Is Chelios The Next Gordie Howe?

Last week Chris Chelios was signed by the Atlanta Trashers, the parent club of the Chicago Wolves the team Chris has been playing with this season. Chelios, a Chicago native, has played 25 seasons in the NHL and if he gets called up to the big league it will make 26 for the 48 year old defenseman.

You have to start wondering will he ever retire or will he go the way of Gordie Howe and play in six different decades.

Chris currently has played in four different decades, 80's, 90's, zeros and now the teens (is that what we are calling it). He started back in 83 with Montreal before making his way home to his home town team the Hawks in 1990. Chelios spent 9 season in Chicago before being traded to the rival Redwings where he spent 10 years.

He currently ranks 10th alltime in scoring amoung defensemen while winning three Norris Trophies. Also raised Lord Stanley's cup three times, sadly none with the Hawks as well as playing for his country four times.

Surprising at 48 he isn't slowing down  playing pretty well for the Wolves. He has 5 goals and 16 assists for 21 points playing in 44 games and totaling a +35 which is good enough for second in the whole league.

On overall stats Chelios doesn't come close to Howe with numbers but he may give the man who will be turning 82 at the end of the montn a run of his money on this record. Howe last laced up his skates in 1997 playing for the Detroit Vipers at the age of 70.

Will we see Chris lace it up 20 years from now at the age of 68? I don't know but I wouldn't mind being there to see it.