Bruins Retire Zdeno Chara's No. 33 Jersey

Boston Bruins fans filled the TD Garden on Thursday night to honor former captain Zdeno Chara as the team retired his No. 33 jersey before their game against the Seattle Kraken. The ceremony marked the 13th number retired by the Original Six franchise, placing Chara alongside legends like Bobby Orr and Johnny Bucyk in the rafters.

Chara, who spent 14 of his 24 NHL seasons with the Bruins after signing as a free agent in 2006, addressed the crowd from a podium at center ice. Flanked by a large ice sculpture of his nickname "Big Z" and a prominent No. 33 display, he reflected on his journey from a young player in Slovakia to a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee in 2025. The 6-foot-9 defenseman, known for his leadership and durability, played a franchise-record 1,680 games, the most by any NHL defenseman, and won the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman in 2009.

The event drew a strong turnout from Bruins greats, including Orr, Bucyk, Terry O'Reilly, Rick Middleton, Cam Neely and Willie O'Ree, all of whom have had their numbers retired. Nearly all living former players with honored jerseys attended, except Phil Esposito. Chara's 2011 Stanley Cup teammates, such as Patrice...