Thrashers sign Chelios
The Thrashers have signed defenseman Chris Chelios, the team announced Tuesday.
Chelios, 48, has been playing for the Thrashers’ AHL affiliate in Chicago this season, although he was not property of the Thrashers. He signs with the Thrashers as an unrestricted free agent. He appeared in 44 games for the Wolves this season with five goals and 16 assists. He was also a plus-35.
Chelios must clear waivers, which the Thrashers will know by noon Wednesday. If he is not claimed by another team, he will remain in Chicago. However, he will be available to the Thrashers.
According to GM Don Waddell, Chelios gives the team veteran depth in case of injury.
“You never know,” Waddell said when asked the likelihood that Chelios is called up. “We have a busy schedule. When you go into a run like this, you like to have 10 defenseman in case you get a couple of injuries.”
Over his 25-year NHL career, Chelios won three Stanley Cups. He scored 948 points (185 goals, 763 assists) and 2,891 penalty minutes in 1,644 career games with the Red Wings, Blackhawks and Canadiens. In a NHL-record 266 career playoff games, Chelios has 144 points (31 goals, 113 assists)
He won the Stanley Cup with Montreal (1986) and twice with Detroit (2002 and 2008).
Other notes of interest from morning skate prior to tonight’s game against Panthers.
* Johan Hedberg will get the start in goal.
*It looks like Christoph Schubert will return on defense after suffering a knee injury and missing past 13 games. Slava Kozlov and Mark Popovic will be the scratches.
*The inclement weather in Atlanta is hindering the arrival of newly-acquired Evgeny Artyukhin. He was not at the team’s morning skate and may not arrive today from Anaheim.
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170 comments Add your comment
donniew
March 2nd, 2010
3:36 pm
Laugh all you want haters, but las GM ook at what I’ve built the Thrashers into… Umm, wait, hold on, ummm. Ok, look at all my brilliant trades, drafts and… um. Ok how about the uniforms, pretty spiffy eh? Who needs playoffs anyways?
Smoothie
March 2nd, 2010
3:37 pm
The man will be in Atlanta sooner than later I suspect. His Olympic vacation was no accident. Waddell will bring him up later this week to work with Bogosian. Chicago’s a lock for the playoffs. If things don’t work out, Cheli goes back to CHI-town and helps the Wolves win another Calder Cup title. We can carry 8 D-men once Kozzie & Colby get traded. Hopefully Whitey will get his waiver papers if we can swing the right deal to net us a scoring forward.
McGrath
March 2nd, 2010
3:38 pm
Waddell must have promised Chelios a Thrashers key ring…the kind that you can’t buy in stores.
Dwayne
March 2nd, 2010
3:47 pm
You know what, SOME of yall are idiots…if Chelios was called by Detriot, Pitts, Wash.etc., everyone would be saying what a good idea to have Chelios waiting, IF NEEDED. SO….STFU !!!!
Smoothie
March 2nd, 2010
3:49 pm
Kevin Allen of USA Today says: “It’s not a given Thrashers will deal Colby Armstrong. But if they can receive good NHL player in return, they will move him. Can’t sign him”
Mark it down, Colby is the cornerstone of the next deal…hopefully to bring back either Poni, Wolski (preferred), Frolov or Versteeg.
However, this may happen after the season too, but I feel quite certain Waddudley will be trying to make this happen at the deadline. We’ve got the picks and prospects…get ‘er done Donnie!
somaatl95
March 2nd, 2010
3:51 pm
Preach on Brother Dwayne!
Mo Wanchuck
March 2nd, 2010
3:54 pm
@ Dwayne –
No way would Detroit, Pittsburgh or Washington have a need for Chellios. Your argument is moot.
Joyaman
March 2nd, 2010
3:55 pm
Yeah. Who needs those pesky draft picks – way too hard to pick the right guys! Let’s mortgage the future again for say……Keith Tkachuk.
sansho1
March 2nd, 2010
4:03 pm
Signing the very old is an Atlanta sports tradition.
Braves: Julio Franco (49), Phil Niekro (48), Hoyt Wilhelm (48)
Hawks: Kevin Willis (42)
Falcons: Morten Andersen (47), Steve DeBerg (44)
It’s what we do.
