gold star for USAHOF

22. Chris Chelios

22. Chris Chelios

When the Detroit Red Wings traded for Chris Chelios at the 1999 Trade Deadline, they could not have foreseen that they would get a decade of play from the 37-year-old.

The American Defenseman was acquired for Anders Eriksson and two First Round Picks, and Detroit still easily won the deal.  A veteran with more grit than entire teams, Chelios was still a very good player, and at age 40, he was a First Team All-Star and the NHL leader in Plus/Minus.  He helped lead the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup that year, capping what had to be one of the most improbable seasons of a player his age.   

Chelios remained with Detroit, winning the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2007. The Defenseman was not resigned after the 2008-09 Season, and he would score 152 Points with a Plus/Minus of +158 as a Red Wing.

Chelios entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Defence
  • Acquired: Traded from the Chicago Blackhawks for Anders Eriksson and Detroit’s 1999 1st Round Pick (which would be Steve McCarthy) and the 2001 1st Round Pick (which would be Adam Munro) 3/23/99.
  • Departed: Signed as a Free Agent with Chicago of the AHL 10/20/09.
  • Games Played: 578
  • Notable Statistics:

    21 Goals
    131 Assists 
    152 Points 
    613 PIM 
    0.26 PPG 
    +158 Plus/Minus 
    41.1 Point Shares 

    103 Playoff Games
    3 Goals
    25 Assists 
    28 Points 
    104 PIM 
    0.27 PPG 
    +14 Plus/Minus 
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Stanley Cup Champion (2002 & 2008)
    First Team All-Star (2002)
    All-Star (2000 & 2002)
    Mark Messier Leadership Award (2007)
    Highest Plus/Minus (2001-02)
    Most Defensive Point Shares (2001-02)
More in this category: « 21. Chris Osgood 23. John Ogrodnick »

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