Zdeno Chara is often remembered for how he stood out on the ice.

Over a 24-year career, the Slovak-born defenseman was the tallest player in NHL history at 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds. He boasted the hardest shot the league had ever seen (108.8 miles per hour, recorded at the 2012 NHL All-Star Game) and his longevity is hard to comprehend. When Chara retired at age 45, he had played in 1,680 regular-season games, the most ever for an NHL defenseman.

In his 14 seasons with the Boston Bruins (all as a captain) Chara became the second European captain to win the Stanley Cup, while ushering in a new era of excellence in Boston. The polyglot who speaks seven languages set the standard with his relentless work ethic and mentality of doing whatever it takes for the team -- all while instilling t

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