Wayne Gretzky Humorously Reflects on Playing Zdeno Chara

The Great One told a funny story about playing Bruins legend Zdeno Chara.

Jake DeBrusk and Charlie Coyle were The Hockey News picks for the mid-season Selke Trophy.

Zdeno Chara's marvelous NHL career came to an end after the 2021-22 season. The Boston Bruins legend completed his 24-year career as a member of the New York Islanders and will surely earn a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame in the near future.

Chara played in the NHL for just under a quarter century. He played against some of the biggest NHL legends, one of whom happens to be The Great One, Wayne Gretzky.

During the beginning years of Chara's career, Gretzky was nearing the end of his career as a member of the New York Rangers. Chara began his career with the Islanders, so these two saw each other quite often. Due to this, Gretzky told a humorous story about facing Chara.

The Great One said this about Chara: "The very first game we played against him, we watched him in warmup, and I remember thinking, 'Wow.' And I went into the coach's office, and I don't really say a whole lot, and I said to Colin Campbell, 'Listen, every time that No. 3 is out there, get me out there.' The first year, he's a little bit like Bambi. By the second year, I said, 'Every time he's out on the ice, be ready. I'm coming off.' It took him six months, and he figured it out and became one of the best defensemen we've ever had."

This is a great story from The Great One. While Chara may have struggled a bit entering the league, he certainly adjusted quickly and, of course, put together a truly magnificent career from there. His best days were, of course, his 14-year stint as the Bruins' captain. Without him, Boston would not have won in 2011.