach award dating back to 1997.<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1799068572570058901 |user=NHLBruins |title=Add NBA Finals standing ovation to his résumé: During Game 1 at @TDGarden, No. 33 was honored by the @Celtics as their "Hero Among Us" for his years of community service across New England. Well deserved, Zee! |author=Boston Bruins |author-link=Boston Bruins |date=6 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Heroes Among Us |url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/community/heroes-among-us |access-date=7 June 2024 |publisher=[[Boston Celtics]]}}</ref>

===Philanthropy===
For several years, Chára hosted the Big Z Challenge, an annual charity event in [[Manchester, New Hampshire]], that brought Bruins fans and families together in fundraising with games and entertainment. All the proceeds supported pediatric and cancer care improvements at Elliot Health System.<ref>{{cite web |title=Past Events |url=https://www.bigzchallenge.com/past-events |access-date=4 September 2025 |website=THE BIG Z CHALLENGE with Zdeno Chara}}</ref>

In 2018, Chára continued an annual Bruins tradition by purchasing $2,000 worth of pies from a local pastry shop and delivering them to multiple Boston-area shelters for Thanksgiving. He also helped raise additional funds through fan participation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bruins Announce Thanksgiving Initiatives Spearheaded By Zdeno Chara |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-announce-thanksgiving-initiatives-spearheaded-by-zdeno-chara-302094876 |access-date=4 September 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=19 November 2018}}</ref> Chara also spearheaded a shoe drive with Soles4Souls, personally donating $7,500 worth of New Balance shoes and collecting over 2,000 pairs for underserved communities in Boston and Slovakia, and supported the Bruins' PJ Drive, helping collect a record 21,000 pairs of pajamas for Massachusetts children.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rizzo |first=Lizzie |title=Bruins' Captain Zdeno Chara Nominated |url=https://blackngoldhockey.com/2019/04/bruins-zdeno-chara-nominated/ |access-date=4 September 2025 |website=Black N' Gold Hockey |date=17 April 2019}}</ref>

Chára participated in the [[2023 Boston Marathon]] to support the Hoyt Foundation and the Thomas E. Smith Foundation,<ref>{{cite web |last=Yohe |first=Julia |title=Zdeno Chara can't decide if running the Boston Marathon was harder than playing an NHL game |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/04/17/sports/zdeno-chara-boston-marathon/ |access-date=17 April 2023 |website=BostonGlobe.com |date=17 April 2023}}</ref> finishing with a time of 3:38:23.<ref>{{cite web |title=Defending champ Evans Chebet wins men's race at Boston Marathon; Hellen Obiri takes women's race |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-fast-and-decorated-field-gathers-for-start-of-127th-boston-marathon/ |accessdate=20 May 2023 |via=theglobeandmail.com |date=17 April 2023}}</ref> He ran the marathon again in [[2024 Boston Marathon|2024]] for the same organizations, nearly eight minutes faster than his previous time finishing with a time of 3:30:52.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zdeno Chara shaves over 7 minutes off his Boston Marathon finish time |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/zdeno-chara-2024-boston-marathon-finish-time-london-marathon-next-week-bruins-nhl/ |access-date=4 September 2025 |website=cbsnews.com |date=15 April 2024}}</ref> In 2025, he joined the Thomas E. Smith Foundation's board of directors.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=TESFoundation |number=1937872551792812247 |access-date=6 October 2025 |date=25 June 2025 |title=We're proud to share that Boston Bruins Captain, Stanley Cup Champion & NHL Hall of Famer, Zdeno Chara, has joined the TESF's Advisory Board of Directors!!}}</ref>

