Chris Chelios discusses ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ cameo, expectations for Blackhawks season

In an alternate universe, legendary former Blackhawks defenseman Chris Chelios might have pivoted to a full-time acting career after his hockey career. He possesses the necessary gregarious personality, unflappable swagger and love of good times, after all.

But there’s a good reason why that’s not the path he chose in real life.

“No, movies aren’t my thing,” Chelios told the Sun-Times recently. “There was opportunity for acting, but there’s just so much sitting around.”

He added with a chuckle: “And if you’re not getting paid, no interest.”

The declaration that movies aren’t his thing is a slight exaggeration, though. That’s something anyone who caught his blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in this summer’s biggest blockbuster sequel, Happy Gilmore 2, could deduce.

It turns out he’s willing to make exceptions to his no-films rule for friends. His friendship with director D.B. Sweeney led to appearances in the 1992 rom-com “Cutting Edge” and the 2006 comedy “Two Tickets to Paradise.”

And his friendship with Adam Sandler — who rubbed elbows with Chelios during his infamous summers in Malibu, California, throughout his playing career — led to this cameo.

“I ran into [Adam] quite a bit,” Chelios said. “My son played basketball with him; they had a Wednesday night group that played at Pepperdine [University]. He lived right down the block from us, quite honestly. He’s just great, fun to be around. So when they offered the spot to us for ‘Happy Gilmore,’ I jumped on it.”

Sandler unfortunately wasn’t on set the same day as Chelios and Sean Avery, the former NHL enforcer who appeared alongside Chelios, but they still got to hang out with some of the movie’s other stars for a good eight hours or so.

Less than one hour of that was spent actually filming their black-and-white scene as mob henchmen, which was cut down to a few seconds in the movie.

“Other than the guy just walking up, there was nothing said, so we couldn’t screw it up,” Chelios quipped.

Back to hockey

With the ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ hullabaloo dying down now, Chelios can shift his focus back to hockey.

As his daughter Caley enters her fifth season broadcasting Hawks games, Chelios will also be needed to help the Hawks plan and execute grand plans for their centennial season.

He seems on track to be an unofficial booking agent, which means nobody should be surprised if Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder pops up again sometime this winter.

“They called earlier; they want to bring in some Chicago celebrities,” Chelios said. “I don’t think anybody is going to turn down the opportunity to come to the United Center.”

Chelios himself will be celebrated with a bobblehead giveaway Dec. 13 against the Red Wings, the culminating game of the “Madhouse” era of the team’s centennial programming.

The Hawks didn’t make bobbleheads for Chelios’ jersey retirement night in February 2024, but they — and his other teams — did do so many times in the past, so he’s eager to add this one to the collection.

“It’s kind of funny to see a little figurine of yourself,” he said. “I’m sure my grandkids will get a kick out of it.

“I would say, with all the technology, they’re better now — but they’re not. It’s always the same old story. Most of them didn’t look like me. Sometimes they got the hair right, and the nose is easy to get right. But the rest of them were hit-or-miss.”

Blashill’s impact

New Hawks coach Jeff Blashill’s impact on the team is another thing Chelios is eager to see this season.

Chelios and Blashill know each other well — as is the case when it comes to Chelios and pretty much anyone relevant in the hockey world, or the world at large. They coached together for three years on Grand Rapids’ staff in the AHL in the mid-2010s.

“[Jeff is] fair,” Chelios said. “He’s a good judge of accountability. He speaks well to players. He’s very respectful, and the players respect that.”

Chelios asserted there will be no repeats of the Taylor Hall-Luke Richardson spat last November, when Richardson didn’t give Hall any negative feedback before abruptly scratching him and Hall complained to the press.

“[Jeff will] let you know where you stand,” Chelios added. “If you’re struggling, he’s going to call you in. There will be no blindsiding.

“He knows his players. [It’s like being] a parent. I’ve got four kids, and two of them are different than the other two. Some of them you can give more of a kick in the behind. Other ones, you’ve got to pump their tires. Each kid is different; each player is different. I think Blash understands that. [He knows] when he needs to be tough, and when he needs to lay off and give them some confidence.”

Chelios figures that approach could be especially beneficial for star forward Connor Bedard in his third NHL season.

“Bedard is going to need to learn a little bit, and ‘Blash’ is the perfect guy [to teach him],” he said. “He needs help, too, and more depth — to free him up from being against the top defensemen and the top line game-in and game-out.

“He’s a focused kid. [His struggles will] never be from lack of effort. But he’s going to have to learn it’s not all about points and scoring.”

Bedard’s situation actually reminds Chelios of Steve Yzerman’s evolution with the Wings in the 90s — a flattering comparison to make, regardless of the context.

“When Scotty Bowman got there and turned [Yzerman’s] game around, he became one of the best two-way centermen in the league,” Chelios added. “[Bedard] is kind of in that same boat right now. He’ll buy in; he has to.”

More Hawks thoughts

The era of hockey Chelios grew up in undoubtedly influences his perspective, but he would like to see the Hawks’ young generation develop a little more toughness and meanness.

That’s one reason why, when looking at the Hawks’ massive prospect pool, Chelios feels particularly excited about the potential of collegiate center Sacha Boisvert, whose boxing background adds a unique element to his hockey skills. Chelios believes Boisvert, who transferred to Boston University this summer, is “exactly like what the Hawks might need.”

Within the Hawks’ ultra-young defensive corps, meanwhile, Chelios is still “looking for that guy to be the next [Brent] Seabrook.”

Unrelated to Chelios, it is interesting that young defenseman Wyatt Kaiser remains a restricted free agent less than three weeks out from the start of training camp.

It still seems likely a Kaiser contract will be worked out before camp, but it’s notable he’s one of the last eight remaining RFAs around the league.