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Cleary is going to do 1 of 2 things this year. 1. Sit in the press box as a healthy scratch 2. Take the spot of the worst player on our AHL team I'm sorry, but I dont see either of these 2 things being an issue. I would rather see Cleary sit in the press box then one of our kids who have upside. I dont get why "blame" needs to be handed out here.

Trade away players at the deadline Accept missing the playoffs Never give up hope winning the lottery Keep losing for the next 40 years after this season It will be fun to do a total rebuild The first letter of every line

I can;t believe all the hatred for Cleary. All he wants to do is play! He is being told by his family "please daddy please daddy play" and from the team "please 1 more year" and all I see is haters hating on Cleary. Man I can;t believe some of you. You just aren't true fans if you hate Cleary and don't want him on the team. I just can't believe it.

Just wanted to throw this out as a little tickler... Matt, any chance your schedule will allow you to make the wallpapers this season? I, for one, greatly enjoy them... I totally understand if you don't have time though.

"positive surprise"

Seems the criteria often requires a coach to have immediate success with a new team. If Blash gets the Wings to the top of the standings I wouldn't be surprised if he wins. Then again, if Babcock gets Toronto into the playoffs it'll be hard for anyone to overcome that hype train. The real reason i made this thread was for number9 to post this

We'll lose the Conference Finals in 6. To Columbus.

Haha, Boston Strong!

Well with Ericsson having 52, Green went to 25. I guess 71 kind of looks like 21? Only thing I can think of, to be honest.

Don't believe the hype. Johnny Depp can make even the most hardened of mobsters seem feeble, effete, and impotent. Just like he did with pirates, and cocaine smugglers, and serial killers, and raving lunatics, and Willy Wonka.

I seen a johnny depp ad for some cologne, and his character looked pretty rough and tumble.He'd have to be for anyone to consider buying Cologne with a 60yr old man modeling for the ads.

I doesn't matter whether it's an AHL contract or and NHL contract. The intent is clearly to send Dano to the Griffs. How do I know? Because it's not coincidence that he signed for the exact amount that can be safely buried in the AHL without incurring an NHL cap penalty. That wasn't true a year ago. Or two years ago. I think we feel different because I'd love to have Cleary on a line with somebody like Mantha. First, because Cleary was considered an under performing "floater" when he was first drafted too, and turned it around. Secondly, because Dan has never been shy about digging in his teammates ass if they don't hop to. I want him on the team to babysit Mantha alone.

Maybe because Jeff Hoggan is signed to an AHL deal, earned his one-year deal last season and is the captain of the Griffins? I'm not the biggest fan of signing players based (mostly) on their leadership skills, but I understand that those guys have their place. It gets a little out of hand when it seems like overkill, and there's a big logjam within the organization. For example, I'm glad that Evans went to Texas with XO, Marchenko, Jensen, Sproul, Russo, Lashoff and Paetsch taking up spots in GR. At this point, I think there's plenty of veteran leadership in the organization - in Detroit and in Grand Rapids. It's not necessarily one thing or the other with Cleary - it's a combination of things. It's certainly not that I'm worried about the impact of his contract on the cap or the Wings' roster. It's more that he's taking up another contract, which was handed to him. The reason (seemingly) he's been given his last three contracts is because he's chummy with Ken Holland. Maybe he can play at the AHL level and provide leadership, but so can Hoggan, Grant, Miele and Tangradi (I'm stretching a bit here). I just think the organization is set up well without Cleary, and that he didn't earn the contract. I will concede, however, that if Grand Rapids didn't have both Grant and Hoggan, I'd probably be less annoyed (not that it matters, I'm just throwing it out there).

I don't know about that. Jeff Blashill heaped praise on Hoggan, Paetsch, and Evans for being decent AHL players, but more importantly for being on ice leaders, advisors, and mentors for young players. I don't hear anybody complaining that 38 year old Jeff Hoggan was just given a new contract despite the fact that he'll almost certainly not play in the NHL, and if he did...he would suck. Cleary is in the exact same position, he just makes more money. Who cares? His salary doesn't count against the cap, he's likely not going to take up a roster spot (barring HUGE injury woes), and if he does it will only be temporary and will only cost 900K. He was signed because he's not ready to stop playing, the organization wants him around, and because (here's the most important part) both his wishes and the organizations' could be satisfied without negatively impacting the big club in any way (nobody loses a roster spot, no money against the cap).

Gotta think he wanted to go to Buffalo for some reason. Otherwise every GM for a contending team would have cleared the decks for the guy. I would have traded B. Smith a month ago if I new that I could have Cody Franson for 3.3 at 2 years. Kronner-E Dekeyser-Green Quincey-Franson Yes please. Brendan can go turn the puck over for Toronto if Babs loves his compete level that much.

Last year, I get the need to get worked up about this s***. But this year? New coach, one who particualry is driving the youth movement, isn't going to let Cleary play ahead of those who deserve it. I still respect Cleary, and how can you not for someone who still has passion for the game after all he's put his body through. And actually, when he played last year, he did look better than the previous season when he was just a mess. Why are we spending our time right now worrying, moaning and whining about whats happened the past 2 years? it's not like Holland had to re-acquire him and gave up a no body prospect who's turned into the next Zetterberg. He cost us nothing except a little cap space. Energy would be better spent figuring out things about the upcoming season and the optimism we have going which starts tomorrow with prospects tourney, as opposed to bitching about Cleary who frankly, isn't worth the hassle at a 1 year, 850,000 deal with no bonuses etc.

And Howard and Holland, and Cleary again.

You have to wonder how much he'd be making had he not went and played for the preds.

The wings may have made an offer and it was rejected. Either way we signed two dmen this off-season. We can't sign everyone

Lol. About as quickly as Kane's will be. Sports is a business, and the people that run sports teams operate them as such. Every fan wants championships, new stadiums, and flashy free agents. You do that by winning and putting butts in the seats. And sometimes, to do that, GMs are willing to ignore the ethical imperatives. I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying it is what it is. Businesses exist to make money, not to enforce the social good. Expecting them to do the latter, rather than the former, will always disappoint. Our very own Mike Illitch does plenty of unethical things in the name of our team. Nobody calls him out on it. So lets not pretend its just a Kings or Hawks problem.

I don't think it's fair to categorize Cleary as "greedy" or having an ego, since there's no indication of it.

The kings would rather have an animal back than someone who has used painkillers ...

Great point, however if he is guilty and she takes the settlement, she forever looks like a liar and a golddigger - even if she was telling the truth - , while he - although not 'guilty' in a court of law - will be forever tarnished. No one wins here, either way. It's like OJ winning the criminal case, but losing the civil case.

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