In 2024, Chára volunteered at the annual Special Olympics games in [[Lexington, Massachusetts|Lexington]], participating in running, soccer, and hurdles.<ref>{{cite news |last=Salazar |first=Mari |title=Zdeno Chara joins Special Olympics athletes at event in Lexington |url=https://whdh.com/news/zdeno-chara-joins-special-olympics-athletes-at-event-in-lexington/ |access-date=4 September 2025 |work=WHDH News |date=26 April 2024}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Regular season and playoffs===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp;
! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp;
! colspan="5" | [[Regular season|Regular&nbsp;season]]
! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp;
! colspan="5" | [[Playoffs]]
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! [[Season (sports)|Season]]
! Team
! League
! GP
! [[Goal (ice hockey)|G]]
! [[Assist (ice hockey)|A]]
! [[Point (ice hockey)|Pts]]
! [[Penalty (ice hockey)|PIM]]
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
|-
| 1994–95
| [[HK Dukla Trenčín|Dukla Trenčín]]
| SVK U18
| 30
| 22
| 22
| 44
| 113
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1994–95
| Dukla Trenčín
| SVK U20
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- 
| 1995–96
| Dukla Trenčín
| SVK U20
| 22
| 1
| 13
| 14
| 80
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 
| [[1995–96 Slovak 1.Liga season|1995–96]]
| Dukla Trenčín II
| [[Slovak 1.Liga|SVK.2]]
| 5
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 6
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 1995–96
| [[ŠHK 37 Piešťany]]
| SVK.2
| 10
| 1
| 3
| 4
| 10
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 
| 1995–96
| [[HC Sparta Praha|Sparta Praha]]
| CZE U20
| 15
| 1
| 2
| 3
| 42
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| [[1995–96 Czech Extraliga season|1995–96]]
| Sparta Praha
| [[Czech Extraliga|ELH]]
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[1996–97 WHL season|1996–97]]
| [[Prince George Cougars]]
| [[Western Hockey League|WHL]]
| 49
| 3
| 19
| 22
| 120
| 15
| 1
| 7
| 8
| 45
|- 
| [[1997–98 AHL season|1997–98]]
| [[Kentucky Thoroughblades]]
| [[American Hockey League|AHL]]
| 48
| 4
| 9
| 13
| 125
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 4
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[1997–98 NHL season|1997–98]]
| [[New York Islanders]]
| [[National Hockey League|NHL]]
| 25
| 0
| 1
| 1
| 50
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- 
| [[1998–99 AHL season|1998–99]]
| [[Lowell Lock Monsters]]
| AHL
| 23
| 2
| 2
| 4
| 47
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99]]
| New York Islanders
| NHL
| 59
| 2
| 6
| 8
| 83
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000]]
| New York Islanders
| NHL
| 65
| 2
| 9
| 11
| 57
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01]]
| New York Islanders
| NHL
| 82
| 2
| 7
| 9
| 157
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- 
| [[2001–02 Slovak Extraliga season|2001–02]]
| Dukla Trenčín
| [[Tipos Extraliga|SVK]]
| 8
| 2
| 2
| 4
| 32
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]]
| [[Ottawa Senators]]
| NHL
| 75
| 10
| 13
| 23
| 156
| 10
| 0
| 1
| 1
| 12
|- 
| [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03]]
| Ottawa Senators
| NHL
| 74
| 9
| 30
| 39
| 116
| 18
| 1
| 6
| 7
| 14
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04]]
| Ottawa Senators
| NHL
| 79
| 16
| 25
| 41
| 147
| 7
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 8
|- 
| [[2004–05 Elitserien season|2004–05]]
| [[Färjestad BK]]
| [[Swedish Hockey League|SEL]]
| 33
| 10
| 15
| 25
| 132
| 13
| 3
| 5
| 8
| 82
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06]]
| Ottawa Senators
| NHL
| 71
| 16
| 27
| 43
| 135
| 10
| 1
| 3
| 4
| 23
|- 
| [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07]]
| [[Boston Bruins]]
| NHL
| 80
| 11
| 32
| 43
| 100
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 77
| 17
| 34
| 51
| 114
| 7
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 12
|- 
| [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 80
| 19
| 31
| 50
| 95
| 11
| 1
| 3
| 4
| 12
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2009–10 NHL season|2009–10]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 80
| 7
| 37
| 44
| 87
| 13
| 2
| 5
| 7
| 29
|- 
| [[2010–11 NHL season|2010–11]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 81
