Chelios heading back to the NHL after call-up to Thrashers

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Thrashers have a newcomer: 48-year-old defenseman Chris Chelios, an 11-time All-Star.

Chelios has played in the most games of any American-born NHL player, and he joins the Thrashers after getting five goals and 17 assists in 46 games with Chicago of the AHL. The team recalled Chelios on Wednesday.

Chelios has 948 points in his 25-year NHL career with Detroit, the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal. He has appeared in an NHL-record 266 Stanley Cup playoff games and is a three-time captain for the U.S. Olympic team.

He won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman three times, and last appeared in the NHL with Detroit last season.