Chris Chelios leaving Detroit Red Wings to return to his hometown, Chicago

Chris Chelios leaves the Detroit Red Wings to return to his hometown of Chicago

Chelios spent a decade with the Red Wings as a player from 1999 to 2009, and he was also a councilor for the team. ;team. His career as a Hall of Fame defender began in Montreal before spending eight years with the Blackhawks.

"For me, it's an opportunity to return to Chicago to be closer to my family, and especially to my mother," Chelios said Thursday. "I started seriously to consider moving in February after the death of my father.Now that my children have all graduated, it seems that this is the perfect time for my wife, Tracee, and me to act. "

Chelios was traded to Detroit in March 1999 He stayed with the Red Wings during the 2008-09 season before ending his career by making a brief stint in Atlanta in 2009- 10.

"I've really enjoyed being part of the Red Wings organization over the past 19 years" Chelios said. "Certainly, I was skeptical about the 1999 trade that brought me Brought to Detroit. As a Chicago player who played for the Blackhawks at the time, we despised the Detroit teams of the 1990s. After the trade, however, things changed quickly and I started to feel like in my house.

Chelios and the Red Wings won the Stanley Cups in 2002 and 2008.

"What an incredible experience to play teams in the history of the league, with some of the greatest players of all time said Chelios, "I consider myself extremely lucky to have been part of it all. The winning teams of the Cup in 2002 and 2008 are the obvious highlights, but I'm grateful for all the chances I've had to put on a Red Wings jersey. "

Jake, the son of Chelios, is also a supporter of the Red Wings' organization.