Big Zdeno Chara has become a relatively beloved player around the league. With his hulking stature making him stand out from just about everyone else in the league, the 42-year-old has won people over with his dedication to the game, his consistent level of play, and his (usually) gentle giant demeanor.
While he’s become ingrained in Boston Bruins hockey culture, and he’s also well-known for his time in Ottawa, it all started on Long Island when he was drafted by the New York Islanders. On Tuesday, he visited those same Islanders about two decades after originally being drafted.
It was a busy trip for Big Z…
Not only did he scrap Matt Martin, one of the league’s current most decorated enforcers, and handle him with ease, but he also was a part of the Bruins shutout over the Isles. That’s just what he did on the ice…
He also, in true New Yorker fashion, took a ride on the subway:
And eventually met up with NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly at NHL headquarters:
And even had the chance to check out teammate Charlie McAvoy at the NHL store in NYC:
Between the Subway, the meetings, and checking out the celebrities on billboards, Big Z had a very New Yorker trip to the Big Apple.
(H/T NESN)
