
By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
It’s official, Zdeno Chara and Joe Thornton are joining hockey royalty as first-ballot Hall of Famers. The two former Bruins’ captains will join Jack Parker, Daniele Sauvageau, Alexander Mogilny, Jennifer Botterill, Duncan Keith, and Brianna Decker in the Class of 2025 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
A native of St. Thomas, Ontario, Thornton was drafted first overall by the Bruins in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. “Jumbo Joe” played in 532 games with the B’s, registering 454 points. Thornton spent the majority of his career with the San Jose Sharks, retiring after brief stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers. While he never won a Stanley Cup, Thornton enjoyed an incredible career, appearing in 1,714 NHL games, scoring 1,539 points.
A spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame is the icing on the cake of what was an unbelievable career for Zdeno Chara. A 2011 Stanley Cup Champion, the Trencin, Slovakia, native won the Norris Trophy in 2009, and was a finalist for the award on five separate occasions. “Big Z” appeared in 1,023 games for the Bruins, tallying 481 points, and an absurd +240 rating in 14 seasons with Boston. He also spent parts of ten seasons with the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, and Washington Capitals. Chara retired from the NHL in 2022 after 24 seasons. Both players will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on November 10th in Toronto.
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