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Ex-Red Wings Star Chris Chelios’s Take on Today’s NHL<\/p>\n
Chris Chelios<\/a> shared his thoughts on how the NHL has evolved since he retired from hockey. Chelios praised the current stars for their skill and highlighted a key area that differs from his playing days. The Detroit Red Wings<\/a> legend noted that the sport as a whole has improved both on and off the ice.<\/p>\n Chelios built a strong reputation for his exceptional play as a defenseman. He earned respect among his peers in the NHL for his ability and career longevity. The Hockey Hall of Famer<\/a> retired at 48 years old in 2010 after 26 NHL seasons.<\/p>\n Chelios\u2019 opinion carries weight, as he played in multiple eras and witnessed the growth of the sport firsthand.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything from the training to the facilities, travel, we never chartered until the last minute. These guys [today] got it pretty good and I think they know it. As far as on the ice, obviously they\u2019re trying to make it a more offensive game,\u201d Chelios exclusively told Heavy Sports<\/a> via Come On Sports<\/a>. \u201cThe rules that have changed over the course of the last 5-10 years do not benefit defensemen, that\u2019s for sure, or the goaltenders.\u201d<\/p>\n Red Wings Legend Chris Chelios Says NHL Prioritizes Skill and Speed<\/p>\n Chris Chelios also said that the NHL has prioritized skill and speed, which is evident in today\u2019s game.<\/p>\n The Red Wings legend admitted that players could succeed in his era despite not being strong skaters. However, that is not that case today. Chelios emphasized that elite skating is now a requirement to play at the highest level in the NHL<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cGuys are bigger, faster, stronger, but everybody\u2019s got to be able to skate. Back in the 80s and 90s, you can get away with not being a great skater, and that\u2019s not the case anymore. You have to be a fast skater and reliable defensively,\u201d Chelios exclusively told Heavy Sports via Come On Sports. \u201cThe skill level\u2019s off the charts with some of these kids, [Jack and Quinn] Hughes and [Clayton] Keller. It just goes on and on, the talent pool, especially with the Americans that we have in the league.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Chelios Reveals What He Likes Most About Today\u2019s NHL<\/p>\n Chelios said he enjoys the Stanley Cup playoffs<\/a> most when watching today\u2019s NHL. The former Red Wings defenseman explained that while he would not want to necessarily bring anything back from his era, he values consistency.<\/p>\n Chelios said the regular season is officiated much differently than the playoffs. As a result, the playoff style of play is more physical and lenient, while the regular season is stricter.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring the playoffs, it\u2019s a whole different season. So the referees allow them to be more physical and put that whistle away. I don\u2019t like when the referees are a topic after a game, which seems to be the case quite a bit in the regular season,\u201d Chelios exclusively told Heavy Sports via Come On Sports.<\/p>\n He added: Once the playoffs start, even round by round, you see the referees let the guys play the game. And I like that. That\u2019s something that you miss.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tGiancarlo Aulino<\/a> Giancarlo Aulino is sports writer who covers UFC for Heavy.com. He began writing for Heavy in 2025 after providing MMA coverage for Sportskeeda. Giancarlo is an experienced journalist and interviewer, having covered soccer clubs Toronto FC and Inter Toronto FC as a full-season reporter, and also producing sports coverage for Toronto radio station VIBE 105.5FM.
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