Zdeno Chara’s Bruins career in 10 defining moments before No. 33 goes to the rafters

Two months after entering the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025, Zdeno Chara will join another exclusive club.

The Bruins will honor Chara ahead of their game against the Kraken on Thursday night, officially retiring his number. His No. 33 patch will be the 13th number raised to the TD Garden rafters and hang next to the numbers of other franchise legends like Bobby Orr (No. 4), Phil Esposito (No. 7) and Ray Bourque (No. 77).

MORE: How to Watch Zdeno Chara Number Retirement Ceremony

The massive defenseman played for the Capitals, Islanders and Senators during his NHL career, but he will always be remembered as a Bruin. Chara served as a captain for all 14 of his seasons in Boston (2006-2020), winning a Norris Trophy in 2009 and Stanley Cup in 2011.

Before the ceremony begins, let’s take a look back at the 10 defining moments of Chara’s career with the Bruins.

Zdeno Chara’s Bruins career in 10 defining moments

1. Signing with Bruins (2006)

Chara spent his first four NHL seasons (1997-2001) with the Islanders before being traded to the Senators. He played his next four seasons in Ottawa, blossoming into an All-Star, but the Senators failed to negotiate a new deal with Chara following the 2005-06 season.

On July 1, 2006, Chara signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the Bruins and was immediately named the team’s captain. He totaled 11 goals and 32 assists in his first season with the franchise.

2. Bloody fight with David Koci (2007)

Officially listed at 6-9, 250 pounds, Chara was an intimidating presence on the ice. He often single-handedly cleared out the area in front of the net, but he didn’t constantly find himself in the middle of fights.

When the situation called for it, though, Chara would drop the gloves — and his opponents.

Early in his Boston tenure, Chara faced the Blackhawks’ David Koci, turning him into a bloody mess after delivering several punches to the face.

“Koci looks like he’s making a donation to the Red Cross here,” Jack Edwards said on the NESN broadcast.

3. Winning Norris Trophy (2009)

While Chara was a Norris Trophy finalist multiple times, he only took the award home once, winning over the Capitals’ Mike Green and Red Wings’ Nicklas Lidstrom in 2009.

He set career-highs in goals (19) and power play goals (11) during the 2008-09 season. Chara finished with 50 points, a mark he reached in just two other seasons (51 points in 2007-08 and 52 points in 2011-12).

4. First career hat trick (2011)

On Jan. 17, 2011, Chara recorded the first hat trick of his career, scoring three goals in a 7-0 win over the Hurricanes. He found the back of the net twice in the first period, then smacked the puck past Justin Peters late in the third period to electrify the arena.

Chara borrowed a celebration from his former Senators teammate Peter Bondra, telling fans to toss their hats onto the ice.

“I kind of remembered that if I ever get a hat trick, I’ll want to do the same, so I thought it was pretty cool,” Chara said.

5. Ugly hit on Max Pacioretty (2011)

During the second period of a game between the Bruins and Canadiens on March 8, 2011, Chara and Max Pacioretty dashed toward a puck near Boston’s bench. Pacioretty tapped the puck away from Chara, and Chara shoved Pacioretty into the stanchion.

Pacioretty had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher after suffering a concussion and fractured vertebra. Chara received a game misconduct, but the league did not suspend him. The resulting backlash from the hit reached a fever pitch when Montreal police launched a criminal investigation, though Pacioretty made it clear that he didn’t want Chara to be “prosecuted legally.”

The incident could have derailed the careers of Chara and Pacioretty. Fortunately, Pacioretty was able to recover and continue playing at a high level, and the anger toward Chara shifted to understanding.

“At first, I wanted to blame everyone else, and I wanted to judge everyone else,” Pacioretty said. “So that’s the feeling I had then. But the more I thought about it and the more I grew up, I realized that he truthfully was sorry. It honestly was a mistake, and that’s how I still feel about it now.”

6. Capturing Stanley Cup (2011)

More than a decade into his career, Chara had not yet been part of a championship celebration. That changed in 2011 when the Bruins defeated the Canucks in a seven-game series, ending a drought that had lasted nearly four decades.

Chara (663:43) finished second to only Dennis Seidenberg (690:49) in total ice time during that playoff run, and he led Boston in total ice time (182:39) in the Stanley Cup Final. He had nine points in 24 postseason games and shut down top lines, leading all playoff performers with a plus-minus of plus-16.

7. Hardest shot of all time (2012)

Chara returned to Ottawa in 2012 for the All-Star Skills Competition, and he put on a show for the crowd.

Known for his slap shots from the blue line, Chara launched a rocket that still stands as the hardest shot in NHL history. His blast reached 108.8 miles per hour.

8. Game 7 comeback vs. Maple Leafs (2013)

The Bruins’ 2012-13 campaign appeared to be ending in the first round. Boston was staring down a three-goal deficit against Toronto in the third period of Game 7.

Of course, that contest was far from over. The Bruins mounted a furious comeback, scoring three goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation to send the game to overtime. Patrice Bergeron then ripped a wrist shot past James Reimer, keeping Boston’s title hopes alive.

Chara was on the ice for all four goals in the third period and overtime, setting up Milan Lucic’s rebound with a shot on net and serving as a screener on Bergeron’s game-tying goal.

9. Playing with broken jaw (2019)

The Bruins weren’t able to take down the Blues in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, falling to St. Louis in seven games. However, the series gave Chara one of the most memorable moments of his career.

After taking a deflected puck to the face in Game 4, it was unclear if Chara would be available for the rest of the series. Before Game 5, Chara underwent surgery to repair multiple fractures to his jaw, and he was stunningly cleared to play.

Chara, wearing a full face shield to avoid any further damage, earned a huge ovation during pregame introductions.

10. Retiring No. 33 in Boston (2026)

Chara’s leadership, selflessness, talent and toughness made him one of the greatest Bruins of all time and a beloved figure in the community. Thursday’s ceremony will give the Boston faithful one more chance to cheer for No. 33.

“It is truly beyond words to see my jersey, number 33, raised to the rafters at TD Garden,” Chara said. “This honor is greater than anything I could have imagined when I first came to Boston.

“I am forever grateful to the Bruins organization for trusting me to lead, to all my teammates past and present, to the fans whose passion and energy made Boston feel like home, and to my family who made everything possible. This moment is not just mine — it belongs to all of us.”