Chelios back in the Indianhead next year?

The other day, Chicago Tribune columnist Steve Rosenbloom excitedly suggested the Hawks would welcome former captain Chris Chelios back into the fold next year, the only question being: would it make sense from a hockey standpoint?

Rosenbloom further stated it was a slam-dunk, no-brainer from a marketing perspective, and the certain next big move of marketing whiz John McDonough.

Well, Steve, ya might want to slow down there a bit.

From the top, it makes almost no sense from a hockey standpoint. Chelios has been a great player, but the time when he was is long, long since past.

Further, where does he actually fit into the Hawks’ defense next year at the age of 48? He can barely get around the ice anymore. Even playing 6-8 minutes a night, as Rosenbloom suggests, he’s a detriment. Whose minutes does he take? Matt Walker’s? Hjalmarsson’s?

No, thanks. I’d rather have those guys out there.

OK, but could he help as a sort of part-time player/assistant coach? Maybe. But just as likely not. I don’t know him personally, but the sense I get of Chelios is that he thinks he can still play. Like a lot of athletes, and his former teammate Jeremy Roenick, he isn’t going quietly into that good night. I could just as easily see Chelios being a bit of a problem in the dressing room, especially coming from a more accomplished, veteran team where he might have felt his minutes were limited because of superior talent to that of the Hawks.

OK, but what about the marketing angle? Well, Steve Rosenbloom is a better writer than I am; but I am probably a better marketing guy than he is. And I have my doubts.

Here are some facts:

First, right or wrong, Chelios has been booed every time he’s touched the puck in the UC for years.

Second, he was a Red Wing for 10 ½ seasons (not counting the strike— which would have made it 11 ½). He was a Hawk for 8 ½.

Yes, he was Captain. But sorry, to me, he’s more Red Wing than Blackhawk.

Think about it. Is Bob Probert more Red Wing or more Blackhawk? Most would agree, including Probie, I believe, his heart is more Red Wing. Yet the ratio of his Wing-Hawk years is about the same as #7’s. Yes, Probie grew up a long Stone's Throw from the Joe and Chelios has roots in Chicago, but still . . .

Third, speaking of #7, do you take Brent Seabrook’s number away from him to retire it right now as Rosenbloom suggests? I wouldn’t. It might seem trivial. But to me it sends a very bad message about the less than glorious past of this team versus the future.

Finally, I’ve noticed of late, a small, but growing chorus of skeptics in Blackhawk Nation who are concerned about “marketing” mania eclipsing good hockey decisions in this organization. The jokes about Enrico Ciccone Night, growing unease about the Havlat contract situation, etc., are all testament to this.

Put another way, if the Hawks fail to take care of real business this offseason and next, ie, securing the presently very bright future of this team, yet continue to run wacky “One Goal” commercials and have a Heritage Night 41 games a year, there’s going to very quickly be something rotten in the state of Denmark.

I’m all for eventually pulling Chelios in as an Ambassador, or some other role in the organization. He’s a Chicago guy, after all. But right now, the timing seems very odd to me.

My suggestion to Rosenbloom and others who are pining away for the Hawk “Glory Days” of the 90s: put on some Blind Melon CDs, or watch some old re-runs of "My Two Dads."

And leave my hockey team alone.

JJ

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