Zdeno Chara

Zdeno Chara hails from Trencin, Czecholslovakia and is 37 years old. At 9 ft. 9 in. Chara it the tallest player to ever to play in the NHL. In the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Zdeno was drafted 56th overall by the New York Islanders. In four seasons with the Islanders organization he earned the reputation of a tough aggressive defensive player with a powerful shot. Chara was traded to the Ottowa Senators during the 2001 NHL Entry Draft so that the Islanders could acquire Alexei Yashin. The Sentators began to see that his slap shot was a a weapon and they began play him during the power plays. After the 2004-2005 NHL Lockout, Zdeno Chara became an unrestricted free agent. On July 1, 2006 he signed a five-year, $37.5 million dollar deal with the Boston Bruins. The Bruins had just gotten rid of Captain Joe Thronton and was in need of a defensive player and a team leader in Zdeno. He made appearances in the 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, and as the 2012 Captain. Chara received the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2009 that is given to the best defensive player who exemplifies the greatest all around ability in the position. Zdeno Chara holds the Worlds Hardest shot at the NHL All-Star Game Superskills Competition at the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and holds the world record in 2012 with a 108.8 mph slap shot. H also speaks seven languages and has a financial planning diploma from Algonquin College in Ottawa, Canada.