Zdeno Chara to sign one-day contract with Boston Bruins before NHL retirement

Boston Bruins' veteran defenseman Zdeno Chara will be signing a one-day contract with the Bruins before his retirement, the player announced. The 45-year-old star player will play his last game on Tuesday, ending his decorated NHL career.

Zdeno has been a regular feature in NHL for the past 25 years, and 14 of those have been with the Boston Bruins. The defenseman helped Bruins lift their first Stanley Cup in 39 years in 2011. In an Instagram post on Tuesday morning, Big Zee thanked people who contributed to his success, including his fans.

In all, Zdeno has appeared in 1,680 NHL games, 200 of which have been in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He announced in his Instagram post that he would be returning to TD Garden one last time to sign a one-day contract. Big Zee will appear for one last game against New York Rangers scheduled on Tuesday, September 27.


The former Slovak ice hockey defenseman joined the NHL draft of the 1996 season, signing with the New York Islanders. He was transferred to the Ottawa Senators in 2001 and stayed up north until 2006. Big Zee joined Boston Bruins in 2006 for a five-year contract for a whopping $37.5 million and was immediately made the captain of the Bruins. He enjoyed a decorated career in Boston before he became a free agent in 2020.



Until his retirement, Zdeno will be one of the only two active players across the four major sports leagues in North America who have played a professional game in the 20th century. The only other player is Joe Thornton, the 43-year-old Canadian center player who currently plays for Florida Panthers.

Following Zdeno’s announcement, Boston Bruins posted a tribute video on Twitter, thanking him for his contributions. The team said that Zdeno’s arrival in Boston marked the beginning of an era that saw his leadership and character shape a culture that would carry on.

FAQs

How many NHL games have Zdeno played?
Big Zee has played 1,680 games in the NHL, including 200 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Against whom will Big Zee play his last game?
Zdeno Chara will play his last NHL game against New York Rangers on Tuesday, September 27.