Chris Chelios: Top 11 Probable Destinations

This is a follow-up to my Part I article, regarding Detroit's statement that the NHL's most experienced defenseman ever will not be offered a new contract. As I stated in that article, there are a lot of reasons to believe he will sign somewhere—I would place the odds of him playing at least one more year at 4:1.

The following 11 teams are the most likely destination for Chris Chelios, and they are listed in the order of probability from least to most. (The odds of him landing on one of the other 19 teams combined is less than 1:100.)

Chelios’ career statistics:
GP: 1,644, G: 185, A: 763, +/-: +352, PIM: 2,891, GW: 31, S%: 5.1

Les Habitants de Montreal

Montreal fans would welcome Cheli back, and the locker room could use his leadership and championship experience. They only have four players on the blue line better, mostly because they have a whopping five defensemen who are unrestricted free agents.

But they do not appear to be very likely to contend, with five forwards also facing free agency. To be contenders and thus become an attractive destination for Cheli, they would probably have to re-sign three of their defensemen, which would make Cheli unlikely to be eligible to have his name etched on the Cup…odds: 1:50

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh could need Cheli’s blue line presence, with only maybe five guys sure to return that would be ahead of him on the depth chart. But they are not a team in need of leadership, championship experience or IQ.

On the other hand, this would be Cheli’s best chance to win another Cup, so he should be more motivated…odds: 1:40

Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver has five players ahead of Chelios even if they do not re-sign Mattias Ohlund, so they would have a hard time fitting Chelios in. They could use his championship experience and leadership, but with the possibility of losing Mats Sundin and the Sedin twins, they may not even be that close to contending for the Cup…odds he lands in Vancouver: 1:40

Calgary Flames

Calgary desperately needs the hockey IQ, as they are clearly the team that commits the most mistakes and dumb penalties. They also could use his leadership and championship experience, as other than the one year they played in the Stanley Cup Finals, they cannot get out of the first round.

But there are five defensemen on their roster who are better, and that’s if they don’t sign either Jay Bouwmeester (who they recently traded Jordan Leopold for) or Adrian Aucoin. Chances are, there will be no room for Chelios…odds: 1:25.

Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim is obsessed with defensemen, trading for two before the deadline when it was already their deepest unit, and they live and die by them. And they traded away thug-extraordinaire Chris Pronger, leaving them a bit thinner on the blue line.

Should Scott Niedermayer retire (the Ducks do expect him back) or the team lose Francois Beauchemin in free agency, they will have room for Chelios in their starting six. But they are not in need of any of his unique assets, and if they are looking for someone to plug in, there will be better options available…odds: 1:25.

Dallas Stars

Dallas may not appear to be a contender, but their injuries were the reason they fell out of the playoffs after having been one the NHL’s final four teams in 2007. They could use his leadership and championship experience, especially if they lose Sergei Zubov and Darryl Sydor.

But the rest of the unit scores pretty high in hockey IQ, and unless they lose both guys, it is likely they will have better options with five solid defensemen likely to be under contract…odds: 1:25

Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia is much like Vancouver, with five players who would project ahead of Cheli and free agents of their own to sign, and he would pretty much fill the same needs for them. Most of Cheli's unique assets are available in the much more skilled, thuggish package of recently-acquired Chris Pronger. The Flyers, however, at least have the look of contenders…odds he goes to Philly: 1:15

San Jose Sharks

As a Sharks fan, I can tell you that San Jose desperately needs Cheli’s leadership and championship experience. Former teammate Doug Wilson is also brought in Jeremy Roenick from his old Blackhawks team, so there is a precedent.

But the blue line plays smart and has five players that are better than Cheli even if they do not re-sign Rob Blake, which they are likely to do…odds of Cheli playing in San Jose: 1:12

Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus fits the bill. They are a young team that could benefit from Cheli’s experience and leadership, and he projects to be the seventh defenseman even if the team re-signs or replaces Christian Backman. However, this team would be a longshot to win the Cup…odds:1:6

New Jersey Devils

New Jersey has the least blue line depth on this list among players either under contract or who are restricted free agents. They also do not have much leadership or championship experience among defensemen, and could benefit there…odds of Cheli playing in New Jersey: 1:5

New York Rangers

New York is in desperate need of IQ (Sean Avery alone drops their average below even Calgary's), leadership and championship experience. Only four players who will definitely be in that unit next season are better than Cheli; even if they do re-sign Paul Mara and Derek Morris, Cheli would project as their seventh best blue liner right now. And did I mention that they are an Original Six franchise? Odds: 1:3