Now just spare part, Chelios understands situation

DETROIT - Chris Chelios, his once jet black hair now graying, looks more like a coach than a player as he sits at his stall in the Red Wings' dressing room at Joe Louis Arena.

Once the most dominating defenseman in the game, particularly during his years with the Blackhawks, Chelios is 47 now and a spare part on a Red Wings team trying to win its second straight Stanley Cup.

Rookie Jonathan Ericsson plays ahead of Chelios. So does Buffalo Grove's Brett Lebda and Brad Stuart, behind the Red Wings' big three of Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski and Niklas Kronwall.

"I understand the situation," said Chelios, who has appeared in only four of Detroit's 12 playoff games. "I understand completely what's going on."

Chelios doesn't know what the future holds for him. He would love to return to the Red Wings when he becomes an unrestricted free agent for the sixth straight summer. He is settled in the Detroit area, his family likes it, and he just bought a new house.

Whether the Red Wings will want him back for another season when he will be 48 in January is anyone's guess.

"I have every intention in the world of playing next year, but it remains to be seen what the situation is and what's out there for me," Chelios said Monday. "We'll see what happens here. I could end up right in the mix of things again and help this team win."

Chelios doesn't see himself as a guy who is simply hanging on to his career.

"I have that belief that when I quit, it's going to be the end and there will be nothing left in the tank," he said. "I've heard everybody say it's great to go out on top, but I'm going to go the opposite way.

"I still feel I can contribute as a fifth or sixth defenseman. There's a lot of teams that could use that experience and depth to get in the playoffs or make a playoff run. My biggest concern is to finish out this year and help this team."

Chelios loves what he sees happening with the Hawks, not that there's any chance of him being offered a contract as a free agent.

"They have a lot of good things going in, but that's all I'll say until the series is over," Chelios said.