BostonBruins.com - A timeline of Zdeno Chara's career in Boston.
July 3, 2006 | Boston
Chara is introduced in Boston two days after signing a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the Bruins.
October 19, 2006 | Boston
Chara makes his Garden debut as the 19th captain in Bruins history during Boston's 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames.
April 12, 2008 | Montreal
Chara fires a shot on Montreal goalie Carey Price during Game 2 of his first playoff series with the Bruins, a seven-game first-round matchup won by the Habs.
May 10, 2009 | Boston
Chara picks up two assists as the Bruins stay alive with a Game 5 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
June 18, 2009 | Las Vegas
Chara wins the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman at the NHL Awards.
January 1, 2010 | Boston
Chara plays in his first NHL Winter Classic, a thrilling overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park.
January 17, 2011 | Boston
Chara notches his first career hat trick in a 7-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes at TD Garden.
June 15, 2011 | Vancouver
Chara hoists the Stanley Cup after the Bruins clinch their first title in 39 years with a 4-0 win over the Canucks in Game 7.
June 18, 2011 | Boston
Chara waves to the crowd as over a million people line the streets of Boston for the Stanley Cup celebration.
June 19, 2011 | Boston
Chara lifts the Cup once more as the Bruins are feted by the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Chara is greeted by Red Sox legend David Ortiz, who congratulates him for the B's Cup victory.
June 22, 2011 | Las Vegas
Chara is awarded the Mark Messier Leadership Award at the NHL Awards.
October 4, 2011 | Boston
Chara and the Bruins are presented with their 2011 Stanley Cup rings.
October 6, 2011 | Boston
Chara helps lift the Bruins' 2011 Stanley Cup Final banner into place in the TD Garden rafters.
January 28, 2012 | Ottawa
Chara registers the hardest shot on record with a 108.8 MPH slapper during the NHL's All-Star Skills Competition.
January 29, 2012 | Ottawa
Chara picks up the game-winning goal as he captains Team Chara to victory at the All-Star Game, one of five he was selected for during his time in Boston.
March 24, 2012 | Los Angeles
Chara plays in his 1,000th career NHL game, a 4-2 Bruins victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
May 13, 2013 | Boston
Chara celebrates after Boston notches the tying goal during an improbable third-period comeback in Game 7 of the first round against Toronto. The Captain was on the ice for all three third-period tallies and the overtime winner.
June 19, 2013 | Boston
Chara and longtime defense partner Dennis Seidenberg chat during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks.
November 29, 2013 | Boston
Chara picks up his fifth career Gordie Howe Hat Trick during a win over the New York Rangers on Black Friday.
February 7, 2014 | Sochi, Russia
Chara serves as the flag bearer for his native Slovakia during the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
February 7, 2015 | Boston
Chara congratulates Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski after the tight end drops the ceremonial puck as New England is honored for their Super Bowl XLIX victory.
January 1, 2016 | Foxborough, Mass.
Chara suits up for the NHL Winter Classic against the Montreal Canadiens at Gillette Stadium.
February 4, 2016 | Boston
Among Chara's many charitable contributions was the Bruins' annual "PJ Drive" which collected pajamas for youth in need.
As he has so many times, Chara stepped up for the community as he helped raise funds for hurricane relief with other athletes before a Red Sox game at Fenway Park.
November 12, 2016 | Glendale, Ariz.
Chara celebrates with Brandon Carlo during Boston's 2-1 win as he mentors his rookie defense partner.
February 12, 2017 | Boston
Chara scores a nifty shorthanded goal through the slot during Boston's 4-0 victory over Montreal, improving the Bruins to 3-0 under interim coach Bruce Cassidy.
October 5, 2017 | Boston
Chara pats the Spoked-B on his way to the ice for Opening Night against Nashville, kicking off his 12th season with the Bruins.
October 7, 2018 | Boston
Chara with his wife, Tatiana, and children, Elliz, Zach, and Ben before a family skate at Warrior Ice Arena.
January 1, 2019 | South Bend, Ind.
Chara plays in his third NHL Winter Classic, this one a thrilling 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Notre Dame Stadium.
February 26, 2019 | Boston
Chara fought 30 times during his Bruins career, including this memorable bout with San Jose's Evander Kane.
March 23, 2019 | Sunrise, Fla.
Chara notches his 200th career goal in the Bruins' playoff-clinching, 7-3 victory over the Florida Panthers.
April 23, 2019 | Boston
Chara celebrates in the dressing room following the Bruins' 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the first round. He has played in an NHL record 14 seventh games in his career.
June 6, 2019 | Boston
Chara receives a raucous standing ovation before Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against St. Louis as he plays just three days after suffering a broken jaw.
September 17, 2019 | Boston
Chara greets fellow Boston sports legend and 42-year-old Tom Brady at a TB12 event.
October 27, 2019 | New York
Chara and defense partner Charlie McAvoy speak ahead of a faceoff, as Boston's captain helps mold the Bruins' future.
November 5, 2019 | Montreal
Chara receives a standing ovation from the rival crowd in honor of his 1,500th NHL game.
November 10, 2019 | Boston
In his first home game after his 1,500th NHL game, Bruins fans do their part with another standing ovation.
November 28, 2019 | Boston
Chara delivers pies and serves turkey at shelters around Boston with Mayor Marty Walsh and other city leaders as part of an annual Bruins tradition on Thanksgiving morning.
January 13, 2020 | Philadelphia
Chara plays in his 1,000th game as a member of the Bruins, a 6-5 shootout loss to the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center.
February 7, 2020 | Boston
In celebration of his 1,000th game with the Bruins, Chara was recognized by New Balance during a special ceremony at Warrior Ice Arena. During the event, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh presented Chara with a street sign bearing the captain's name.
February 8, 2020 | Boston
The following night, Chara is honored for his 1,500th NHL game and 1,000th game in Black & Gold during a pregame ceremony ahead of the B's contest against Arizona at TD Garden.
July 13, 2020 | Boston
Chara and the Bruins return for a pre-playoff training camp following a four-month pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 19, 2020 | Toronto
Chara embraces Patrice Bergeron after the Bruins' five-game victory over Carolina, his final postseason series win with Boston.
August 31, 2020 | Toronto
Chara's final game in the Spoked-B came during Boston's Game 5 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the bubble.
March 3, 2021 | Boston
Chara returned to TD Garden as a member of the Washington Capitals and received a video tribute. The return was tempered, however, as the building remained without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When Washington came back to Boston on April 11, Chara received an ovation from the fans at TD Garden, which was open to spectators in a limited capacity.
September 20, 2022 | Boston
After 24 seasons, over 1,600 regular-season games, and 200 playoff contests, Chara announced his retirement and signed a one-day contract with the B's to finish his legendary career with the team and city that meant so much to him and his family.
Editor's Note:This story was orginally published on Jan. 13, 2020 ahead of Zdeno Chara's 1,000th game in Black & Gold. It was updated following Chara's departure via free agency on Dec. 30, 2020, and again upon his retirement as a Bruin on Sept. 21, 2022.
