Earlier this week, Zdeno Chara was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Ahead of the ceremony, many of his former teammates and coaches shared their favorite memories of the towering defenseman. One story from Marco Sturm perfectly sums up what made Chara such a remarkable leader.
Chara was drafted 56th overall in the third round by the New York Islanders. On his debut in 1997, he became the tallest player in NHL history, standing 6’9”. During his early seasons with the Islanders and the Ottawa Senators, Chara built a reputation as a strong player with even stronger leadership qualities.
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Became captain instantly
When the Boston Bruins signed him in 2006, they immediately put the “C” on his chest. Over the next 14 years, Chara established himself as a true Bruins legend, leading the team to a Stanley Cup victory in 2011. After one season with the Washington Capitals and another with the Islanders, Chara hung up his skates following the 2021–2022 season. His career numbers speak for themselves—and earned him Hall of Fame induction in his first year of eligibility: 24 seasons, 1,680 games played, and 200 playoff games. Chara proved his leadership every single day. He poured his heart into every practice and expected the same effort from his teammates.
Zdeno Chara fought a teammate
Marco Sturm recalls one moment that showed just how seriously Chara took preparation.
“When Z came in, he absolutely hated when someone didn’t compete in practice. We had a tough guy—he was up and down between Providence and here—and he would go into battles at like 50 percent. Z didn’t like it. So he told him straight up. All of a sudden, they got into an argument. Then they got into a fight in practice. They dropped the gloves, and Z hit him pretty good—and that was a tough guy,” Sturm says and continues.
”But from that moment, the attitude and mentality of Bruins practices changed. It was unbelievable that the change could happen with just one punch. From then on, the mentality at practice was never an issue again.”
You can watch the full interview below.
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