Zdeno Chara (born March 18, 1977) is an elite ice hockey defenceman with the Ottawa Senators. At six nine he is the tallest player ever to play in the National Hockey League.
Chara was born in Trencin, Czechoslovakia (now in Slovakia). His father was an Olympic wrestler. He was drafted 56th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1996 NHL entry draft. He was a promising but not spectacular player in New York. In June of 2001 he was traded to the Senators as part of a package in exchange for disgruntled superstar Alexei Yashin.
Chara quickly became one of the core players on Ottawa blueline constently being he number two in minutes played after Wade Redden. Over the last two seasons he has been one of the top plus in the league in terms of plus/minusWhile not the best skater his reach and weight make him a formidable opponent. He is often placed in the slot, where it is extremely difficult for other players to move him.
In 2003 Chara made his first appearance at the NHL All-Star game, and in the skills competition recorded the second hardest shot after Al MacInnis.
On the TSN (the Canadian equivalent of ESPN) show Hockey Night In Canada, he was reported in successive weeks as 6'9", 6'10", and 6'11", called the "weekly growth spurt" by viewers.
Chara has played for Slovakia in two World Cups.