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Chelios not able to commit to full-time assistant coaching position with Wings

By Angelo Montilla

Mar 29, 2016, 13:00 EDTUpdated:

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The shortlist of candidates to replace Tony Granato as assistant coach of the Detroit Red Wings won’t include three-time Stanley Cup champion Chris Chelios.

The Hall of Fame defenceman — who is a part-time assistant coach with the Wings — told mlive.com’s Ansar Khan he doesn’t plan on taking the job on a full-time basis.

Granato, who will stay on as an assistant for the rest of the season, is expected to be introduced as the Wisconsin Badgers’ new head coach this week.

Chelios cited his parents — both in poor health — as the main reason he cannot commit to being a full-time assistant coach.

From mlive.com:

“I’m fortunate enough that (coach Jeff Blashill) and Tony and those guys allow me the flexibility to go see my parents,” Chelios, 54, said. “That’s the only issue. If it wasn’t for my parents’ (health) I’d love to take on a full-time job. But at this point they’re not doing well and the more I’m around the more it helps them.”

The three-time Norris Trophy winner occasionally helps out during Wings practices and watches games from the press box. He does make it to the odd road game, but Chelios primarily takes care of his parents in Chicago the rest of the time.

That leaves the door wide open for other possible candidates looking for NHL work.

Among several potential candidates, former Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks bench boss Marc Crawford made it clear earlier this month he’d like to return to the NHL ranks. Crawford spent the last four years as head coach of the ZSC Lions of the Swiss Elite League where he helped the team win a championship and three regular-season crowns.

Other unemployed coaches the Wings may consider are former Flyers bench boss Craig Berube and ex-Tampa Bay Lightning coach Guy Boucher.