Want My Floor Seats?
March 2nd, 2010
4:03 pm
Anyone else notice the TON of rumors out there, yet only like 3 done deals? And Artyukhin was one of them?
I just hope Army’s traded after tonight’s game and not before…But agreed, he’s good as gone.
Mark
March 2nd, 2010
4:08 pm
You guys got it all wrong…Thrashers are moving to Dawson City (Pop. 550). The city is building an outdoor rink. It will be called “La Pelt Centre”. Don Waddell will announce this after the season along with the first promotion “Trade an old Pelt for a Thrahser’s sweater”.
bugman
March 2nd, 2010
4:11 pm
“It gives depth to the D and adds a veteran presence to the locker room”
No, it means one less handicapped parking spot at the Ice Forum and an extra locker for his walker.
Smoothie
March 2nd, 2010
4:13 pm
Joyaman – we have 4 picks in the first 60 already. And there will be more received when we unload other players. What’s your point? Or are you ready to “tank” for a shot at Tyler Seguin? We’ve got enough kids under the age of 24 ready for prime-time. In 2007, we didn’t.
ChippersLoveChild
March 2nd, 2010
4:14 pm
Mo… Chelios was on the Wings last year, so it’s ok to have him at 47, but not 48? I see your logic…
Smoothie
March 2nd, 2010
4:14 pm
Sorry, I meant to type 3 (2 first rounders) of the first 60. Brain freeze on the 2nd round picks. We swapped picks with NJ but we’re in a good position with UFA assets to procure a couple more.
Golden Jet
March 2nd, 2010
4:18 pm
Press conference scheduled for tomorrow in Winnipeg…..
Jandy
March 2nd, 2010
4:39 pm
Hey Don W. I’m available and I’m only 63. I’ll play!
buldog/52
March 2nd, 2010
4:43 pm
chelios has been the best p;layer for the wolves this year. good signing by atl. will be good backup if needed. he never stops working and has been playing the most minutes of any wolve p;ayer on defense.
Curlygreg
March 2nd, 2010
4:50 pm
Isn’t it time for another Gordy Howe joke?
Ron Mexico
March 2nd, 2010
5:07 pm
Wow I can’t have an opinion too Chippers Love Child. Grow up.
Schroeder
March 2nd, 2010
5:08 pm
You guys are too tall to be trolls,so you must be Ogres.
somaatl95
March 2nd, 2010
5:10 pm
Golden Jet – Enjoy standing outside with nobody else around. Maybe next October you and Linus can both wait for the Great Pumpkin to show up too…
stendek
March 2nd, 2010
5:13 pm
For anyone interested:
http://hubpages.com/hub/RIP-USA-Hockey
Tom Lysiak
March 2nd, 2010
5:17 pm
You know, I like Colby. But, here is a guy who is supposedly pulling down $2.4 million this year. He has 9 goals, 20 points. Last year I believe he had 40 points. Is the money he wants the real issue? If so, just how much is that kind of production worth on his next deal? How much of your team percentage will you commit to those numbers? I know, I know, he also brings leadership to the team. Shouldn’t a leader be committed to the team? If he doesn’t want to play here and has made that known, GTFO. Trade him for the best offer tomorrow, if he will not sign a new deal. I think we can find another 9 goal scorer….
Want My Floor Seats?
March 2nd, 2010
5:18 pm
bugman:
Why don’t you lace up and take Chelios on for a few minutes and see if you still think he’s handicapped and needs a walker? They’ll roll you out on a stretcher, dude.
It seems like you guys should all be a +35 in 44 games yourselves before you start babbling on about a guy being too old to play…This was a GREAT move with no downside.
somaatl95
March 2nd, 2010
5:18 pm
And if you insist on Trolling, Rotten Jet, read your own news sources:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/truth-and-rumours-84557287.html
Want My Floor Seats?
March 2nd, 2010
5:23 pm
Off to Philips, icy roads and all….Maybe Vokoun will be traded by 7pm?
Mary Ann Hossa
March 2nd, 2010
5:27 pm
I’m hearing Paul Coffey is being considered. Give us some locker room experience.
Norm Greed
March 2nd, 2010
5:28 pm
I lived in Dallas when the rumors of the pending move of the North Stars surfaced. At first their were vehement denials on both sides, but see what happened…the Dallas Stars!
