Jun 24 2009
Chelios still wants to play at 47!
In response to
a story yesterday and continuing today that Chris Chelios announcing today that he will not be back for the Detroit Red Wings. Tuning 47 Chelios had been a minor part of the Detroit Red Wings success this year as he only played a half dozen playoff games and in comparison the relatively same ratio of games during the season. Chelios was the fill in guy this year and had a very small role but one has to wonder while his peers Brian Leetch, Brett Hull, Luc Robitalle and Steve Yzerman are getting elected into the NHL Hall of Fame he is still wanting to play. Chelios did announce his participation in the US men’s hockey team for the winter Olympics this year at age 47, however much can he really give a NHL team next year?
My response to this is why not the Chicago Blackhawks go get Chelios for old times sake. What a reunion it would be as even thou Chelios has been a Red Wing since his departure from Chicago why not bring him back for one more time as the Blackhawks will be a threat in the Western Conference next year. Chicago has always been Chelios’s second home away from home unless he feels like he wants to get back to his Montreal roots. Chicago makes senses as long as the team and general manager feel that at age 47 Chelios is not just taking up someone else ice time. I thinks a majority of Hawk fans would strongly approve that deal but the reality is that Chelios may be just prolonging a retirement that is destined to happen.
Today who know’s he may want to retire after Detroit has ended a lengthy career that included two Stanley Cups. One Cup in Detroit and one Cup way early on as a youngster in Montreal. The one Cup missing from Chelios’s resume is the Chicago one and with the youth of talent surrounding the Hawks why not throw the old guy in there one more time to see if Chelios can collect his third Stanly Cup with the one team that truly admired him the most.
Chelios, a three time Norris Trophy winner as the best defensiveman in the NHL, should be able to go anywhere, but age 47 how many teams are willing to give him a shot? Today he is quoted saying “He would like a stop in the Eastern Conference because of the travel concerns of the Western Conference as he still wants to reside in Detroit.” However reading between the lines you know Chicago may open a hand for a return to the one team that did not give him a title.
Sure there may not be a lot of ice time for Chelios as the Chicago Blackhawks have a strong foundation for defense but he would add that experience that maybe the Hawks could have used in the series against Detroit in the Western Conference Finals this year. It just seems wrong that Detroit is just letting this guy go so quietly when he may go down as one of the best defensemen ever in the NHL. If Detroit offers Chelios nothing for his service especially a coaching or upper management role then I do believe it is the responsibility of another team giving this guy the right ending to a unbelievable career. “It just seems wrong to me is all I have to say!”
“quotes taken from his announcement re posted on espn.com and yahoo sports”
