Zdeno Chára is still finding ways to make an impression in Boston, even if the setting has changed.
At 49, four seasons removed from his last regular NHL action, the Bruins legend is no longer blocking shots and chewing up minutes on the blue line. These days, he’s a Hockey Hall of Famer, a triathlete, and a guy who last month ran a half marathon. But when it came time for a long-planned homecoming in Trenčín, Slovakia, Chára still treated the ice like a stage worth preparing for.
On Aug. 21, he was the centerpiece of a charity exhibition game at Pavol Demitra Ice Stadium in his hometown. The event, billed as “Zee’s Final Shift,” had been in the works for three years and was meant as a sendoff for one of Slovakia’s most accomplished players. Chára said he got back on the ice at the beginning of the month and ramped up from there.
“I felt pretty good,” Chára said with a laugh. “Three weeks before the game, I was actually skating three, four times a week, just to feel a little bit better.
First few times, I felt, ‘OK, it’s been a while since I’ve been skating.’ But then it really came back quickly.
I felt pretty good. I think everybody else felt the same way.
We were all a little bit worried of what it was going to be like. But then we all actually played a good game at a good pace.”
The turnout matched the occasion. Patrice Bergeron, Ray Bourque, Marián Hossa, Jaromír Jágr and David Pastrňák all made the trip, along with plenty of Chára’s teammates from the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup team. His 10-year-old twins, Ben and Zack, also spent time on the ice.
Chára, who last played an NHL shift with the Islanders in 2021-22, said the reaction from the crowd made the night worthwhile.
“It was really, really nicely done,” said Chára. “I think the fans really enjoyed it, especially seeing all these legends, all these stars, all these players who meant so much to the game, to the sport, to the NHL.
They will probably never have a chance to go see an NHL game. Seeing all these All-Star players on one sheet and one place, I think they really, really enjoyed it and appreciated it.”
For Chára, though, the evening before the game may have left the deeper imprint. A welcome dinner was held at a castle in Trenčín, where players who hadn’t seen each other in years caught up, traded stories and filled in the blanks on family life.
That kind of connection has always mattered to Chára, and it’s part of why he has approached his new role with the Bruins the way he did his old one. In his first full season as a hockey operations adviser and mentor in 2025-26, he spread himself across several areas, from management to coaching. He joined general manager Don Sweeney at home games and offered input to coach Marco Sturm, a former teammate.
But his favorite work has been with the players, especially Boston’s defensemen. That includes Nikita Zadorov, the 6-foot-7 blue-liner whose game is the closest current Bruins comparison to Chára’s, and who has become more dependable with the former captain’s guidance.
“I love to be working where I have the most impact and positive impact - that’s always with players,” said Chára. “Everything starts and ends with players. Having interactions, meetings and dialogue and helping players out individually, whether that’s one-on-one or in group meetings, I really enjoy that.”
The Bruins could use that influence in more than one spot. Zadorov is one of nine Boston defensemen on one-way contracts in 2026-27, and 23-year-old Frédéric Brunet, an offensive defenseman who could push for an NHL job, would benefit from Chára’s lessons on defending.
There’s also the matter of how much more Chára will take on behind the scenes. The Bruins’ front office is in flux, with Sweeney now working alongside two first-time assistant general managers, Dennis Bonvie and Jeremy Rogalski, after the offseason departures of Jamie Langenbrunner and Evan Gold.
Chára hasn’t locked in the full scope of his hockey operations duties yet, and he’s open to doing more. Even with triathlon training and other endurance events still on his calendar, he doesn’t sound like someone in a rush to slow down.
“I love to learn,” Chára said. “That’s the most important thing, learning.”
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