Report: Zdeno Chara has likely played his last NHL game

Future Hall of Famer Zdeno Chara has likely played his final game in the NHL.

Chara has unofficially been ruled out of the New York Islanders' final two regular season games with a "non-Covid related illness" and is almost certainly ready to retire this upcoming offseason. Which means, that the Big Man is done.

The 45 year old Chara will go down in history as one of the most accomplished defensemen of his era and one of the most feared men to ever step onto an NHL playing surface. Standing at 6 foot, 9 inches and weighing in at 250 pounds Chara is a physically imposing person, add in the fact that he has the tenacity and the aggression to match his size and he's downright terrifying. 

If this is indeed the end of the road for Big Z, he'll go down in history having played 1678 games between the Islanders, Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators. He first broke into the league during the 1997-98 season with the Isles and it's fitting that that's where his career will end. In between, of course, was roughly 15 years of dominance in Ottawa and Boston that is highlighted by a Norris Trophy in 2009 and a Stanley Cup championship in 2011.

So long, Big Z and thanks for the memories.