Blackhawks Name Chris Chelios A Team Ambassdor
On Monday morning the Chicago Blackhawks announced that Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios has been named a team ambassador, joining Tony Esposito, Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Denis Savard.
Chelios left the Detroit Red Wings organization last week to move back to Chicago to be near his family.
We’ve been clear and consistent with out thoughts about Chelios’ legacy in the Indian head since early in this site’s history. Obviously not everyone is going to be thrilled by this news but Chelios played his ass off for the fans in Chicago while he was a member of the Blackhawks.
Kudos to the organization for doing the right thing by Chelios. While we’re on the subject of the late 80s-early 90s….
can we hang #28 from the rafters, please?
Chelios played outstanding hockey for us. I remember when he scored OT winners in games 3 and 4 in Vancouver in 1995 and realizing he could do almost anything if called upon. I always thought the acrimony towards him was ridiculous.
Agree on Larms Stefanie. Rocky has done a lot to repair the old rifts, but it’s passed time on that one.
Good news. Yeah, Cheli may have embraced the Redwings a little more passionately than us Hawk loving / Wing hating fans liked, but we shouldn’t hold that against him forever, especially after he gave us so many good season and is a local boy to boot.
So – good. Welcome home Cheli.
Never should have let him go to Detroit. At the time was a typical old man Wirtz dumbass move.
Welcome back Cheli!
Chelios made the blackhawks organization what it is along with roenick larmer secord doug wilson bob murray give them there props
Chris Chelios was a Great player for the Blackhawks and every team he played for. He will make a Great Ambassador for the Blackhawks.
Wish they’d bring JR back.
Mox–the JR who, in the 2010 Finals, said he was rooting for the Flyers over the Hawks?
Bomba-Mox-the JR that was crying when they won it.
JR Roman- he also cried when then Hawks won saying he never got a chance to do that with them and he wishes he did. Roenick is a Blackhawk and wanted to be a career Hawk but Old Man Wirtz screwed him like most of those other early 90’s players.
Roenick also wanted to finish his career in Chicago and Old Man Wirtz told him to go shove it.
Great to see him back in the organization.
Maybe I have this all wrong but that’s not the way I remember Chelios being traded. I remember the Hawks trading him to a team specifically for the chance at another Cup. I also remember how emotional that press conference was. Maybe he was forced to go but at least he was traded to a winner.
Great. Now they can invite Steve Smith & Chelios to perform a “One Last Shift duo”, have Belfour in the goal, and and set up a forward mannequin of someone from Minnesota or St. Louis and beat the hell out of it w/ their sticks like they used to. Without a penalty called. Classic stuff.
Great move Blackhawks – maybe Cheli can kick some ass in the Hawk dressing room ; )
Good idea Iceman. Get Manson and Jocelyn Lemieux back as well and have them wail on Stevens and and Snepts for old times sake. Stumpy Thomas too.
Bob Murray was the one pulling the strings and hated Chelios. He went as far as threatening Chris and said I’ll trade u and that’s when Chelios told him. To bad I have A no trade clause you idiot So things were so bad between m that he waved it. Murray a clown and GM with the mighty suck ducks. Glad Chris is valued again here
dollar bill screwed JR but he also screwed us fans when he traded a franchise player for a nobody alexi zamnov
Possibly the best d-man to ever wear a Blackhawks uniform, and one of the best to ever wear any uniform.
He’s not coming back to be an ambassador, he’s coming back to be groomed to be the next head coach. Bank on it!
Chelios was a true Blackhawk……….tough and gritty……..everyone hated to play against him……….glad he is back.
I don’t mind that he’s becoming an Ambassador, but I hope the Hawks are not grooming him to be a Coach. The former popular player coming in as a Coach never seems to work out.
Chelios is in good shape, he takes care of himself quite well. He would have been an improvement last season to Oesterle.
I’m somewhat “meh” at Chelios being an Ambassador. He’s not my favorite guy but his stats in the Indian Head sweater speak volumes. Roenick ….. nope, let’s not open the floodgates.
As for coaching …. what Goldenrug said.
Iceman & Jordyhawk – you got my grey matter bubbling & I remember a classic Chelios moment:
Chelios & Bob Probert were involved.
As I remember it, Probert goes crazy attacking Chelios & ends up getting a penalty.
TV guys review the play & in slow motion you can see Chelios butt end Probert in the chin, hence his extreme reaction. It happened so fast the ref missed it (there was only 1 then)
The definition of a “Chelios Moment”.
Chelios is an ass of a person but was one hell of a hockey player. Never gave up on the Hawks they gave up on him and was probably the best thing for him.
Scout??
Played with Chelios in Wisconsin. I played with Plattville. He is , and will always be a stud. I think this is a smart move. Being an asshole myself, I think this can only help the hawks.
