Two former Bruins captains, Zdeno Chara and Joe Thornton, were formally inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame Monday night.
Chara, 48, was drafted by the New York Islanders in 1996 and traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2001 before signing with the Boston Bruins.
The six-foot-nine blueliner played 14 seasons in Beantown — all as captain — from 2006 through 2020. Boston won the Cup in 2011 and made the final two other times.
Zdeno Chara: Hockey Hall of Famer.
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 11, 2025
Watch Big Zee's full speech from tonight's ceremony in Toronto.#NHLBruins | @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/AguEI6zHJy
The second European captain to hoist hockey’s holy grail, Chara competed at three Olympics and seven world championships. He captured the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman in 2009, and finished his career with the Washington Capitals before returning to the Islanders.
“Growing up in small town in Slovakia — Trencin — you don’t dream about nights like this,” Chara said. “You dream about a patch of ice that doesn’t melt before we finish practice. You dream about finding a stick that’s not broken or skates that can still fit for a couple of years.”
“[The Bruins] trusted me with the responsibility of leading one of the most iconic Original Six franchises…being named captain was a tremendous honor and I was incredibly proud to lead such an amazing group of players." -- Big Zee pic.twitter.com/FD56O1JNEu
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 11, 2025
Big Zee singled out one teammate, his former co-captain Patrice Bergeron, during his speech.
"I want to single out one player - I want to thank Patrice Bergeron...my longest teammate, my co-captain - Bergy, I could always count on you. You showed me and helped me to become a better leader, player, but more importantly a better person." -- Big Zee pic.twitter.com/M50yq81MtH
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 11, 2025
Selected first overall at the 1997 draft by the Boston Bruins, Joe Thornton’s trajectory really took off after a trade to the San Jose Sharks in 2006.
But Jumbo Joe still took the time to thank the city of Boston during his speech.
"I remember how strong the Bruins alumni was and how I was instantly accepted by them...Wayne Cashman, we still talk weekly...but there was no one bigger in my time with the Bruins than Johnny Bucyk...to the people of Boston, you were so good to me. Thank you." -- Jumbo Joe pic.twitter.com/shvWYbL1I7
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 11, 2025
He spent 14 seasons in California, winning the scoring title and Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2005-06, and was just the third player all-time to lead the NHL in assists three straight seasons.
“As long as I can remember, my year consisted of going from road hockey right to the backyard rink,” Thornton said of his childhood in a tear-filled speech. “There was only one season for me — it was hockey season.”
Thornton topped San Jose in scoring eight times, including five straight seasons, and helped the Sharks make the 2016 Stanley Cup final.
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