Would Chelios Return to Chicago?

When we started getting into the NHL playoffs a couple months ago, we were surprised to see Chris Chelios was playing for the Detroit Red Wings, the same Chelios who had helped the Blackhawks to reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1992. The same future Hall of Famer who played for the Blackhawks from 1990-1999. Jeremy Roenick and Ed Belfour may have retired, but the defenseman, at age 47, was still skating (as is Roenick, who plays for San Jose).

Earlier this week, the Red Wings and Chelios parted ways. Having seen limited action during the season, Detroit had little need for an over-the-hill defenseman.

But is Chelios, who first made it to the NHL in 1983, ready to retire? And even if he is, might he want to do so as a member of his home town team by signing a one-day contact? Bringing back a popular player, whether to contribute to the 2009-10 team, or simply for a little bit of PR, seems like something that Rocky Wirtz and John McDonough would consider if Chelios wanted it. Either way, it wouldn't surprise us to see him don a Blackhawks sweater one more time, even if only for a very brief time.