Chris Chelios likely to retire

Chris Chelios and the Chicago Wolves were bumped by the Texas Stars last night from the AHL playoffs, ending their season and once again bringing up questions over his future in hockey.

This time, Chelios says that he’s most likely retiring:

“I’m 99-percent sure that I think that will end it as a career,” Chelios said. “I don’t know if it’s the right time to say it, but it has been a great opportunity for me (to play hockey). Physically it has caught up. I always said I’d go out when there was nothing left in the tank and I think I’m there.”

It was a long, tough series against the Stars that ended when Jamie Benn outworked the 47-year old Chelios along the boards to score the game-winning goal. He’s been playing hockey for over a quarter of a century and when he says he thinks he’s done, then there’s no doubt that there’s nearly nothing left that he’s playing with.

He played mostly with the Wolves this season but was called up for nine games with the Atlanta Thrashers at the end of the season, although his experience and leadership didn’t make much of a difference down the stretch.