ROSEMONT, Ill. – After a tough loss in Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals, defenseman Chris Chelios reflected on this season and his career as he is likely to call it a career after playing with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.
He joined the club this year to see if he can give it one more try and see if an NHL club would pick him up for a late season run after playing with the Detroit Red Wings for close to ten years after starting his career with the Montreal Canadiens and then coming home to play with the Chicago Blackhawks for nine years. That opportunity came this year late in the season when he got signed by the Wolves parent club in the Atlanta Thrashers where he played limitedly.
Chelios has won two Stanley Cups and played 1,651 games, scoring 185 goals for 948 points. Add in a few penalties minutes at 2,891 which is close to 50 hours in the sin bin.
After the game Chelios was asked what his choice would be after the season concerning his hockey future, “I don’t think this is the time to make a decision, but I am really happy the way things went this year. Obviously this was a disappointment, this game. I found out playing 26 to 27 minutes [that] it was pretty tough doing that. I was lucky enough to get an opportunity to go to Atlanta but that didn’t work out so, I am 99% sure that will end it as a career here. I don’t know if it the right time to say it. Like I said it’s been a great opportunity for me for 26 years. I wish nothing but the best luck for these guys. I couldn’t have asked for a better situation.”
At 48-years old it is easy to say that family figures into the equation.
“The biggest issue like I have always said in Detroit was leaving my family,” said Chelios as he left Detroit to come play in Chicago in December. “That’s a really tough thing to do when you are so used to being with them. Aside from the way I played that has a lot of bearing on it too. But like I said, physically, it has caught up [to me]. It would take a really unique role of playing 10 or 12 minutes and after being in Atlanta I don’t think it is worth it to be away from the family. It has been a great run, a little disappointed but like I said we battled two series and there is always a winner and a loser. I’ve always said I would go out when there is nothing left in the tank and I think that I’m there. I am very content with the way everything has gone and the way it ended.”
“I’ve always appreciated my opportunity, I’ve said that so many times and I have said it to these guys here. It is such a privilege,” as Chelios reflected on his career as a whole. “You figure that there are only 600 to 700 guys in the NHL, I have never taken it for granted and that is why I stuck it out as long as I could. And I think the biggest issue is making it to the NHL, and obviously the longevity. How long I’ve played; pretty special. [As for] my family, I entertained my parents for one more year; you know that they are here in Chicago. Just to see how they enjoyed it here, I’m sure the owners will tell you, they saw them in the crowd. They enjoyed it and if a kid can give their family that enjoyment for their parents it means a lot to me and them.”
Family is the kicker in what his final decision will be when he was asked how is he going compete with his sons, Dean plays for Michigan State and Jake played for the USHL’s Chicago Steel and will join his brother at MSU. “I tried to hang in there for them it ain’t going to happen. They’re going to be great college players and whatever lies in the future for them we’ll see. It’s my turn to commit to these guys now and help them out. I have had the opportunity to do that. I have been with Detroit for ten years and around for most of their careers. But I have a daughter who plays lacrosse, actual two daughters that play lacrosse so its time to help them. All the time that I have missed… she got injured a couple of weeks ago… wasn’t there, its little things like that. Most of the guys careers end because of that. You don’t want to relocate; you don’t want to split up the family and take them out of school. I’ve been lucky. I don’t think there is any other guy any luckier than having the career I did.”
When asked about the games and minutes that he has placed throughout the years, he compared the AHL with the NHL schedule, “During the regular season you got time, the opportunity to recuperate, you got the four days in between [games]. Every other game here is tough and I have got to be honest, it was really tough to recuperate. It depends on how many penalties you got to kill and how long you spend in your zone. It was tough, it really was. Playing against that kid Benn, he’s a young kid a strong kid so it’s no easy task.”
Jamie Benn of the Texas Star scored the game-winner to oust the Wolves in Game Seven of the AHL’s West Division Finals he also scored a hat-trick in the series after playing in all 82 games with the Dallas Stars in his rookie year.
Born in Chicago on January 25, 1962, Chelios was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1981 at the 40th pick overall. For comparison this was close to six years before Sidney Crosby was even born. At 1,651 games played he will retire as the most games played by an American-born player, fellow Detroit Red Wing alumni Gordie Howe leads all players with 1,767 games played.
Contact the author at matt.chin@prohockeynews.com
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