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Detroit Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios, 46, will be the oldest player in the history of the Stanley Cup finals. He's also older than both coaches in the series.

How old is Chelios?

Not too old to respect his elders.

Together, Chelios and Red Wings legend Ted Lindsay drove side-by-side to Eric Lindros’ retirement ceremony in London, Ontario, earlier this season.

The man who took on the union at the wheel. The man who took on the owners riding shotgun. The moment Chelios realized that he and Lindsay would both be attending the ceremony, he was certain they must car pool. "I purposely wanted to drive with him," Chelios said. "They wanted to send a car for us and I said, ‘No, I want to drive.’"

Lindsay picks up the story. "I got a call from Mrs. (Bonnie) Lindros (Eric's mother, about the dinner)," Lindsay said. "I mentioned it to Chris in the (Wings) dressing room and he says, ‘You're going up as well? We'll go up together. I’ll pick you up at your home.’ The day we're leaving, he backs his car into the driveway and my wife comes out, because she knows Chris and she wanted to say hello to him. ‘Joanne,’ he says, ‘I thought I'd take your husband to London in style.’ He had his Bentley with him. It was a wonderful experience."

The similarities between Lindsay, 82, the Wings Hall of Fame left winger who won three Cups in the 1950s and Chelios, a multiple Norris Trophy-winning defenseman are stark and obvious. Both on and off the ice.

"We've got the same mentality, that's for sure," Chelios said. Chelios plays the game exactly as Lindsay played it, the only way both men believe it should be played — with the utmost of passion and while skating along a thin line between the laws of the game and the laws of the street.

"He's what an athlete should be," Lindsay said. "He plays — and this is my opinion — because he loves hockey. Money is secondary to him."

They've made no friends in enemy uniforms and yet both men willingly put their careers and reputations on the line for their National Hockey League brothers.

Last year, Chelios took on NHLPA executive director Ted Saskin, accusing him of using unfair practices to gain the spot as the man in charge of the association. Saskin was ultimately forced to resign and Paul Kelly replaced him earlier this season.

A half century ago, Lindsay led the players in revolt against the owners, seeking to form a players' association to fight against unfair practices implemented by NHL owners. The bid was defeated and despite posting a career-high 85 points during the 1956-57 season, the Wings shunted Lindsay off to Chicago, then the NHL's version of Siberia, that summer.

Although his attempt to organize the players eventually failed, it paved the way for the birth of the NHLPA a decade later. Lindsay believes Chelios was driven by a similar concern for the welfare of his fellow players. "Chris got very upset, because (Saskin) didn't follow the procedures of the bylaws of the players' association," Lindsay said. "He felt there was an injustice. He turned it around, only because it was wrong."

How old is Chelios?

Old enough to know when enough is enough.

He became the second-oldest player in National Hockey League history this season, but Chelios isn’t about to set his sights on Gordie Howe, who was 52 years, six days of age when he played his final NHL game for the Hartford Whalers April 6, 1980. "If I were to get to that point, I’d stop one year short," Chelios said out of respect for Mr. Hockey. "I’m the oldest American-born player and that’s good enough for me."

That decision remains down the road for this amazing, enduring athlete. For the moment, there’s more important items on the agenda, such as adding another Stanley Cup to his resume.

That’s a mission that never grows old.

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