Buzz
March 2nd, 2010
5:38 pm
Chelios is an awesome talent even if he does not play.
Someone has to get in the young defensemen’s heads and tell them to play like MEN. (Vlabik, Bogo, Kulda)
He would be an awesome locker room presence on a playoff drive, I think.
somaatl95
March 2nd, 2010
5:42 pm
@ Norm – there have been denials on both sides as well as the commissioner on the league saying that the NHL is committed to Atlanta. Can one week pass without some Di**headed Canadian spreading that the Thrash will be moving to (insert some random UNDESERVING town in Canada here)????? Go pick on the real jokes of the League, the Oilers and Maple Leafs, rounding out the bottom of East and West!
somaatl95
March 2nd, 2010
5:43 pm
… and TSN flatly would not post that sentiment I have about The Leafs and Oilers on them trashing this signing of Chelios… thanks AJC!
Get The Puck Out
March 2nd, 2010
5:51 pm
Why don’t you just wait and give the man a chance before you condemn him to a wheelchair? His value as a player can be greatly enhanced if he can get Bogo and other young players to play to their potental. Don’t be so harsh in your judgement until you see what his role is with the team. I for one think he could bring value to this team. Lighten up.
Zach
March 2nd, 2010
6:04 pm
Get the puck,
What have the last ten years been? were we not counting that as part of the chance?
Zach
March 2nd, 2010
6:11 pm
get,
my bad i though you were talking about wadell.
my brain is a tumor
March 2nd, 2010
6:14 pm
The real hockey excitement was the knights. I have fallen asleep on trashers hockey since they were made a team.
my brain is a tumor
March 2nd, 2010
6:18 pm
the real hocket was the knights. i fell asleep to the trashers when they became a team.
my brain is a tumor
March 2nd, 2010
6:18 pm
oops,sorry.
MB
March 2nd, 2010
6:24 pm
Forgive me for not getting too excited about Chelios and Artyukin…but hey, at least we didn’t bring back Andy Sutton.
I have no problem with Chelios mentoring our young d-men, but would much prefer that occur in more of a coaching role. Seeing him play last year with Detroit, he looked pretty over-matched at the NHL level, and that’s with a team that played strong team defense, as opposed to our T-Birds.
As for Artyukin, my assumption is he’s a replacement for someone else who’s headed out the door…and the door keeps revolving. Third/fourth line in, third/fourth liner out.
Kari Lehtonen
March 2nd, 2010
6:34 pm
REPORT: THRASHERS SIGN D ANDY SUTTON TO 10-YEAR DEAL!
Jack
March 2nd, 2010
6:40 pm
Sorry Kari he signed with the Senators today
Gordie Howe
March 2nd, 2010
6:44 pm
My phone has been ringing non-stop.
Thank God for caller ID.
Suckers.
Kari Lehtonen
March 2nd, 2010
6:45 pm
It was a sign-and-trade, Hossa-style. Sutton is in the line-up tonight vs. Florida.
True story.
Arnold Buckholt
March 2nd, 2010
6:51 pm
A sports and events management firm near Galveston is reportedly in negotiations to buy trademark rights to the name “Houston Oilers.” Wait, don’t tell me…
Tom Lysiak
March 2nd, 2010
7:13 pm
Good scoop there Arnold. Better tell them to remember to compensate Edmonton for stealing their team name. The Commish might not like that….
Brendan
March 2nd, 2010
7:24 pm
Chipper’s Love Child stole my hear that “We do need a Captain for next year” zinger. Well played.
Bob, do you still have that list of Defensemen Waddell has signed over the years? It’s time to add another to the list!
Joyaman
March 2nd, 2010
7:26 pm
Thrash up 2-1 early at the cavernous Philips arena. Hope the ASG enjoys the echo that Mr. Waddell has put in the building. I feel sorry for the players and hope they understand that the boycott is not about them.
Joyaman
March 2nd, 2010
8:04 pm
looks like a preseason game. Penalties every other shift.
Lee
March 2nd, 2010
8:19 pm
WHITEY SCORED!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!
Reg
March 2nd, 2010
8:22 pm
There is no Winnipeg deal…the Thrashers are history!