Retirement clearly isn't working for former NY Islanders defenseman Zdeno Chara

If you ask most NHL players what retirement looks like, you'll probably hear about golf courses, beach vacations or spending more time with family.

Then there's Zdeno Chara.

The former New York Islanders defenseman has somehow turned retirement into an endurance sport.

Since skating away from the NHL following the 2021-22 season, the 6-foot-9 Hockey Hall of Famer has traded 25-minute nights against Connor McDavid for marathon finish lines, Ironman competitions and enough grueling workouts to make active NHL players question their conditioning.

Honestly, watching Chara's social media, you'd be forgiven for thinking he could still log 20 minutes a night on an NHL blue line.

Instead, he'll be taking one final lap around the rink.

On Aug. 21, Chara will headline "Zee's Final Shift," a farewell game in his hometown of Trenčín, Slovakia, celebrating one of the most remarkable careers in NHL history.

You can learn more about the event HERE.

Of course, if there's one player fans will struggle to believe is actually saying goodbye, it's Chara.

The event has attracted an all-star cast of former teammates and NHL legends, including Islanders player development coaches Johnny Boychuk and Dennis Seidenberg, along with former Islanders Zigmund Pálffy, Miroslav Šatan, Tomáš Vanek and Robert Reichel.

As you would expect for a Hall of Fame career spanishing over four separate decades, the rest of the VIP list is impressive beyond those that have a connection to the Islanders.

Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Pastrňák, Jaromír Jágr, Marian Hossa, Ray Bourque, Duncan Keith, Anže Kopitar, Milan Lucic, Mark Recchi and Jakub Voráček are among the hockey royalty expected to take part in the celebration.

For Islanders fans, it's another reminder of Chara's unique connection to the franchise. After all, once the farewell game is over, don't be surprised if the ageless defenseman starts training for another marathon the very next morning.

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