Post by Declan on Aug 27, 2009 8:18:44 GMT -5
The Predators have every intention of placing their developing prospects in the holes left by departing defensemen Greg Zanon, Greg de Vries and Ville Koistinen.
But if they need some more seasoning at the seventh spot on the blueline, they haven't ruled out adding a veteran before the start of the season.
One of the names being tossed around is 47-year-old Chris Chelios, whose abrasive style of play and frequent conversations with referees often made him a target of Predators fans.
Coach Barry Trotz and Chelios recently had a light-hearted talk on the topic.
"I said, 'Chris, are you sure you'd have the interest of playing in Nashville, because you're not exactly well-liked here?' '' Trotz said. "He said, 'Trotzy, trust me, I'm not well-liked anywhere.' I said 'Yeah, I guess you're right.' ''
Chelios, considered by some to be the best U.S. hockey player of all time, has played 25 years in the NHL, breaking in with Montreal in 1983-84. He played in 28 regular-season games and six playoff games with Detroit last season but won't be re-signed by the Red Wings.
A three-time Stanley Cup winner and three-time Norris Trophy winner as the league's best defenseman, Chelios said several times in the offseason that he'd like to play one more year.
"I've let everyone know that my intention is to play ... I think there are some teams out there I can help,'' Chelios told USA Today while serving as an assistant coach at the recent U.S. Olympic orientation camp.
"I'll be waiting by the phone, and we will see what happens. But I'm at the point that I'm ready to listen to anybody. I have to start out playing just to keep in shape and keep in the loop.''
Chelios' conditioning program should let him play another season, Trotz said.
"Physically, he's a specimen,'' Trotz said. "I think he would be a guy we would definitely consider.''
Trotz also mentioned de Vries and former Phoenix defenseman Ken Klee as potential veteran adds. But he reiterated that the plan is to give prospects such as Alexander Sulzer, Cody Franson, Teemu Laakso and Jonathon Blum a chance to fill out the roster.
"We've made it clear we're going to give the younger guys the opportunity,'' Trotz said. "We really like the upside they have.''
Source: www.tennessean.com/article/20090827/SPORTS02/908270358/1028/Predators%20show%20interest%20in%20acquiring%20Chris%20Chelios