Wolves Get Reinforcements From Atlanta As Chelios And Stapleton Return
April 7, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
The Atlanta Thrashers have reassigned defenseman CHRIS CHELIOS and right wing TIM STAPLETON to the Chicago Wolves.
CHELIOS appeared in seven games with Atlanta after being recalled on March 10, including last night's 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils, which officially eliminated the Thrashers from postseason contention.
The 48-year-old defenseman also has skated in 46 games with the Wolves this season and ranks second on the team and ranks fourth in the American Hockey League with a +34 plus/minus rating. He has posted a plus or even rating in 41 of his 46 outings with the team and ranks third among Wolves defensemen with 17 assists and fourth among team rearguards with 22 points.
CHELIOS leads all American-born players with 1,651 career NHL outings, and has racked up 948 points (185G, 763A) and 2,891 penalty minutes with the Montreal Canadiens (1983-90), Chicago Blackhawks (1990-99), Detroit Red Wings (1999-2009) and Thrashers (2010).
The Chicago native has been awarded the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman three times (1989, 1993, 1996), and has been named to the NHL's First All-Star Team five times (1989, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002). He has participated in 11 NHL All-Star Games, and been a member of three Stanley Cup winning teams (Montreal, 1986; Detroit, 2002 and 2008), while playing in the Stanley Cup Finals on three other occasions (1989, 1992, 2009).
STAPLETON collected two goals in six games with Atlanta since being recalled on March 26. He ranks second on the Wolves and is tied for 10th in the American Hockey League with an AHL career-high 29 goals in 71 games this season. He also holds second on Chicago with 58 points and shares first among team forwards and 16th in the league with a +24 plus/minus rating. His 29 assists hold third on the squad.
The 27-year-old native of Forest Park, Ill., has tallied three goals in 10 career NHL outings, which includes netting his first NHL marker in four matchups with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. He also paced the Toronto Marlies (AHL) and shared seventh in the league with 79 points (28G, 51A) in 70 outings last season.
Prior to turning pro, STAPLETON spent four seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he recorded 63 goals, 89 assists and 152 points in 162 career outings from 2002 to 2006. He also spent two seasons with Jokerit of the Finnish Elite League from 2006 to 2008, racking up 48 goals, 62 assists, 110 points and 60 penalty minutes in 111 games.
The Wolves host the Milwaukee Admirals at the Allstate Arena tonight at 7:00 p.m.
For more information, or tickets to Chicago's two remaining regular-season home games, or Games 1 and 2 of the West Division Semifinal, call 1-800-THE-WOLVES or visit chicagowolves.com.
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