| 14
| 30
| 44
| 88
| 24
| 2
| 7
| 9
| 34
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2011–12 NHL season|2011–12]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 79
| 12
| 40
| 52
| 86
| 7
| 1
| 2
| 3
| 8
|- 
| [[2012–13 KHL season|2012–13]]
| [[HC Lev Praha|Lev Praha]]
| [[Kontinental Hockey League|KHL]]
| 25
| 4
| 6
| 10
| 24
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2012–13 NHL season|2012–13]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 48
| 7
| 12
| 19
| 70
| 22
| 3
| 12
| 15
| 20
|- 
| [[2013–14 NHL season|2013–14]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 77
| 17
| 23
| 40
| 66
| 12
| 2
| 2
| 4
| 14
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2014–15 NHL season|2014–15]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 63
| 8
| 12
| 20
| 42
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
|[[2015–16 NHL season|2015–16]]
|Boston Bruins
|NHL
|79
|9
|28
|37
|71
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2016–17 NHL season|2016–17]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 75
| 10
| 19
| 29
| 59
| 6
| 0
| 1
| 1
| 2
|-
| [[2017–18 NHL season|2017–18]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 73
| 7
| 17
| 24
| 60
| 12
| 1
| 2
| 3
| 4
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2018–19 NHL season|2018–19]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 62
| 5
| 9
| 14
| 57
| 23
| 2
| 4
| 6
| 16
|- 
| [[2019–20 NHL season|2019–20]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 68
| 5
| 9
| 14
| 60
| 13
| 0
| 2
| 2
| 8
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21]]
| [[Washington Capitals]]
| NHL
| 55
| 2
| 8
| 10
| 44
| 5
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 2
|-
|[[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22]]
|New York Islanders
|NHL
|72
|2
|12
|14
|85
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan="3" | NHL totals
! 1,680
! 209
! 471
! 680
! 2,085
! 200
! 18
! 52
! 70
! 218
|}

===International===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:40em"
|- style="text-align:center; background:#e0e0e0;"
! Year
! Team
! Event
! Result
! rowspan="99" style="background:#fff;"| &nbsp;
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
|-
| [[1999 IIHF World Championship|1999]]
| [[Slovakia national men's ice hockey team|Slovakia]]
| [[Ice Hockey World Championships|WC]]
| 7th
| 6
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 6
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2000 IIHF World Championship|2000]]
| Slovakia
| WC
| {{silver2}}
| 9
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 12
|-
| [[2001 IIHF World Championship|2001]]
| Slovakia
| WC
| 7th
| 7
| 0
| 1
| 1
| 10
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2004 IIHF World Championship|2004]]
| Slovakia
| WC
| 4th
| 9
| 2
| 0
| 2
| 2
|-
| [[2004 World Cup of Hockey|2004]]
| Slovakia
| [[World Cup of Hockey|WCH]]
| 7th
| 4
| 0
| 2
| 2
| 8
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2005 IIHF World Championship|2005]]
| Slovakia
| WC
| 5th
| 7
| 0
| 2
| 2
| 2
|-
| [[Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2006]]
| Slovakia
| [[Ice hockey at the Olympic Games|OG]]
| 5th
| 6
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 2
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2007 IIHF World Championship|2007]]
| Slovakia
| WC
| 6th
| 7
| 3
| 1
| 4
| 4
|-
| [[Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2010]]
| Slovakia
| OG
| 4th
| 7
| 0
| 3
| 3
| 6
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2012 IIHF World Championship|2012]]
| Slovakia
| WC
| {{silver2}}
| 10
| 2
| 2
| 4
| 4
|-
| [[Ice hockey at the 2014 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2014]]
| Slovakia
| OG
| 11th
| 4
| 0
| 1
| 1
| 4
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2016 World Cup of Hockey|2016]]
| [[Team Europe (ice hockey)|Team Europe]]
| WCH
| {{silver2}}
| 6
| 2
| 0
| 2
| 6
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan=4 | Senior totals
! 82
! 11
! 13
! 24
! 66
|}

==Awards, honours and records==
