OT: Red Wings to re-sign Cleary [Update: Psyche!!!]
As MGoUser dfetts pointed out below, mlive is stupid sometimes. http://redwingsfront.wordpress.com/2013/07/06/update-cleary-not-close-to-re-signing-with-wings/
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Original post with article they have since edited:
Three years for around $2.6 mil each year. Problem is, the wings are already at their 50-man roster limit, so someone is going to have to be bounced out before Cleary can officially sign.
I don't really understand what the plan is right now. I'm looking at Holland with an "ehh ok not sure where you're going with this but I'll trust you" sort of attitude. I'm interested to see what moves he has in store for the rest of the offseason.
http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2013/07/veteran_forward_daniel_cleary.html
It's not like the Wings weren't competitive this year. If they win one more game against Chicago, they would have had a great shot at winning the cup.
I am a Danny Cleary fan. He was the one of the few guys willing totry stepping into Holmstrom's role on the PP (along with Abs, while Franzen is pathetic and won't do it). Also, he has some great leadership qualities, works his ass off every game, interviews well, is a classy hockey player, and represents our franchise well.
I hope we can get him signed.
Why do people hate on Cleary so much? He may not have had the best regular season, but he was 2nd on the team in playoff points, and had the most points in the Chicago series. He's got the strength and grit to go to the front of the net. Younger guys may have more potential, but they need to get stronger before they can be relied on as top-six fowards.
I appreciate the effort he has given over the years, but he should not be considered a top six forward on a Stanley Cup contending team. I don't know if Brunner would have been the answer, but Cleary should be no more than a 3rd line winger unless he proves he's up to a promotion to the second line.
Hanson are on the market. They could be had for cheap.
Holland as GM for multiple Stanley Cup Winners, who's been working shoulder to shoulder with two of the best coaches in the game in Scotty and Mike Babcock for the past how many years; and who undoubtedly consulted Babcock before signing Cleary; both of whom evaluate hockey talent as their full time career and have been doing so very successfully for decades, know more than I do about the advantages of signing Cleary vs. letting him get away to say a Pittsburg who would be in our conference next year.
I think Holland is smart enough to do what Babcock tells him and I think Babcock is the best coach in the game.