Jaromir Jagr shares amazing story about Zdeno Chara
One NHL legend recognizing another?
Jaromir Jagr only played 33 games (11 regular season and 22 playoff) with Zdeno Chara and the Boston Bruins, but the two spent 17 seasons in the NHL at the same time.
And since his retirement, Jagr has commented on the longtime defenceman's amazing career. Jagr had high praise for ''Big Zee'' but also stated a pretty incredible story of how it all started. Stating that nobody in Chara's home country of Slovakia believed he could make it to the NHL when he was younger.
As per Jagr:
''His journey is an incredible story ... Nobody believed in him; he didn't even get a proper chance. They laughed at him. He proved with his will and hard work, and he became the best defenseman in the NHL in a few years.''
As for playing against Chara, Jagr said no one gave him a harder time, and not just because of his size.
''It was because of his height, his range, but also his strength. I had nothing to surprise him with.''
''When I had a small player playing against me, I tried to beat him with my strength. If he was slow and strong, I'd play with speed. But I had nothing to surprise Chara. That's why it was the hardest for me to play against him.''
''There was 100% a huge mutual respect ... We were close to each other also because we're not that far apart in age.''
''When I had a small player playing against me, I tried to beat him with my strength. If he was slow and strong, I'd play with speed. But I had nothing to surprise Chara. That's why it was the hardest for me to play against him.''
''There was 100% a huge mutual respect ... We were close to each other also because we're not that far apart in age.''
Jagr will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as soon as he ends his professional career, as he's still playing with Kladno of the Czech Extraliga at the age of 50. There's no doubt Chara will someday join him in the Hall as well, it's just a matter of when for both of them.
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