Fuck Chelios! Definitely upset the Hawks welcomed him back, especially after the team photo 75th anniversary team photo bullshit! Did Chelios proudly wear the Indian head for years YES! Those daya are long over. Let’s hope he gets booed again when they announce him. Chelios is a POS screw him, funny how he gets another paycheck from the Hawks when the only reason he is back is to take care of a sick parent what a POS human being fuck him and his number 7 jersey! This Org is going nowhere lately and this is another reason why!
Haha, the joys of celebrity… called a POS in the same sentence as he’s moving home to help his mother
To answer SSHM, I would guess that he does get a mixture of boos and cheers the first time he is introduced as an Ambassador. It will likely happen this weekend at Hawks fest.
I am going against the grain on this one. I have been a season ticket holder for 30 plus years and this is just wrong. Yes Chelios played some great hockey at the Stadium and he was run out of town. But he had chances to come back. And let’s not forget he preferred Detroit over the Hawks. I can’t criticize Rocket and the new management for their success but they weren’t here for this one. Bad move and he will receive a mixed reaction at best at the UC.
Must admit, I find SSHM post most disturbing. Chelly has more than enough money to pay someone to care for his mother but he chose to move closer and take care of her himself. Society would be a much better place if more people prioritized family. The Hawks are a better organization by make guys with family values ambassador verse some dirt bag. Let it go, he got kicked out of Chicago by Dollar Bill and won 2 cups. Get over it.
Nick…….LOL
Tab we may need a different ‘hockey’ related story to talk about-soon! Some one must be possibly, maybe, going to do something, somewhere at some point.
Like him or not always played hard and left it all on the ice.
Chris Chelios…vilified. yet Bobby Hull gets lauded. Chelios is no saint. But his transgressions pale in comparison to the reprehensible things Bobby Hull has done and said.
Chelios wanted an extension. Hawks thought he was done and offered him a position in the organization when his contract was up, but never returned his call when he wanted an extension. Any slight you feel as a fan was directed at Dollar bill. Every action he took was supposed to be a giant Fuck You to Bill Wirtz. Fans were just collateral damage.
Agreed Ernie – old man Wirtz is the real source of all these bad feelings
A proper owner would have taken care of Cheli as well as JR and Belfour
Not living in CHI I can tell you media and fans in other NHL cities either empathized with the pain of Hawk fans or laughed at them – either way it was clear to all that as long as Dollar Bill was owner the Hawks were assured of never being successful on the ice
I’m glad Chelios is back – I harbour no ill will toward him – he stood up best he could to ownership at the risk of being vilified
Night
and Day.
Rocky W.
Go Rocky.
Ian, there you go Orpik for 1m. That’s how you circumvent caphits. Wonder if TB tries that, let’s make a deal, ‘guys’.
Stefanie – I couldn’t agree more! It is long over due for the Hawks to recognize 28 for all that he did for the team.
Ok guys, go easy on me as I’m a die hard St. Louis Blues fan. I’m can still remember back when the Hawks and Blues played when Chelios and Roenick were there and in their prime. Those games were amazing. The teams could be playing meaningless games but they were always played as if the Cup was on the line. Cheli was a ln awesome gritty defenseman; just the kind of player that any other team would lov to clone Ilene if the clone was a bit of a downgrade from the original (ie like when you used to record something on a VHS tape and then record that version and it was slightly crappier). I agree with earlier comments that I hope (for the Hawks sake, even though it would help out the Blues as well as other teams) he isn’t being groomed for head coach, you guys deserve better. Every team has had a GM or owner or fellow teammate who f&cked the fans over by getting rid of a player. So IMHO as a fan of hockey in general this is a great thing for the Blackhawks. They make a great PR move by having him as an Ambassador as well as having a great player who can help teach and instill younger players. Again, this hurts me greatly to say it, but with Cheli back home, the Hawks have just made their team better.
Hope you all are enjoying your summer and I know that like me you are just itching for September to come!!
Chelios being “home” will do nothing for the on ice product. So I’m not sure how the team is “better”. Let’s not confuse ambassador and advisor.
As far as possibly being a head coach? Don’t bet on it. Giving the d prospects pointers is a far cry from managing pro athletes and there egos…let alone line changes and strategy. Not saying he couldn’t. But without prior experience the show isn’t where you get your feet wet. He was an advisor in Detroit, but more helping there prospects. He’s not going to be GM either.
This is a McDonough move. One that means next to nothing for hockey ops. Acknowledging the good and bad, and what this means to the team…it’s a “whatever” type move.
As far as Chelios the player. A lot of people bitch about all the defenseman under 6′. Chelios is/was 5’11.
As a person Chelios is compassionate. Exhibit 1 is why he’s back in Chicago now. Another instance is when his employees were murdered. Anyone can say the victims were like family. He actually sat out half the year to help the families and employees. A decent man who was told he should retire when he didn’t want to. But then backs that up a few years later and is 2nd in Norris voting and plays another decade. Yeah, probably should have kept him. Hindsight is 20/20.
