Chelios Wants To Play, But Can He?

Earlier this week, 47 year old defensemen Chris Chelios was told by the Red Wings front office that they were moving on and not re-signing the 25 year NHL veteran. Despite Detroit's move, the Chicago native says he still wants to play in the NHL. He went on to say he'd even prefer to play in the Eastern Conference to avoid the rigorous travels of the Western Conference. By his comments, we all know he wants to play, but does he still have enough in the tank to be a worthy signing for an Eastern Conference team?

Yes, he's a veteran, yes he's one of the best defensemen in the last 25 years (heck, the guy's played 25 years) but does his body have enough in the tank to withstand a 26th NHL season? The numbers don't favor Chelios' chances as in 28 games with the Red Wings he registered a grand total of zero points and finished with a +1. Although Chelios hasn't been a major point contributor like he once when you consider that he's yet to register over 39 points in a season since the 21st century but the concern with his zero points is valid for another reason.

During the 28 games that Chelios was in the line-up for, Detroit's offense was absolutely on fire. They scored 5 or more goals in 8 of those 28 games Chelios participated in including 2 6-goal efforts and a mammoth 8 goal explosion against Edmonton, and he was still held off the board? Jeremy Roenick may have tried to stir the Detroit pot when he came out and said Chelios never plays due to Wings bench boss Mike Babcock's 'disliking of North American players', but the Habs 2nd round draft choice in 1981 may just have lost it.

In 2007-08, in 69 games for the Wings, Chelios had 12 points but was held off the scoreboard in the Detroit's 2008 Stanley Cup Championship run. Cheli was held to a smaller role in the 08-09 campaign, and an even smaller role in the 2009 Playoffs, when he honestly looked out of sync and winded by the pace of play. By no means am I suggesting that Chelios' know-how wouldn't help a team such as Boston or Pittsburgh, but the days of playing more than 40 games may simply be behind the American blue-liner.

In recent years, the NHL has become a very youth-filled sport and shows no signs of slowing down. For Chelios to make an impression with any team, he's going to need to prove himself in a club's training camp and even then, nothing will be guaranteed for the player who'll turn 48 in January. Chelios, it's been nice, but it's time to move on from the playing days. Sure, there are playoff teams such as the Rangers, Capitals and Flyers among others that could use a veteran defensive defensemen on their blue-line to help their youth, but chances are it won't be you.

Perhaps it's time to make the switch from the press box in a suit to behind a bench in a suit as an assistant coach somewhere will be a good move for Chris Chelios, but I have a feeling that somehow, someway, this guy will end up fighting for a spot on an NHL club's roster in September.

Picture Note: I don't know what's funnier, the kid's sign which reads "Time To Retire Chelios", or the fact that the kid is wearing a Georges Laraque jersey.