DETROIT -- A punishing, hard-nosed defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1990s, Chris Chelios was vilified by Detroit fans and couldn't have imagined playing for the hated rival Red Wings.

But he spent 10 years in Detroit, winning two Stanley Cups and leaving a lasting impression on the franchise with his work ethic and competitiveness.

Now, Chelios is poised to become a fixture in the organization for many more years in his post-playing career.

On Tuesday, the future Hall of Famer announced his retirement after 26 NHL seasons. He has returned to the Red Wings as an advisor to hockey operations.

"I wanted to leave the game when I felt like there was nothing left in the tank," Chelios, 48, said during a news conference at Joe Louis Arena. "I think I pretty much accomplished that. I have no regrets. It's a great way to end it."

The three-time Norris Trophy winner -- widely regarded as the greatest American-born defenseman, if not player -- will have a variety of roles. He'll work with the organization's young defensemen in Grand Rapids, college and juniors. He'll provide insight to the front office and coaching staff on a variety of issues. And he'll serve as a team ambassador.

"The way I look at this is it's an internship to find my niche, whether it will be coaching or management or player development," Chelios said. "I'm ruling nothing out. This is the best opportunity for me right now. I'm learning from the best."

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Reaction to Chris Chelios' announcement that he's retiring after 26 seasons in the NHL:

Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom:

"When I first came into the league, the Blackhawks had a very tough team. He was their leader, he was always the guy you had to look out for, knowing he was on the ice. Playing against him was tough because he was a fierce competitor. When he came to us, we finally had a chance to see some of that. It was great having a chance to play with someone like that."

Forward Kris Draper:

"Any time you went into (Chicago), you knew Cheli was coming after you, it didn't matter who you were. He'd go after Stevie (Yzerman) and Sergei (Fedorov) and everybody down the list. If he got a chance, he was hitting you. He was one of those guys that when you're playing against him, you think that's the kind of guy you want on your team. He impacted a lot of us on and off the ice."

Coach Mike Babcock:

"He was always first at the rink, always real committed to the off-ice training and an unbelievable competitor. Him joining our staff is a real bonus, just like Stevie (Yzerman) did. They're just getting off the ice and they still think like players. Sometimes when you've been away from it a long time as a coach and management, you don't think like that. So they bring a different perspective."

General manager Ken Holland:

"Playing defense in the NHL is so tough. (Chelios) knows all the tricks, the savvy instincts, the little things he did at the blue line to make people go offside and the little passes he made on the penalty kill. Those are little tricks he can pass on."

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Chelios' role will evolve during the season.

"I want Cheli to give us a different perspective, a perspective of (having been) on the ice with the players, in the locker room," Holland said.

Coach Mike Babcock plans to pick Chelios' brain often.

"What do you think? How do you see it? What's a different way to do it? How about this player, is he as high end as I think? Who do you think I should be playing more than I am?" Babcock said. "These are all questions you can ask of a guy like Cheli."

Chelios spent most of last season with the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves before finishing the year with the Atlanta Thrashers. He has known for months he would not play again but dreaded having to make it official.

In a lengthy, all-encompassing speech filled with humorous quips and anecdotes, he thanked former teammates, coaches and owners in Montreal, Chicago and Detroit.

"Coming into my 40s, everyone kept asking me, 'Are you going to retire soon?' " Chelios said. "I never answered because I didn't want to quit, I was having so much fun playing with the Red Wings and winning Cups. I never thought it would end."

Holland called the acquisition of Chelios in March 1999 one of the two best trades he has made. (He said the other was the 2001 deal for goaltender Dominik Hasek.)

Chelios said he walked into a "whirlwind" of a team and likened the Cup-winning 2002 club to the New York Yankees' Murderer's Row.

"I found myself surrounded with the greatest players who ever played the game -- Steve Yzerman, Nick Lidstrom, Brett Hull, Dominik Hasek, Igor Larionov," Chelios said. "I'm getting off the bus and I thought I was with a rock band. Never in a million years would I have thought after all the bad blood they would take me in."

Former teammates Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom and Kris Draper attended the news conference.

Draper said Chelios' training, preparation and competitiveness influenced a lot of players.

"To be able to play in your mid-to-late 40s in the NHL, especially now, how fast the game is and how big and strong these kids are, speaks volumes about the dedication and commitment he had to this sport," Draper said.

Chelios thanked his parents, Greek immigrants who settled in Chicago, for making his dream possible.

"They worked endless hours to give us the best life they could," Chelios said. "I had no business playing hockey, being a first-generation Greek. My dad (a former bartender and restaurant owner) caught the bug at an early age, hanging around Chicago Stadium, serving (Blackhawks legends) Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita."

Chelios became emotional near the end the news conference while talking about his family, seated in the front row.

"I thought he probably would towards the end," said his wife, Tracee. "I've seen it when it comes to family."

Chelios' job will enable him to watch sons Dean and Jake play hockey at Michigan State and spend time with daughters Caley and Tara, who attended Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood High School.

Chris and Tracee Chelios were married in 1987. Tracee never imagined her husband would play hockey this long.

"We never talked about retirement. I just said, 'Let me know when you're done,' " Tracee said. "I just wanted him to (retire) when it was a good time and he was really ready. It's been a great career. I don't feel tears or sadness."