Zdeno Chara holds the record for the hardest shot in NHL history, with a blast of 108.8 mph recorded in 2012 at the All-Star Skills Competition in Ottawa.
In 2007, the Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara won his first Hardest Shot competition, beginning a streak of five consecutive victories. At the time, his winning shot had a speed of 100.4 mph, which was impressive but nowhere near Al Iafrate's record of 105.2 mph set in 1993.
One of the most memorable moments in the Hardest Shot competition was in 2009 when Chara beat Iafrate's 16-year-old record by just 0.2 mph, much to the crowd's excitement at the Bell Center in Montreal.
Zdeno Chara is a five-time winner of this event, and his exceptional strength comes from his towering height of 6'9" and weight of 256 pounds. He is a physically imposing figure with massive arms and a rigorous training regimen.
Although Chara's goal-scoring abilities have declined in recent years, with only one goal in 19 games for the Boston Bruins this season, he still commands respect for his powerful shot from that point.
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber won the event in 2020 with a shot speed of 106.5 mph. Victor Hedman, the Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman, won the NHL All-Star Skills competition for the first time at the 2022 event presented by DraftKings Sportsbook. He recorded a shot speed of 103.2 mph. Al MacInnis is known for his powerful shots and has won the Hardest Shot competition multiple times during his career.
Zdeno Chara: NHL's Hardest Shot legend
Zdeno Chara is a Slovakian professional ice hockey player with 24 seasons in the NHL. He played for four teams: the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, and Washington Capitals.
Chara's professional ice hockey career lasted from 1997 to 2022. He was drafted 56th overall in the 1996 NHL draft by the New York Islanders and has since established himself as one of the NHL's premier defensemen.
Zdeno Chara has been honored with several awards, including the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman in 2009 and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2011. He has also been selected to the NHL All-Star Games six times and has represented Slovakia in several international tournaments, including the Winter Olympics.
One of Chara's most memorable moments came in 2011 when he led the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup championship in 39 years. He was named the team captain in 2006 and has continued to play a vital role in their success over the years.
On September 20, 2022, Zdeno Chara declared his retirement from professional hockey. To commemorate his career, he signed a one-day contract with the Boston Bruins to officially retire as a member of the team.