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1h ago

Bruins Retire Zdeno Chara’s No. 33 Tonight at TD Garden

The franchise honors a culture‑defining captain whose leadership culminated in the 2011 Stanley Cup.

Charlie McAvoy spent his first few seasons in the NHL skating alongside Zdeno Chara.
Charlie McAvoy, left, learned so much from former Boston Bruins teammate Zdeno Chara, right. They're shown during an April 5, 2018 game. (Herald file photo)
(061511, Vancouver, BC) Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) with the cup as the Bruins take on the Canucks in the third period of game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals at the Rogers Arena. . Wednesday, June 15, 2011. (Staff photo by Christopher Evans) (Photo by Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Chara’s No. 33 will be raised before Boston’s game against the Seattle Kraken, with the ceremony available to stream on ESPN+.
  • He becomes the first European player to have his number retired by the Bruins.
  • Now a hockey operations advisor and mentor since September 2025, Chara has been regularly meeting with players in his post‑playing role.
  • Across 14 seasons as captain in Boston, he logged 1,023 games with 481 points, won the 2009 Norris Trophy and led the 2011 championship run.
  • Teammates and coaches credit him for reshaping the team’s standards, with moments such as his 2019 return from a fractured jaw and expected attendance from alumni including Patrice Bergeron, Ray Bourque, Dennis Seidenberg, Andrew Ference and Tim Thomas highlighting his legacy.