GM of jackets is now making a list of potential teams to trade Panarin before training camp. Rangers Panthers Knights Pittsburgh which would include Kessel and Boston. Now what do u think guys. You no are cap situation and prospects & draft piks ! I’m asking for all your thoughts
Who’s worth giving up to get a Kaner double and proven player in my eyes was 2nd best player on team and would be again right now with this team. Let’s make a deal SB
If you want to be now be the favorite to win the division and come out winning the the first 2 rounds of playoffs you make this trade !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anisimov, Nalimov, Shalunov for Panarin…An all Russian trade.
Anisimov and Saad for Panarin.
Wait.
Well here is this for perspective, on FREEP Wings fans are now annoyed with Cheli as well. He announced he leaving to take care of his mother then accepts a job with the Hawks 4 days later. Sorry fails the sniff test for me as well as others. As for him being a POS and taking care of his elder mother they are not mutually exclusive. Lastly it’s not necessary about the actions of Mr. Chelios but more about how he acts on him, it just screams of self absorbed. Did he really need to sign with the Hawks 4 days later IF him coming home was really about his mother? Fuck him!
Detroit Free Press: Chris Chelios leaving Detroit Red Wings for Blackhawks couldn’t wait?.
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2018/07/25/detroit-red-wings-chris-chelios/833419002/
Lol Ernie that was good
So if your mom wasn’t doing well and you had the means to go home to spend time with her…and someone says hey, since youre in town wanna hang out with people that want to meet you every few weeks…we’ll pay you for it.
Get over yourself. You care so much it’s become loathing.
Again, why trade any assets when we can get Pararin for free. If hes traded, he doesn’t have to resign with that team. Would have to be a, your coming to CHI during the 19 ufa summer, right.
He can make plans with Kaner and crew now/before hand about next summer.
Slammer, I do want Saader and Bread Man. Creative if that’s what we do.
Several RFAs are not signed; anyone have opinions regarding offersheets/trade offers?
Ian, mentioned some last wk. Theres one from DET.
The Hawks should sign no one else, preserve cap space, and tank this season. They’re going nowhere. Concede to reality and hopefully get another lottery pick. Reload for a few years from now when the new core forms, then sign a few UFAs to get truly competitive.
Although it’s a little hard to swallow, especially for the Kanes and Toews of the world. and many fans– and I’m not against them making the playoffs Bomba has the reality check that makes more sense then all in now because time is running out.
Chelios, the same guy who slept with the Montreal Canadians’ president’s wife before being traded to Chicago?
Chelios, who along with his USA buddies, trashed the hotel room at the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics?
Chelios who was drunk and arrested on the side of the road and told the cop, “Don’t you know who I am”?
Chelios, who had a girlfriend every NHL city?
Nagano 1998
It would be better to get another high top pick, but there isint going to be a top3 pick like Boqvist in next yr/s draft. Deep draft, we got lucky, we had those key injury.
Were going to be to good to not make playoffs/or get a top8 pick (on a deep draft yr of all yrs).
I agree we should load up through draft and younger core. I got a feeling Duncks will still be good, besides 19/88, when were deep again. Which is 2 yrs.
I dodnot think any top8 pick, on normal draft yrs/not a deep one, will be better then having 19/88/2, even when there 30-40.
We were extremely luck to even be top10 pick area. Crow automatically makes us top10 record area in league. Then were picking 19th/22nd area, whats that going to do/that’s going nowhere. We got our top3 pick with the 8th pick and we got lucky.
Just because were loading up through draft/younger core, doesn’t mean we cannot add Panarin and another good player at deadline (on any yr, doesn’t have to be this yrs deadline) or summer ufa/trade. To have along with the younger core.
We can do both and not half assed.
I am for loading up through draft, no short cuts.
Also for not signing over priced ufas, kneejerk.
I do think we can do both, not half assed, by being creative. Like getting Bread Man for free as a ufa and not trading any assets.
Why not have a deep roster in 2or so yrs with the younger core guys are ready and adding those 2 kind of ufa/deadline add trade guys.
If thers no fight or we donot do any good the next 24mths from the core guys and the younger guys get better/take next steps. Then ok lets sell the barn and rebuild through draft and just talk about having a top3 goalie and a generational player like Kaner.
I think 19/88 and 2 have a good 7 yrs and 4/5 yrs of good yrs to bring to the fight.
Bowman and crew did really good. Stick with it, no short cuts.
Bouma, did not mean to sound like/go against, I guess I just resaid what you did in more words. Your right reload by retooling and then add during these 2ish yrs when he time and deal is right/good/what we want/need.
What have we become, the NBA where you sacrifice a season for a better draft pick? By hell I hope not because NHL fans are much smarter and much more loyal than the NBA. I don’t think the Hawks could risk pissing off any more fans after the last few seasons. They have to compete every game or the paying fans will see right through it and before long it’s 2005 all over. Just look how they get raked over on this blog when the effort isn’t there.
Good day, eh.
Ironic coming from a Hull screen name.
Obviously focusing on his sick mother Chelios is now planning to open a restaurant in Chicago Cheli Cantina,….