[[File:Zdeno Chara (5850995488).jpg|thumb|Chára hoisting the [[Stanley Cup]] during the Bruins' [[2011 Stanley Cup Final|2011]] victory parade]]
{| class="wikitable"
! Award
! Year
|-
! colspan="2"|[[American Hockey League|AHL]]
|-
| [[AHL All-Star Game]]
| [[1997–98 AHL season|1998]]
|-
| AHL All-Rookie team
| [[1997–98 AHL season|1998]]
|-
! colspan="2"|[[National Hockey League|NHL]]
|-
| [[NHL All-Star Game]]
| [[2003 NHL All-Star Game|2003]], [[2007 NHL All-Star Game|2007]], [[2008 NHL All-Star Game|2008]], [[2009 NHL All-Star Game|2009]], [[2011 NHL All-Star Game|2011]], [[2012 NHL All-Star Game|2012]]
|-
| [[NHL All-Star team|NHL First All-Star team]]
| [[2003–04 NHL season|2004]], [[2008–09 NHL season|2009]], [[2013–14 NHL season|2014]]
|-
| [[NHL All-Star team|NHL Second All-Star team]]
| [[2005–06 NHL season|2006]], [[2007–08 NHL season|2008]], [[2010–11 NHL season|2011]], [[2011–12 NHL season|2012]]
|-
| [[NHL All-Star Skills Competition#Hardest shot|NHL All-Star Skills Competition hardest shot]]
| [[55th National Hockey League All-Star Game|2007]], [[56th National Hockey League All-Star Game|2008]], [[57th National Hockey League All-Star Game|2009]], [[58th National Hockey League All-Star Game|2011]], [[59th NHL All-Star Game|2012]]
|-
| [[James Norris Memorial Trophy]]
| [[2008–09 NHL season|2009]]
|-
| [[NHL All-Decade team]] 2000s
| [[2009–10 NHL season|2009]]
|-
| [[Stanley Cup]] champion
| [[2011 Stanley Cup Final|2011]]
|-
| [[Mark Messier Leadership Award]]
| [[2010–11 NHL season|2011]]
|-
| [[NHL All-Decade team]] 2010s
| [[2019–20 NHL season|2020]]
|-
| [[Hockey Hall of Fame]]
| 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=Chara, Thornton, Keith, Mogilny among 8 elected to Hockey Hall of Fame |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/zdeno-chara-joe-thornton-duncan-keith-alexander-mogilny-elected-to-hockey-hall-of-fame |access-date=24 June 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=24 June 2025}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="2"|[[International Ice Hockey Federation|International]]
|-
| [[Ice Hockey World Championships|IIHF World Championship]] all-star team
| [[2004 IIHF World Championship|2004]], 2012
|-
| IIHF World Championship [[List of IIHF World Championship directorate award winners|best defenceman]]
| 2012
|-
| [[IIHF All-Time Teams]] – Slovakia
| 2020
|-
| [[IIHF Hall of Fame]]
| 2025<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/henrik-lundqvist-zdeno-chara-headline-iihf-hall-of-fame-class-of-2025|title=Lundqvist, Chara headline IIHF Hall of Fame Class of 2025|date=3 January 2025|website=[[National Hockey League]]|access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Veľká pocta pre Zdena Cháru. Uvedú ho do Siene slávy IIHF|agency=[[News Agency of the Slovak Republic|TASR]]|date=3 January 2025|work=Sportnet|language=sk|location=|url=https://sportnet.sme.sk/spravy/hokej-zdeno-chara-uvedenie-sien-slavy-iihf-2025/|access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref>
|-
| [[Slovak Hockey Hall of Fame]]
| 2025<ref>{{cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Derek |title=Zdeno Chára Talks Hall-Of-Fame And Farewell Game |url=https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/zdeno-chara-talks-hall-of-fame-and-farewell-game |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=The Hockey News |date=26 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="2"|[[Boston Bruins]]
|-
| [[List of Boston Bruins award winners#John P. Bucyk Award|John P. Bucyk Award]]
| [[2007–08 Boston Bruins season|2008]], [[2018–19 Boston Bruins season|2019]]
|-
| [[List of Boston Bruins award winners#Three Stars awards|Bruins Three Stars awards]]
| [[2008–09 Boston Bruins season|2009]]
|-
| [[List of Boston Bruins award winners#Eddie Shore Award|Eddie Shore Award]]
| [[2011–12 Boston Bruins season|2012]]
|-
|[[List of Boston Bruins award winners|Named to top 100 best Bruins players of all time]]
|[[2023–24 Boston Bruins season|2024]]
|-
|[[List of Boston Bruins award winners|Boston Bruins all-centennial team]]
|[[2023–24 Boston Bruins season|2024]]
|}
* Elected captain of Team Chara in the [[2012 National Hockey League All-Star Game]].
