At 6-foot-9, former NHL defenseman Zdeno Chara was one of the best and most respected players in the league. In his 22-year career, Chara played in 1,680 games and recorded 680 points with a +301 rating. Chara last played an NHL game at 45 years old for the New York Islanders in the 2021-22 season.
Chara spent a majority of his career with the Boston Bruins with winning the 2009 Norris Trophy and being the Bruins' captain in their 2011 Stanley Cup championship.
Some might forget that Chara spent four seasons in an Ottawa Senators uniform. Now, the former Senator is on his way to a place everyone expected he would be.
Chara to be inducted in 2025 HOF
Today, it was announced that Chara will be part of the Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2025.
In his four seasons in Ottawa from 2001-2006 (2004-05 season was canceled), Chara was a big part of the Senators' roster. Chara played in 299 games as a Senator and recorded 146 points with a +109 rating. Chara's +109 rating is the third highest in Senators history.
Chara recorded a +29 rating or better in his first three seasons as a Senator. In the 2002-03 season, Chara made the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.
Chara was a big part to the Senators winning the 2003 President's Trophy, but the team suffered a brutal seven-game series loss to the New Jersey Devils in the 2003 Eastern Conference Finals.
In the 2005-06 season, Chara's 43 points was his career-high for a single season as a Senator. After the 2006 playoffs, Chara left the Senators to sign with the Bruins. In 2007, the Senators reached the Stanley Cup Finals in their first year without Chara on the team.
The Senators now have another former player join the Hockey Hall of Fame with Chara making it. Chara's career was one of the best as a defensemen in the NHL.