NHL Wraparound Celebrity Series - Chris Chelios - August 14, 2025

He's a hockey Hall of Famer who now has a movie credit to his name. He's also an entrepreneur in a life that has always been on the go.

Chris Chelios drops by for a fun chat with Neil and Vic

IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:38] - The Happy Gilmore 2 experience where Chris played a non-speaking role as a henchman alongside fellow NHLer Sean Avery.

[04:07] - Chris shares the story of when Avery moved into his house when the two were UHL teammates during the 2004-05 NHL lockout. That Avery wasn't the ideal house guest would be an understatement.

[06:06] - Aside from the final seven games of his NHL career as a member of the Atlanta Thrashers, Cheli shares the significance of playing the other 1644 games with three of the "Original Six" teams, Montreal, Chicago and Detroit.

[09:21] - How Cheli wound up with number 7 in Chicago with some additional backstory on him wearing 24 in Detroit.

[10:34] - Playing for Scotty Bowman and Mike Keenan

[13:46] - Cheli trashes Keenan's office.

[15:36] - With the Winter Olympics coming up in Italy in 2026, Chris talks about the differences competing as an olympic amateur in 1984 on the heels of the "Miracle on Ice" team and as a professional in 1998, 2002 and 2006. He also notes that though many on that 1980team did not have star careers, the doors that opened for Americans because of that group were immeasurable.

[18:08] - Returning to Chicago and Wrigley Field to throw out the first pitch and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

[21:11] - Having owned restaurants and having his own brand of Chili, Cheli talks about his venture into tequila.

[23:18] - What's next for Chris Chelios?

[25:32] - Looking back, despite not having won a Stanley Cup in Chicago, seeing Patrick Kane's overtime winner in 2010 to give the Blackhawks their first championship since 1961 still rings special for Cheli.

[29:37] - Having played with so many players over 26 NHL seasons and international tournaments, there's still two players Chris would have like to have played just one game with...

[31:17] - Returning to thoughts on Messier, Chris tells the story of accidently clipping him with his stick and then happening to Google Mess top elbows. Amidst the banter, there is little mistaking the ruthlessness needed to win in the NHL.

[34:51] - A legendary workout fiend, Cheli's approach is a bit different than in the past.

[38:03] - Vic and Neil wrap up with another franchise on the horizon.

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

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