Nearly 30 years after he was drafted, nearly 30 years after few believed that the extremely tall third-round pick would amount to much, Chara has cemented his legacy. He was a player who made himself what he became, who used his strength and his will and his work ethic to fashion a career that will go down among the all-time greats.

The Hockey Hall of Fame got a lot bigger Tuesday, as former Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara was elected in his first season of eligibility.

A one-time Norris Trophy winner (2009) and captain of the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team, Chara finished with the most games ever played by a defensemen (1,680).