Chris Chelios has been granted a hearing with NHL officials within the next few weeks. He hopes to prove to them he was unjustly suspended four games for eye-gouging Vancouver’s Dana Murzyn Feb. 2.
“My agent, Tom Reich, will be there with me, because I tend to get too emotional,” said Chelios, who served the last game of his suspension Wednesday night against Los Angeles and returns Friday night in San Jose.
Chelios said he isn’t seeking a refund on his $35,000 (more than $80,000 lost in daily pay when adding his first four-game suspension this season for abuse of a linesman) as much as he is trying to clear his reputation.
“My reputation was bad enough before, and it’s been affected a lot this year,” Chelios said. “I want people to see the film (of what he did against Murzyn). I put my hand to his face and pushed him, but that happens a million times a year. What’s going on is not fair to me.”
Chelios said he has the support of NHL Players Association Executive Director Bob Goodenow in his bid to clear his name.
Looking on: Wayne Gretzky had to cope last season with his father’s brain aneurysm. He often spoke of how difficult it was for him not to have his father’s advice and counsel during the illness. So Gretzky had to be motivated just a little bit more Wednesday night against the Hawks by the fact that Walter Gretzky was in the stands looking on. He came to Los Angeles earlier in the week to attend a charity banquet with his son.
Your pick: Wednesday morning’s workout at the Forum was supposedly an optional skate. Although Rich Sutter and Steve Smith showed up and didn’t go on the ice, every other player did. The only one missing was coach Darryl Sutter. Assistants Rich Preston and Paul Baxter ran the session. That’s a new twist-the head coach taking the option of not coming to practice.
Final days? Dave Taylor has been a King since 1977-78. But the 38-year-old may soon ponder retirement, he acknowledged, if headaches and dizziness continue from a hit he absorbed Jan. 4 in a practice collision with teammate Warren Rychel.