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Chris Chelios won his second Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT - Chris Chelios is interested in moving from the front office to behind the bench.

The Hall-of-Fame defenseman has emerged as a candidate to become an assistant coach under new Detroit Red Wings head Jeff Blashill, according to Aaron Ward.

Ward, an analyst for TSN and former Red Wings defenseman, tweeted on Tuesday "Expect Detroit Red Wings to include Chris Chelios on coaching staff when they announce Jeff Blashill as their new head coach."

Blashill will meet with Chelios this week to discuss a role on his staff, but it's not clear if it's for a full-time coaching position. Blashill and general manager Ken Holland said assistant coaches should be in place by next week.

Chelios, 53, has worked as an advisor to hockey operations since retiring in 2010. He also has worked with Blashill in Grand Rapids, occasionally going on the ice to help coach defensemen.

It remains to be seen if he's ready to make a commitment to become a full-time assistant coach.

The Red Wings are continuing talks with Tony Granato about a possible extension after he declined the option on his contract for next season.

"We're still in the process of getting the right guys and putting the staff together," Blashill said. "Within a week we'd like to have it settled. Put the best staff together and get to work."

Cleary might return for another season

Holland said Tuesday that there is a chance he might re-sign forward Daniel Cleary.

"Dan Cleary, I need to talk to," Holland said. "Certainly two years ago when he made a decision to stay in Detroit and he's been offered three-year contracts in Winnipeg and Florida and Philadelphia, I know what he walked away from.

"So my management philosophy, part of it is being loyal and holding up my end of the bargain. So I need to sit down with Dan Cleary, so I don't have an answer on Dan Cleary. Could he possibly re-sign? He possibly could re-sign."

The Red Wings signed Cleary, 36, to a one-year contract last summer with a base salary of $1.5 million plus a $1 million bonus for playing 10 games. He appeared in 17 games, picking up one goal and one assist and posting a minus-4 rating.

It doesn't appear the Red Wings will re-sign defenseman Marek Zidlicky, but Holland said a decision will be made following the team's pro scouting meetings next week, Tuesday through Thursday.

"I know his agent sent me a text that he's decided he wants to play next year," Holland said. "We're going to go to our pro scout meetings and we're going to talk about our team."

Holland: Howard not going anywhere

Holland reiterated what he indicated after the playoffs - he has no intention of trading Jimmy Howard, who lost his starting job to Petr Mrazek in the playoffs.

He wants Howard and Mrazek to compete for the job in training camp.

"I think this is a two-goalie league," Holland said. "Up until (Howard's groin injury) I think his goals-against average was 2.01 and his save percentage was .924. He got injured and the wheels went off the track.

"While he was out, Mrazek went 10-1-1. Because of Mrazek's play, when he came back, we weren't prepared to let Jimmy kind of play his way out of the injury. I don't think he ever really got the wheels back on the track."

Howard has four years remaining on his contract.

"When I look at the combined salary cap of the two, Jimmy's $5.3 (million) and Mrazek is $737,500. They add up to $6 million," Holland said. "When you look at what we put into goal in relation to our 29 competitors, we're probably middle of the pack. There are some teams that have $8-9 million (invested) in goal. So I think we've got a nice 1-2 punch. I think we're going to have a motivated guy in Jimmy Howard and I think we're going to have a motivated guy in Petr Mrazek."

Blashill looks forward to the competition.

"The one thing that I know is that both Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek have proved at different points of their careers that they're elite goalies," Blashill said. "I think it's great to have as much depth at every position you can and that's what those guys have proven. I know they're elite competitors as well and character people. I'm excited to coach both of them."

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