* ''[[The Hockey News]]'' John Ferguson Award (toughest player) – 2013

===Records===
* Tallest player in NHL history at {{height|ft=6|in=9}} tall.
* First NHL player born in the [[Eastern Bloc]] to captain an NHL team to the Stanley Cup ([[2011 Stanley Cup Final|2011]]).
* NHL All-Star Skills Competition hardest shot record – 108.8&nbsp;mph (175.067&nbsp;km/h) ([[2012 NHL All-Star Game|2012]]) <small>(surpassed [[58th National Hockey League All-Star Game#Skills Competition|his previous record from 2011]] at 105.9&nbsp;mph, which surpassed a [[57th National Hockey League All-Star Game#Skills Competition|second previous record of his from 2009]] at 105.4&nbsp;mph)</small>
*Won the NHL All-Star Skills Competition hardest shot 5 times the most in [[National Hockey League|NHL]] history.
* Most game 7 playoff appearances in [[National Hockey League|NHL]] history.<ref>{{cite web|date=9 June 2019|title=Bruins' Zdeno Chara set Stanley Cup record in Game 6, will set another in Game 7|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/bruins/bruins-zdeno-chara-set-stanley-cup-record-game-6-will-set-another-game-7|access-date=10 June 2019|website=NBC Sports Boston}}</ref>
* Oldest defenceman in NHL history to score a game-winning goal in the [[Stanley Cup playoffs]] – 42 years and 30 days.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=pr_nhl |number=1118694394226454531 |date=17 April 2019 |title=Zdeno Chara (42 years, 30 days) of the @NHLBruins is the oldest defenseman in NHL history to score a game-winning goal in the #StanleyCup Playoffs. #NHLStats}}</ref>
* Oldest defenceman in NHL history to score a goal in the [[Stanley Cup Final]] – 42 years and 83 days.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=SNstats |number=1137915813950885890 |date=9 June 2019 |title=#NHLBruins Zdeno Chara: Oldest defenceman to score a goal in the #StanleyCup Final}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=June 2020}}
* Most games played by a defenceman in NHL history.<ref>{{cite web |date=25 February 2022 |title=Isles' Chara breaks Chelios' games-played record |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/33365568/new-york-islanders-zdeno-chara-breaks-chris-chelios-games-played-record-defenseman |access-date=28 February 2022 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of NHL players with 1,000 games played]]
* [[List of Slovaks in the NHL]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=notes}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Zdeno Chára}}
* {{Ice hockey stats}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{Olympics.com|zdeno-chara}}
* {{SOŠV|zdeno-chara}}
* {{Olympedia}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chara, Zdeno}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Slovak sportsmen]]
[[Category:Algonquin College alumni]]
[[Category:Boston Bruins captains]]
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[[Category:Färjestad BK players]]
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[[Category:HK Dukla Trenčín players]]
[[Category:Ice hockey people from Trenčín]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 2006 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 2010 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 2014 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:IIHF Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:James Norris Memorial Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Kentucky Thoroughblades players]]
[[Category:Lowell Lock Monsters players]]
[[Category:National Hockey League All-Stars]]
[[Category:New York Islanders draft picks]]
[[Category:New York Islanders players]]
[[Category:Olympic ice hockey players for Slovakia]]
[[Category:Ottawa Senators players]]
[[Category:Prince George Cougars players]]
[[Category:ŠHK 37 Piešťany players]]
[[Category:Slovak expatriate ice hockey players in Canada]]
[[Category:Slovak expatriate ice hockey players in Sweden]]
[[Category:Slovak expatriate ice hockey players in the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Slovak expatriate ice hockey players in the United States]]
[[Category:Slovak ice hockey defencemen]]
[[Category:Stanley Cup champions]]
[[Category:Washington Capitals players]]