Blackhawks Top 100- #10 Chris Chelios

We’re counting the days until the Chicago Blackhawks 2014 Season kicks off. We’re doing a Top 100 list of all time Chicago Blackhawks. It’s a fun way to pass the time and take a stroll down Memory Lane as we head towards opening night on October 9th in Dallas.

Chris Chelios 1990-1998

Games-664

Goals-92

Assists-395

Points-487

+120

Penalty Minutes-1,495

Game Winning Goals-2

Playoffs

Games-65

Goals-12

Assists-36

Points-48

+26

Penalty Minutes-133

Game Winning Goals-2

Chris Chelios was a Chicag0 born hockey player that left the city as a youngster only to return as one of it’s favorite players of all-time. Chelios grew up in Chicago but left as a teenager and through a long journey made it to the Montreal Canadiens and learned from some of the best of all-time in Montreal on how to become a solid defenseman and became one of the best.

In a trade, that really helped both sides though Chicago fans including myself were upset at the time it happened, Chelios was traded from the Canadiens to the Blackhawks for Denis Savard. Savard was starting to show some age and yet was able to win a Stanley Cup with the Canadiens before returning to Chicago to end his playing career, while the Blackhawks received one of the greatest defenseman of all-time in his prime.

Chelios was one of the toughest meanest players on the ice while showing tremendous leadership qualities which earned him the Captain’s C when Dirk Graham hung up the skates in Chicago. Chelios was Duncan Keith before Duncan Keith always logging the most ice time while playing at an extremely high level.

Chelios won a Norris trophy while playing with the Hawks and he was the first defenseman in team history to lead the team in scoring for an entire season. Chelios is by far the greatest American born defenseman to ever play in the NHL and quite possibly the greatest American born player to ever lace up the skates.

Chelios was part of the great 92 team to make it to the Stanley Cup which was one of his best statistical years both in the regular season and the post-season, but in 95 it was Chelios scoring twice in back to back games in overtime to lead the Blackhawks to their last Conference Finals series until the arrival of

Jonathan Toews

and

Patrick Kane

I remember the cheering yet almost sadness after Chelios scored the second goal because I had tickets to Game #5 but was leaving town a week later and didn’t get to see the 95 team in the playoffs that season.

Chelios looked to be slowing down and the Blackhawks with their dark ages rolling in on top of them traded Chelios to the hated Detroit Red Wings where he didn’t really slow down but played for another 10 seasons winning 2 more Stanley Cups.

If Chelios had played his entire career with the Blackhawks, his #7 would be hanging from the rafters already and more than likely a statue outside of the United Center because he was the best their was but he had too much Detroit in his blood to probably get such an honor now.