Chelios still looking for place to play

[MacK_Attack 108]

Monday, August 17, 2009 04:13 PM

Chelios inquired about joining Leafs

Tim Wharnsby

With NHL training camps set to open in less than a month, veteran NHL defenceman Chris Chelios still does not have a team to continue his career. Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson, who doubles as the head coach of the United States men’s Olympic hockey team, relayed a story on Monday that the 47-year-old Chelios inquired about the possibility joining the Leafs.

Wilson said that Chelios asked the Leafs coach if “you guys have room in Toronto. I know an American coach would like an American defenceman. You even get this feeling that he thinks he can play with this team. He still wants to play.â€

Wilson is a big believer in mentoring and that is Chelios’s role as special assistant with the U.S. team as it prepares for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

“If he doesn’t play this year, I would like him to be like Joe Nieuwendyk was for me last year [with the Maple Leafs] – a veteran that they all greatly respect,†Wilson said. “You can make the argument that he is the greatest American player of all time.

“I want him to talk to the [u.S.] players and get them all fired up and to share his experiences.â€

Globe & Mail

[Holmstrom96 347]

Chelios would make a great addition to a team with just a few minor issues:

- He sucks

- He's old

- He's got nothing left

(granted he's better at hockey now than I'll ever be or could dream to be, but that's why I went to college)

[hooon 1,089]

no idea why he didnt just hang them up after the cup win last year

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

Not a bad option. They're not exactly loaded on defense, plus it's be another original 6 team for him.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Not a bad option. They're not exactly loaded on defense, plus it's be another original 6 team for him.

Yeah, he'd be about 11th on the depth chart. The Leafs have a damn good defence core on paper.

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

Yeah, he'd be about 11th on the depth chart. The Leafs have a damn good defence core on paper.

Really? Did my boy Aki Berg come back?

[gcom007 1,465]

If Chelios doesn't end up signing with anyone and the season starts up, will he be more likely to keep waiting for a team to give a call or will he give Ken Holland the call that Holland alluded to earlier in the summer? Or maybe give Holland the call and take on a coaching/development/management role but still hold on to the idea of playing. Has anyone read anything on this? I'm not so convinced he's going to find a spot despite what positives he could bring to a team. We'll see but I think the fact that it hasn't happened yet and he's the one who's apparently been reaching out to teams to no avail says something. It's not like there's going to be a money issue on the table as everyone knows he's going to be as cheap as possible and for that matter, everyone knows exactly what they're getting from him. You'd think if a team was interested at all that he'd be signed at this point. But who knows...

[MacK_Attack 108]

Really? Did my boy Aki Berg come back?

Kaberle - Komisarek

Schenn - Beauchemin

Exelby - Van Ryn

White

Finger

Frogren

There's 9 NHL defencemen right there. Chelios isn't better than any of them.

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

Kaberle - Komisarek

Schenn - Beauchemin

Exelby - Van Ryn

White

Finger

Frogren

There's 9 NHL defencemen right there. Chelios isn't better than any of them.

Maybe you're right.

Finger not being in the top 6 shows you just how silly the Leafs management has been over the years. That was a big dud signing last year.

[ShanahanMan 473]

Poor Cheli, and I'm sure he'd jump at any team just for league minimum. Really has the true heart of a hockey player. It's very sad to see he's probably gonna be forced to retire...

[rage 24]

If Chelios doesn't end up signing with anyone and the season starts up, will he be more likely to keep waiting for a team to give a call or will he give Ken Holland the call that Holland alluded to earlier in the summer? Or maybe give Holland the call and take on a coaching/development/management role but still hold on to the idea of playing. Has anyone read anything on this? I'm not so convinced he's going to find a spot despite what positives he could bring to a team. We'll see but I think the fact that it hasn't happened yet and he's the one who's apparently been reaching out to teams to no avail says something. It's not like there's going to be a money issue on the table as everyone knows he's going to be as cheap as possible and for that matter, everyone knows exactly what they're getting from him. You'd think if a team was interested at all that he'd be signed at this point. But who knows...

To what are you referring to Sir?

[hallelujahlogic 1]

Edited August 18, 2009 by hallelujahlogic

[rage 24]

:rotflmao:

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Why not? He's obviously not the player of young anymore and he wasn't all too great in the playoffs IMO but the man is still a freak of nature when working out, it's not like his conditioning has left him IMO. Would be a good reserve guy/emergency 6th d-man for a club still.

[hallelujahlogic 1]

i was thinking about this today, and i think it'd be a good idea if chicago were to sign cheli. they could pay him league minimum, and even though he wouldn't be terribly useful on the ice (maybe 6th on defence) he'd be a huge presence in the dressing room and could provide the hawks w/some discipline, guidance, whatever. plus, this way, he could retire as a blackhawk.

i don't know if they could afford it, or if they'd even have room for him anywhere. i just thought it would be kinda cool for everyone involved..

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

From USA Today :

Team USA coach Ron Wilson has given Chris Chelios the job of talking to potential Olympians this season to help them prepare for the Vancouver Games.

From ESPN :

Chelios isn't close to signing with an NHL team, but revealed Tuesday he's got a pair of offers from the rival Kontinental Hockey League in Russia.

[Booster313 138]

I think he should come back and play for the Griffins and or take a nice Wings management job, a scout, assistant coach, player developer. Something.

[Chase 0]

From USA Today :

From ESPN :

If Chelios goes to the KHL I might throw up.

[chrisdetroit 189]

i was thinking about this today, and i think it'd be a good idea if chicago were to sign cheli. they could pay him league minimum, and even though he wouldn't be terribly useful on the ice (maybe 6th on defence) he'd be a huge presence in the dressing room and could provide the hawks w/some discipline, guidance, whatever. plus, this way, he could retire as a blackhawk.

i don't know if they could afford it, or if they'd even have room for him anywhere. i just thought it would be kinda cool for everyone involved..

The first thing he would do is kick Kane's ass for beating up a 60 year old cab driver. Somebody need to do it!

[chrisdetroit 189]

To what are you referring to Sir?

He could go to San Jose and play with the other old washed-up D-men Rob Blake....

[Zion 93]

Blake was actually pretty good last year.

I wish Chelly nothing but the best.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Globe & Mail

Hopefully he'll find somewhere to play.seeing him being forced 2 hang em up would be sad..hes a legend..legends arent supposed to go out like that

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

You would think one of the s***ty teams would have signed him by now. It's not like every team is deep on defense and I still think he could be of some use to someone.

If Anders Ericsson and Hal Gill are playing in the NHL, then why can't Chelios?

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

You would think one of the s***ty teams would have signed him by now. It's not like every team is deep on defense and I still think he could be of some use to someone.

If Anders Ericsson and Hal Gill are playing in the NHL, then why can't Chelios?

i was thinking Phoenix..although they're not an original six,beggers cant be choosers

[Guest E_S_A_D]

Sad to me to read this. One of the best defenseman, gritty, and intimidating on the line in his day is now searching for work. Age is a real SOB.