Happy Anniversary, Chris Chelios Fans
On June 29, 1990 that the Blackhawks and Canadiens made a bold trade.
Montreal traded 28-year-old defenseman Chris Chelios to his hometown Blackhawks (with a second round pick) for 29-year-old forward Denis Savard, who also headed “home.”
At the time, Chelios was one season removed from winning his first Norris Trophy. He had put up 309 points in 402 games with the Habs after Montreal selected him in the second round (40th overall) in the 1981 NHL Draft.
In his final season with Chicago (the first time around), Savard had posted 80 points in 60 games. He had been a 100-point producer in five of his first ten seasons after the Hawks made him the third overall pick in the 1980 NHL Draft. Montreal owned the first overall pick in 1980 and infamously passed on the local hero to select another center, Doug Wickenheiser.
Over nine years with Chicago, Chelios won two more Norris Trophies and registered 487 points and 1,495 penalty minutes in 664 regular season games.
Savard played 201 games over three seasons with the Habs but he never again eclipsed 70 points in an NHL season. He was later traded back to Chicago for a sixth round pick in the 1996 NHL Draft (by Tampa).
Chelios, of course, was traded to Detroit in 1999. At that point, the Blackhawks acquired Anders Eriksson and two first round picks for the 37-year-old defenseman.
Who would have thought you could get two firsts for a 37 yr old dman and still get fleeced?
Who did we get with those two firsts?
Was SOOO angry with Chelios being moved to the Wings, consider me in the F-Chelly bandwagon still, such a shame, he was a great Blackhawk!
It still makes me smile when he honored and was largely boo’d on his return, “hey guys im one of you” nope Chris you are most certainly not, you are one of them!
On a side note kudos to his cousin also named Chris Chelios who runs the X-treme hockey camps out of All Seasons & Fox Valley ice rink! Super nice guy
Chelios & Steve Smith chopping their sticks on the backs of opposing forwards priceless — and no penalties for the most part.
Second, Chelios coming off the plane is his tuxedo on his sister’s wedding day to play in final game of 1996 World Cup also priceless.
Heart on his sleeve player. Quotes to media too. That being said, he laid his family’s tack in Michigan. So be it.
I loved when he threatened Bettman during the first lock out.