The Boston Bruins announced on Monday their intentions of retiring Zdeno Chara’s number 33. The ceremony will take place on January 15 when the Bruins host the Seattle Kraken at the Toronto Dominion Garden in Boston, Massachusetts according to Rogers Sportsnet.
Chara’s regular season statistics with the Bruins
Chara played 14 seasons with the Bruins from 2006 to 2020. In 1023 games, he had 148 goals and 333 assists for 481 points. He was a +240 with 1055 penalty minutes, 168 power-play points, 19 shorthanded points, 24 game-winning goals, one hat trick and 2405 shots on goal.
Chara’s hat trick
Chara had one hat trick in his National Hockey League career and came with the Bruins. Chara’s hat trick was on January 17, 2011 in a 7-0 Bruins romp over the Carolina Hurricanes. Chara’s first goal put the Bruins up 2-0 at 11:28 of the first period from fellow Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Chara then put the Bruins up 3-0 on the power-play from David Krejci of Sternberk, Czech Republic and Patrice Bergeron of Ancienne-Lorrette, Quebec with four minutes and two seconds left in the first period. The hat trick then came to close out the scoring with five minutes and 56 seconds left in the game. Milan Lucic of Vancouver, British Columbia and Krejci had the assists.
Chara’s playoff statistics with the Bruins
Chara had 15 goals and 41 assists for 56 points in 150 postseason games. He was a +38 with 159 penalty minutes, five power-play goals, four game-winning goals, 304 shots on goal, two faceoff wins, 245 blocked shots, 437 hits, 49 takeaways, and 129 giveaways.
Chara’s Accolades with the Bruins
Chara won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011. That year he led the NHL in playoff plus/minus with a +16, and the NHL in regular season plus/minus with a +33. Chara also led all players in the 2019 postseason with a +11. Chara won the Norris Trophy in 2009 and the Messier Award in 2011. Chara also represented the Bruins in five NHL All-Star Games (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012).
How did Chara become a Bruin?
Chara signed as a free agent on Canada Day, 2006. He initially signed a five-year contract worth $37.5 million.
Who are the other Bruins to have their numbers retired?
Chara is the 13th Bruins player to have his number retired. He follows Eddie Shore (two), Lionel Hitchman (three), Bobby Orr (four), Dit Clapper (five), Phil Esposito (seven), Cam Neely (eight), Johnny Bucyk (nine), Milt Schmidt (15), Rick Middleton (16), Willie O’Ree (22), Terry O’Reilly (24), and Ray Bourque (77).
