Chris Chelios Says DUI an Attempt To Earn "Street Cred" With Hawks (Satire)

Former Detroit Red Wing and Chicago Blackhawk Chris Chelios was arrested on Dec. 28 for a DUI in Westmont, IL.

The former NHL All-Star, 47, is currently under contract with the AHL's Chicago Wolves, yet his desire to play for an NHL team, particularly his hometown Chicago Blackhawks, is well known.

Making his first public comments about the arrest on Thursday, Chelios indicated that the incident was intentional on his part.

Asked what he hoped to achieve by the arrest, Chelios offered the following, "Street cred. I guess you can call it that. You know, most of those guys [Chicago Blackhawks players] weren't even born when I started my career. You know, they hear about guys like me and I'm not even relevant, just some old guy."

Chelios was then asked how he thought a DUI arrest would make an impact with the younger Blackhawks.

"I've got a kid in college, I know how those kids think. They're into rappers and rock stars who get arrested all the time. Getting arrested is like a badge of honor. Look at [Patrick] Kane last summer. He beat the [expletive] out of that cabbie, got arrested, and now he's everyone's favorite player."

"I want a spot on that team, a real spot. I've got to be able to fit in on and off the ice.  Before this, I was just some washed up old fart trying to get on a young, hot team. Now, I've got this arrest to give me some credibility with them, I can still party, I can still get wild."

To date, Chelios admitted that no one from the Blackhawks organization has contacted him about playing for the team, but he is hopeful his elevated profile will change this.

"The Hawks are the best thing to happen to Chicago sports in awhile, they can legitimately win a Cup this year. I played there, I know how great the fans are, they'd welcome me back. It would be like a movie, the crazy old veteran with a rap sheet joins the up and comers and helps them reach the promised land, I'd watch that."

When asked if he was prepared to do anything else to gain a spot on the team, should his arrest not have the desired effect, Chelios said, "Maybe. I might need to step it up. Look at Tiger Woods right now, you know?  He's a stud, young guys dig him. I might go that route myself."

Bleacher Report will continue to monitor this story and provide updates as they become available.