There are some guys like Chelios, but neither like Stevens.
Really? Who was like Chelios?
Chelios was dirtier, more emotional, and more unpredicatable. This could be good and bad. But Chelios could OFFENSIVELY take over a game and win it when he needed to, in his prime. Stevens did not do that.
The good for Stevens is that he was not unpredictable and was incredibly consistent, would never do anything that could hurt you.
The Original Post said they were similar but only in raw stats at the end of their careers. And it said that Chelios did not have offence, that was only when he was past 40 that he lost his offence.
I would easily take Chelios over Stevens. Chelios was just more, he was the leader and heart of those teams in Chicago. And the offensive catalyst, and the defensive heart, and the dirty, mean, vicious feared player that everyone wanted to avoid. All at the same time. And he was that in Montreal and Detroit too, maybe to a lesser degree.
If I had a superb, well coached team Stevens might almost have as much impact as Chelios. And he was in that position. I think you could take Chelios and throw him on ANY team and he is going to have this massive impact on the Win-loss record.
So I take Chelios EASILY over Stevens. If I think of all of the best HHOF D-Men over the same generation, Bourque, Coffey, MacInnis, Chelios, Leetch, Pronger, Stevens, Murphy, Lidstrom, Langway...
The only ones I take over Chelios are Bourque (easily) and Lidstrom (in some circumstances I might want Chelios over him). Chelios at his best was a true force of nature on the ice. He dominated an entire team and made it his own. He was one mean, intense and talented SOB.
I remember at the end of Chelios's career. The Wings are facing the Ducks in the playoffs. About to be eliminated. They are down I think 2 goals, it is the third period maybe 4 or 5 minutes left. The Wings have put Datsyuk and Zetterberg together, recently scored and have insane momentum and pressure going so the game is not out of reach.
Chelios who had been a healthy scratch in the playoffs and end of the season at times is playing and playing well do to injuries. He draws a penalty by taking a guys stick, putting it under his arm and making it look like he is being hooked. Chelios is like the slowest player in the league by this time, no one is hooking him to slow him down! So he draws the PP.
The Wings end up losing the series and Chelios does not go and shake hands with the Ducks he goes to the locker room. Not good sportsmanship. Not something I would want all of my players to do. But Chelios HAD TO. He was SO INTENSE. He was playing brilliantly, (as he could he was like 45 or 46 or something).
That is my lasting memory of Chelios. A warrior who would do ANYTHING to win or get an advantage. Who was that intense and cared that much.