When news broke yesterday that the AHL's Chicago Wolves (the Atlanta Thrashers' affiliate) had fired head coach head coach Don Granato and assistant Jason Christie after a 1-5 start, we're sure we weren't alone in experiencing this hockey epiphany:

Say hello to Chris Chelios(notes), player/coach of the Chicago Wolves.

The notion of Chelios, the former Detroit Red Wings defenseman seeking an NHL audition with the minor league team, becoming a modern day Reggie Dunlop from "Slap Shot" would have been the stuff of hockey legend: The 47-year-old ex-champion, playing his heart out to get back to the show while leading a rag-tag bunch from the basement to contention.

OK, make that hockey fantasy: Chelios has zero coaching experience, which is why one reason Wolves GM Wendell Young has already dropped the hammer on the idea of Cheli as Chicago hockey's answer to Paul Newman. From Chicago Now:

"We've got a short list (of candidates) who we want to target," Young said. "Some calls were made here and there and the phone rang (off the hook after the news went out). I didn't know there were that many coaches out of work."

One candidate is out, however, "absolutely no to (Chelios), we're giving him a platform to play back in the NHL," Young said. "The coaching side is not under consideration."

But is the hockey side still under consideration for Chelios, too? Dave Eminian of the Journal Star points out that Granato helped bring Chelios to the Wolves; would another coach be as amenable to an ancient warrior eating up minutes on his blue line?

Wings blogger George James Malik of Snapshots has his doubts, and wonders if Chelios does, too, having not actually signed with the Wolves as of yet.

(UPDATE: And just like that, Chelios is a Chicago Wolves defenseman. Good for him, and good for the team.)

Malik also has a superlative rundown of Chelios's work with the NHLPA, as the players association appoints a committee of veterans to figure out what the hell has happened to organization in the last few months, and to create what CBC Sports sees as a more pro-agent association.