Holland won't offer Chris Chelios new contract

[soultrain 43]

cheli has been the best bargin in the nhl for years. thank you for your years of dedication to the red wings, chris chelios.

[Ray1905 18]

Thanks for the great years of hockey Cheli.

Good luck in your futures plans.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I feel like I just lost a grandpa...

[uk_redwing 495]

One year and one Kyle Quincey too late Holland.

[55fan 5,133]

It had to happen. I am now older than all of the Red Wings.

Best of luck, Cheli, where ever life takes you. Thanks for everything you have done for us.

[jvxp 0]

I liked having him here, and I appreciate everything that he did for the Wings.

However, it's well past time for the Wings to move on.

They kept him one year to long. Thanks I say and also bye.

[jvxp 0]

One year and one Kyle Quincey too late Holland.

Totally agree on that one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[drwscc 212]

Good night, and God speed, Mr. Chelios. It was great to watch you these past 10 years.

Also, Chelios wasn't the reason we traded Quincey. He had a crap training camp, and didn't win his spot. Even if he was kept around, he'd be a 7th defenseman, and not on the top pairing like he is in LA. Quincey was never going to break out in the Wings org. Him being traded was the best for both parties.

[Reds4Life 51]

That sucks. I would love to see him back for at least one more year.

[JayUp88 1]

lost one of my favorite Wings. Hands down one of the nicest guys too.

[egroen 384]

Greatest American hockey player ever!

Loved having him on this team and will really miss him being interviewed. Really hope he keps to the area, with his restaurants and all.

Would love to see him get into coaching - but I would not be surprised to see him play a year or two more.

Just a stud.

[Guest micah]

See ya Cheli!

I wish you had never come to the Wings. Had you retired 10 years ago, people would be calling Lidstrom the 2nd best D-man of the last 25 years, because they would remember just how great you were. You were a fabulous *******, a man I loved to hate. Then you came here, and at first you were merely "very good", and with time you learned to suck. I respect you and wish you the best of luck whereever you go from here - I just hope that when you do hang up your skates, people remember the Cheli of Montreal and Chicago, and not the Cheli of Detroit. I hope that playing so long does not hurt your rep in hockey D-Man discussions, though I fear it already has. Maybe it will get better with time, it did for Howe.

[egroen 384]

See ya Cheli!

I wish you had never come to the Wings. Had you retired 10 years ago, people would be calling Lidstrom the 2nd best D-man of the last 25 years, because they would remember just how great you were. You were a fabulous *******, a man I loved to hate. Then you came here, and at first you were merely "very good", and with time you learned to suck. I respect you and wish you the best of luck whereever you go from here - I just hope that when you do hang up your skates, people remember the Cheli of Montreal and Chicago, and not the Cheli of Detroit. I hope that playing so long does not hurt your rep in hockey D-Man discussions, though I fear it already has. Maybe it will get better with time, it did for Howe.

Have you forgotten Bourque?

Chelios is a top 10 defenseman ever, and arguably one of the greatest shutdown defensemen ever -- but Bourque and Lidstrom are Top 5 guys.

Playing a long time will only hurt his reputation with teenagers and pessimistic churls who rip on their home team every chance they get.

Re: earlier post -- Chelios was NOT the reason we lost Quincey. Meech and Lebda were.

Edited June 23, 2009 by egroen

[Dimaline312000 51]

I'm not suprised at all, just waiting to make it official. Best of Luck Chelly.

[IceMunkee 15]

Chelios is still an asset to some other teams. Think of Chicago where there are a lot of young players. They need leadership. Cheli is still a good player.

Bottom Line is this... I am not gonna be a tool and say "Finally!!!" He gave us alot over the years.

Thank you Chris! Even though your brother threw me out of your bar... Literally! I will miss you.

[talex 1]

Thanks for all the great years Chelli.

I was really hoping he would have taken a 2 way and spent some time in GR working with Kindl and Koslov etc, or at the very least took a role in the Wings defensive system like assistant coach, hell even defensive coach.

I cannot blame the Wings for letting him go, as he has said he wants to play and the 2 options I would have liked to see were not options he wanted so all's you can say is it's been great Chelli, good luck with whatever you do and keep the great Cheli and Burgers flowing in Chesterfield...

[Stiffy 0]

A true class person and a great hockey player. Remember his epic battles with Bertuzzi in the playoffs. This was a D man who gave it all and could stand toe to toe with anyone. Never backed down.

[dragonballgtz 273]

Thank you Chelios for everything you gave to the Wings these past years.

Now take your victory lap.

[Guest micah]

A true class person and a great hockey player. Remember his epic battles with Bertuzzi in the playoffs. This was a D man who gave it all and could stand toe to toe with anyone. Never backed down.

What Cheli did you watch? He backed down all the time when called out for his frequent cheapshots.

Chelios was the greatest Dman I ever got to watch (yes, better than Bourque), but he was not classy or brave, he was mean, cheap and cowardly. One of the league's most notable villians.

[Gizmo 21]

I'll miss Cheli, but I agree with Kenny... It's time to say "farewell". I loved it when he acted like an old wily dog on the ice and put a newbie to shame. I think it was Tootoo a couple years ago that tried to run Chelios and Cheli without looking side-stepped at the last second and Tootoo(?) ended up boarding himself. The announcer laughed and said "I think Chelios has seen that attempted hit a couple of times before!"

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Probably been answered already, but how much salary does this free up?

[egroen 384]

Probably been answered already, but how much salary does this free up?

About $250k

Cheli was making close to league minimum.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I thought he was making .75M

Edited June 23, 2009 by Echolalia

[Guest mindfly]

No, 850K.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

About $250k

Cheli was making close to league minimum.

That was another good trait of Cheli; taking whatever the Wings would pay him in order to keep playing.