Zdeno Chára

Slovak professional ice hockey defenseman · Slovakia · On the map · Athletes · Born 1977 · age 49

Zdeno Chára 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.

Zdeno Chára is read about 556 times a day, in 23 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 11 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 400 days, one point a day.

Something wrong?

Compare Claim

A life in dates

2025IIHF Hall of FameAward2023Crystal WingAward2021Ľudovít Štúr Order 2nd classAward2015Best Slovak Defenseman AwardAward2014Best Slovak Defenseman AwardAward2013Best Slovak Defenseman AwardAward2012Best Slovak Defenseman AwardAward2011Best Slovak Defenseman AwardAwardMark Messier Leadership AwardAward2010Best Slovak Defenseman AwardAward2009Best Slovak Defenseman AwardAwardJames Norris Memorial TrophyAward2006Best Slovak Defenseman AwardAward2004Best Slovak Defenseman AwardAward1977Born18 March 1977

People around Zdeno

Family

Father Zdeněk Chára

Zdeno Chára

Is this everyone?

Only relatives with a profile here are drawn, so a family can be larger than this. A line here can also be wrong.

Correct this family

Also in Deutsch

Career 3

ClubYears

Boston Bruins

Färjestad BK

New York Islanders

Media & music

Photos 8

Chára during his tenure with the Ottawa Senators in January 2006

Chára (left), head coach Dave Lewis (center) and Phil Kessel (right) on Columbus Day with the crew of the USS Doyle in 2006

Chára with the Bruins in February 2009

Chára in December 2012 while with Lev Praha of the KHL during the 2012-13 NHL lockout

Chára with the Bruins in March 2016

Chára hoisting the Stanley Cup during the Bruins' 2011 victory parade

Awards

IIHF Hall of Fame2025

Crystal Wing2023

Ľudovít Štúr Order 2nd class, Zuzana Čaputová2021

Best Slovak Defenseman Award2015

Best Slovak Defenseman Award2014

Best Slovak Defenseman Award2013

Best Slovak Defenseman Award2012

Best Slovak Defenseman Award2011

Mark Messier Leadership Award2011

Best Slovak Defenseman Award2010

Best Slovak Defenseman Award2009

James Norris Memorial Trophy2009

Best Slovak Defenseman Award2006

Best Slovak Defenseman Award2004

James Norris Memorial Trophy

NHL Plus-Minus Award

About this person

Standing 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) tall, Chára is the tallest person ever to play in the NHL, earning him the nickname "Big Z". Internationally, he played for the 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. In 2025, he was inducted into both the IIHF Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Country

Slovakia