Known as "Big Z," the 6-foot-9, 250-pound defenseman was chosen by the New York Islanders in the third round (No. 56) of the 1996 NHL Draft and played four seasons for New York until he was traded to the Ottawa Senators on June 23, 2001. He signed a five-year contract with the Bruins on July 1, 2006 and was named captain to start the season.
Chara helped the Bruins clinch a Stanley Cup Playoff berth in 11 of his 14 seasons with them. He's sixth in their history in games played (1,023), and third in points by a defenseman (481) behind Hockey Hall of Fame members Ray Bourque (1,506) and Bobby Orr (888). He was the oldest active player competing in any of the top five major professional sports leagues in North America (NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS), and ended his NHL career with 680 points (209 goals, 471 assists) and a plus-301 rating for the Islanders, Senators, Bruins and Washington Capitals.
Here is a timeline of Chara's NHL career highlights:
June 22, 1996 -- Chara, a 19-year-old defenseman playing for Dukla Trencin in Slovakia, is selected by the Islanders in the third round (No. 56) of the 1996 NHL Draft at Kiel Center in St. Louis. He moves to North America and plays the 1996-97 season with Prince George of the Western Hockey League.
Nov. 19, 1997 -- After starting the 1997-98 season with Kentucky of the American Hockey League, Chara is called up by the Islanders and makes his NHL debut in a 3-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. He plays 25 games during three stints with the Islanders, earning his first NHL point when he gets an assist against the New York Rangers on April 15, 1998.