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Don't care it's only one year. Don't care it's less than Phily. It's an awful signing and we potentially just lost an up-and-comer due to Holland's loyalty.

Holland can eat s**t for making this move. As if having Bertuzzi and Sammy isn't enough, now we have another old, useless player holding back young guys from significant playing time. We could lose Tatar over this, or maybe Nyquist gets sent to the minors, even though he's ready to be a regular player. I wish Ilitch wasn't so disinterested in this team nowadays.

Most people under 40 make sweeping generalizations about people over 40.

What more can he do to prove he's NHL ready? He won the playoff MVP. He's watched players leap frog him on the depth chart. He had more points than Nyquist when he got sent back down. Seriously, if I got s*** on repeatedly like that I'd leave too. There's 29 teams that would sign him in a second.

I wish I could fly to Traverse City and shake Dan Cleary's hand. In this day and age of pro athletes chasing the Big $ at all costs, the guy walked away from millions of dollars, put his ego aside, crawled back to the negotiation table to eat some major crow, all so he could stay with friends, teammates, and an organisation and town that he loves. Cleary went toe to toe with one of Detroit's all time biggest nemesis, Chris Pronger, he went after Dion Phaneuf, knocking him silly, then getting an assist on the goal. He's scored numerous playoff game winning goals. Even when he's basically duck taped together, he's still finishing checks and jumping into scrums. He is a winner, he is the epitome of a team heart and soul guy, he has hands, grit, and smarts. He is a major contributor at all costs. $1.75m! Talk about a Hometown Discount! Totally glad he's back. And frankly, I can't see him really giving a s*** what number is on his jersey, as long as the logo is the Winged Wheel.

I have a ton of respect for any player who takes that big of pay cut (and on a short deal) to stay in Detroit. Say what you will about the roster and cap situation, but Cleary is a one loyal Wing.

Awful news.

Unbelievable. Hey Ken Holland. I'm determined to sign my next contract with Detroit. Like, REALLY determined. Think you can make a roster spot for me?

Welcome to LGW

Good god, by the talk around here you'd think Babcock or Holland already came out and said Tatar will certainly be gone. Why is it that everyone thinks this will adversely affect Tatar and not Eaves, Tootoo, Miller, Bertuzzi, or Samuelsson? Oh I know, because as the last 10+ years of free agency and trade deadlines have shown us, the Detroit Red Wings constantly throw away quality prospects right? Kinda jumping the gun aren't we guys?

I still don't see the situation as being that complicated. Helm - Will start on IR and probably be on there till the new year. Emmerton - Waived if not traded. (Dats, Zetts, Weiss, Andy, Franz, Abby can all play center so don't give me that we need to keep him because Helm is injured) Sammy, Eaves, Tootoo - battle out the last couple spots. Trade/Demote who doesn't cut it. Leaves us with a 23 man roster and over 1 million in cap space.

I have always been a strong supporter of the Wings management. Now I am seriously questioning their judgement? Why sign Cleary? They already are $750,000 or so over the cap. They had options, but none were very bad. Worst case they send Nyquist down if everyone was healthy. As it turns out now, they are $2.5 million over the cap and now have another player to be concerned with. What a debacle.

I don't think Cleary is better than both. Eaves adds much more with his speed, penalty killing ability and chips in a few goals...While I don't think we need an enforcer, Tootoo does the job he was signed to do. Even Emmerton has value as a center. I was never looking at the Wings roster and thinking, gosh, what this roster really needs is an old, slow, broken down veteran. The Wings seem to have the leadership thing well taken care of. If they lose anyone other than Samuelsson, it's a bad signing. As far as the Philly deal goes, it was never really made clear, but it doesn't sound like he was guaranteed a spot on the team. So that probably made it easier to turn down.

I'm not so concerned about the cap situation (although, it is a concern) as I am the roster spot that Cleary is taking.

Samuelsson is around, so I doubt Cleary will be the worst player at camp. The money and term aren't bad for Cleary, but I just can't get around how completely unnecessary this move is. He's a better player than Sammy or Bert, though having all three around is ridiculous. Nyquist is somehow going to start in Grand Rapids, which is an insult to him because he deserves to be in the NHL. Real puzzling decision by Holland after a strong summer otherwise. His obsession with veterans and loyalty to certain players goes overboard too often.

I admire his loyalty, and the injuries he played through during the playoffs. But I swear to god I'll be ******* furious if he takes someone like Tatars spot.

So how do we do this now with Cleary as well as the other spots that need to be cleared? If he takes Tatars spot, I'm driving up to the D and punching Kenny.

Am I the only one glad to see Cleary come back? I guess I may change my mind after seeing how the dust settles... if the dust settling means Sammy, Miller and Emmerton are the casualties then I will be fine... even add Bert to that (Not because I dont want him on the team but...)

Welcome back Cleary.

wow you guys are a regular abbott and costello eh? here's what i don't get - the training camp lines yesterday already had tatar fighting for a spot on a line as he was slotted in on the 5th line. that was even without cleary. so why are you guys mocking the very real possibility that signing cleary pushes tatar down another spot on the roster? regardless of ones opinion on cleary, tatar, or anyones contract, this is a very real subject, and one that is worthy of a conversation. yet all you guys can do is mock the topic? i would hope for better here at lgw.

Z-Dats-Abby Alfie-Weiss-Franzen Tatar-Andersson-Nyquist Cleary-Helm-Miller Bertuzzi/Sammy To answer your question...no.

to me its not so much that he is a fringe wing, its just that he is terribly awkward in his commentating. i will mute the tv when hes talking i just find him extremely annoying and poor at his job.

Odds of seeing the two Berts on the same line...I guess I'd have a better chance of winning the lotto. It'd be kinda cool, though.

Pretty sure unicorns exist, guys.

THIS! Better yet, get rid of the shootout all together!