from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

After retiring from playing in 2010 at age 48, Chelios joined the Red Wings first as an advisor to general manager Ken Holland, a job that segued into a developmental role alongside Jeff Blashill, and then a stint as ambassador. Chelios often worked closely with Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby, and has a special friendship with Steve Yzerman.

Here are highlights from my Q&A with Chelios.

How long was the decision to leave Detroit in the making?

CC: Since a few months after my dad passed. My mom gets help from my sister, but the commute just got really old driving back and forth trying to help my sister. Over the years, I’d talked with the Ilitches about it, about returning home at some point. Then after my dad passed, that’s really when I started thinking about it seriously.

The kids also had a bearing on it— I’m an empty nester now. My daughter graduated from Northwestern a few months ago. Two of them are going to be here in Chicago. So it’s basically all family based.

more