Chelios signs with Atlanta; stays with Wolves for now

Chris Chelios may be one step closer to returning to the NHL again.

The 48-year-old defenseman who has played with the Chicago Wolves this season was signed by the Wolves' NHL affiliate the Atlanta Thrashers Tuesday morning. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Chelios was immediately assigned to the Wolves and was at O'Hare with the team Tuesday as it prepared to fly to Toronto to take on the Marlies on Wednesday.

Chelios has appeared in 44 games with the Wolves this season, recording 21 points (5 goals, 16 assists) while ranking second in the league with a plus-35 rating.

"It couldn't have gone any better from a personal standpoint and a team standpoint," Chelios told WMVP-AM Tuesday morning of playing with the Wolves. "I think I've helped this team come along, and they've helped my chances of trying to get back in the NHL."

He indeed signed with the Wolves in hopes of getting one last shot in the NHL and now he might get that chance if things fall right for him.

"Maybe I'll get lucky and get in a few games up there," Chelios said. "In the meantime I have every intention of finishing it out with the Wolves."

The Chicago native has registered 948 points (185 goals, 763 assists) and 2,891 penalty minutes in 1,644 career NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens.

In an NHL-record 266 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, Chelios has collected 144 points (31 goals, 113 assists) while capturing the Stanley Cup three times, once with Montreal (1986) and twice with Detroit (2002 and 2008).

In his 25-year NHL career, Chelios ranks fourth in games played, eighth in all-time assists by a defenseman, and ranks 10th among defensemen in points. Among American-born players, he ranks first in games played, second in plus/minus (plus-352) and third in points by a defenseman.

Chelios said he'd relish a chance to play for former Wolves coach John Anderson in Atlanta.

"He's an old-school coach," Chelios said, "and I'm an old-school player, so maybe I'll get lucky."