DETROIT, June 12 (UPI) -- Defenseman Chris Chelios, at 45 the NHL's oldest player, plans to return for a 24th season, the Detroit Red Wings said Tuesday.
Chelios owns the National Hockey League record for games played by a U.S.-born player at 1,547 and won the Norris Trophy, given to the league's top defenseman, in 1989, 1993 and 1996. He has 182 goals 754 assists and 2,837 penalty minutes over his career.
He's also been on two Stanley Cup winning teams -- Montreal in 1986 and Detroit in 2002. In addition to Montreal, with whom he made his NHL debut in 1984, and Detroit, Chelios also played for Chicago.
"Chris is coming off another outstanding season and was one of the best defenseman on any team through three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs," Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland said. "He has taken conditioning to a new level and has set the standard for how today's professional athlete trains year-round in order to compete at an elite level."
