Zdeno Chára

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Zdeno Chara)

Position	Defenseman
Shoots	Left
Nickname	Big Z, Big Chara
Height Weight	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 270 lb (123 kg)
NHL Team F. Teams	Boston Bruins New York Islanders Ottawa Senators
Nationality	Image:Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia
Born	March 18, 1977, Trencin, CS
NHL Draft	56th overall, 1996 New York Islanders
Pro Career	1997 – present

</div></div> Zdeno Chára (born March 18, 1977) is an ice hockey defenceman playing for the Boston Bruins. At 6'10", he is the tallest player ever to play in the National Hockey League.

Chára was born in Trenčín, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). His father, Zdenek, was an Olympic wrestler. He was drafted 56th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. During the 2001 draft, he was traded to the Senators as part of a package-deal with Bill Muckalt and the second overall pick (used to draft Jason Spezza) in exchange for Alexei Yashin.

In 2003 Chára made his first appearance at the NHL All-Star game, and in the skills competition recorded the second hardest shot after Al MacInnis.

In 2004 Chára was the runner-up to Scott Niedermayer for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the best defenceman of the season.

Chára has represented Slovakia in five World Championships as well as in one World Cup.

Chára ended with the third highest +/- in the 2003-2004 season, only behind the Tampa Bay Lightning's Martin St. Louis and the Vancouver Canucks' Marek Malik, who were tied for first.

He had a career year in 2005-2006, posting personal bests in goals (16), points (43), and shots on goal (212).

On July 1, 2006, he signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the Boston Bruins. On October 3rd, 2006, he was named Captain of the Boston Bruins, a role left vacant since Joe Thornton's departure.

Besides playing for the Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders of the NHL Chára has played on numerous other teams throughout his career. These include HK Dukla Trenčín and HK VTJ Piestany of the Slovak Extraliga, one game with HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga, Prince George Cougars of the WHL, Kentucky Thoroughblades and Lowell Lock Monsters of the AHL, and most recently during the NHL lock-out of the 2004-05 season he has played for Färjestads BK of the Swedish Elitserien who made it to the finals only to lose to Frölunda HC.

[Note: In addition to playing for HC Sparta Praha and HK Dukla Trenčín, he also played for both of their junior teams. A total of 39 games from the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons]

Note that his name is pronounced [xa:ra] in Slovak.