NHL

Chelios turned down Rangers offer

Rangers GM Glen Sather recently offered Chris Chelios an AHL contract to play in Hartford, but the veteran free agent defenseman rejected that offer to sign a deal with the Chicago Wolves in order to be closer to his family, The Post has learned.

“We’d talked a number of times over the summer, and I talked to Torts [head coach John Tortorella] at the U.S. Olympic evaluation camp, but they told me the Rangers were going in a different direction with their kids,” Chelios told The Post by phone. “I see that their guys are off to a good start, but if they’re looking for veteran help down the road, I’d love to play there.

“I appreciate the offer to play in Hartford, but I decided to sign with Chicago because that’s where my parents live, and it means a lot to me that they’ll be able to come see me play.”

Sather confirmed the contract offer but did not elaborate.

Chelios, who will celebrate his 48th birthday Jan. 25, is scheduled to make his season debut Friday night in Chicago against Manitoba. He has been a free agent since July 1, with the Red Wings making the decision not to bring him back for a 10th year in Detroit.

The three-time Norris Trophy winner played 28 games last year after suffering a leg injury during the exhibition season. He dressed for six of the Red Wings’ 23 playoff matches.

The Rangers have gone with six defensemen on the roster, including freshmen Michael Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy. Veteran Alexei Semenov rejected the club’s contract offer after a training camp tryout.

The AHL Wolf Pack did sign former Montreal and Detroit free agent defenseman Mathieu Dandenault to a professional tryout contract on Wednesday, but the Rangers are likely to monitor Chelios and other veteran candidates for the seventh blue line spot on the roster in addition to Dandenault.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad game at Madison Square Garden,” Chelios said. “If the Rangers need help and are interested, Chicago shouldn’t be too far away for them to come take a look.”