NHL legend Zdeno Chara has retired from ice hockey after an iconic career predominantly spent playing with the Boston Bruins.
Chara joined the Bruins in 2006 after stints with the New York Islanders and the Ottawa Senators. He led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup championship in 2011, and is one of four European-born and raised captains to lead his team to glory in the leading professional hockey league.
The 45-year-old retires as a six-time NHL All-Star and a three-time member of the NHL First All-Star Team. Standing 6 ft 9 in tall, Chrara is the tallest player to ever play in the NHL, leading to his nickname 'Big Zee'.
After leaving the Bruins in 2020, Chara joined the Washington Capitals before rejoining the Islanders. In 2022, he became the NHL's all-time leader in games played by a defenseman in history with 1,652.
On Tuesday, Chara took to Instagram to announce his retirement from the sport. He wrote: "After 25 seasons of professional hockey, 1,680 NHL regular season games, 200 Stanley Cup Playoff games, and hundreds of international games, I am proud to announce my decision to retire from the National Hockey League.
"In doing so, I am honoured to return to TD Garden today to sign a one-day contract with the Boston Bruins and officially finish my career with the team that has meant so much to me and my family. There are so many people that have helped contribute to my success, including all of you, and I look forward to properly thanking everyone this afternoon. Thank you, Big Zee."
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Chara spent the 2020-21 season in Washington, playing 55 times - including his 1,600th career game. He recorded two goals and 8 assists and was nominated by Washington journalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded for perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
Chara scored two goals and had 14 points in 72 games with the New York Islanders last season, his 24th NHL campaign. A third-round (96th overall) pick at the 1996 NHL Draft, Chara spent four years in New York before he was acquired by the Ottawa Sennators.
He played in Ottawa for four seasons before signing for Boston as a free agent in 2006. Chara spent 14 seasons in Boston, captaining the team to a Stanley Cup in 2011 while he won the Norris Trophy in 2009.
On the international stage, Chara claimed two silver medals at the worlds (2000, 2012) with Slovakia and silver at the World Cup of Hockey with Team Europe.
