Why not Cleary on the top two lines?

[Guest Crymson]

Basically what I was saying is that Cleary is not a 2nd-line forward. He's not a guy you can count on to create offense all the time. He might chip in 20 goals again--or he might only get 5. Scoring or setting up goals isn't his game. Hard work, speed, defensive responsibility, hitting... that's the style Cleary plays, which is not a second-line style.

And yet he kept us alive in the first half of the season and produced massively in the playoffs. How's THAT not scoring and setting up?

How can you say that he's not a second liner after he had a great season last year and might repeat it, or even improve it, this season?

Common sense. /knocks head.

Playing with Draper and Maltby, who he played very well with?

Think abut what you are saying for a second. Cleary's best performances came when he was the only option of a hot Robert Lang, and when he was with two similar type of players in Draper and Maltby, but on the third line.

Putting him on the second line won't recreate either of those situations. It would be better to use Hudler in a scoring role and Cleary in a checking role than the reverse, don't you think?

Seven of Cleary's twelve points came against Anaheim, in which he did NOT play with Draper and Maltby. One of his goals WITH them was a penalty shot goal. When he WAS with Draper and Maltby, he was doing solo scoring work. Neither of them did much of anything unless Cleary gave it to them.

Edited July 7, 2007 by Crymson

[YoungGuns1340 1]

This is still an argument at this point? First of all, Detroit only has 3 top 6ers on the team. The 4th one who seems to be most promising is Filppula. At this point, Detroit has 2 2nd line spots open. Hudler, Sammy, Franzen, Grigornko AND Cleary will all get a chance throughout the season.

Edited July 7, 2007 by YoungGuns1340

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Some of you seem to forget at one point in the season he was 5 spots back of first overall for goal scoring. Lead our team in goals for at least 2 weeks in the season.

He was TAKEN IN THE FIRST ROUND BECAUSE OF HIS TALENT. And now that hes got confidence and a coach that beleives in him , give him Z or Dats as his center and he'll score 30 goals.

*Sigh*

I've said that at least 3 times.

[Guest Crymson]

This is still an argument at this point? First of all, Detroit only has 3 top 6ers on the team. The 4th one who seems to be most promising is Filppula. At this point, Detroit has 2 2nd line spots open. Hudler, Sammy, Franzen, Grigornko AND Cleary will all get a chance throughout the season.

Indeed.

[joshy207 156]

Cleary had half a great season, half an invisible one offensively. He may not come anywhere close to that production again. I hope he does, but I've hoped for a lot of things. One thing Cleary was not was consistent. He racked up a lot of points in one part of the season and did zip for two parts. 35 games out of a career doesn't make you an offensive force.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Obviously the real issue here is that some people are thinking Detroit has a team so stacked with top 6 players we don't play SAMMY on the top two fricking lines.

For s***'s sake here people, if Sammy plays on the top lines Dan fricking Cleary can.

I'd LOVE it if our team had so much offensive talent Danny couldn't crack the top two lines, but we're not that full of great offensive players. And whether you like it or not, Cleary's one of them (and one of the best play-off performers we have).

So, in summary: I HEART CLEARY.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

So, in summary: I HEART CLEARY.

Who Doesnt?

[Guest DetroitIan]

Dan Cleary is the man. And if he plays good enough to be on the 2nd line. Then that's where he will be. I never would have imagined that the mighty Detroit Red Wings would have Cleary on the second line. But hell, if he earns it. Then he deserves it. But there is a little part of me that is a little sad about our roster just not looking as good as it did last season. I think we'll be ok and all. But it doesnt change the fact that we have alot of guys that havent proved anything in the NHL yet. Hopefully that will be happening this season.

[Wings_Rule_1010 4]

I think that Cleary is the type of player that can change his game to fit the game type and what line he is on (2nd or checking). He gives the team versatality. So, at the beginning of the season, if we need a checker put him there and if the wings need a 2nd liner, put him there.

[Majsheppard 203]

Because if you don't put him on the third line, that line will be terrible offensively.

[BringHomeTheCup! 0]

From what I have read, most people think Cleary should be on the second line for 3 reasons.

1. He had a decent season last year.

2. He had a great playoff run.

3. Sammy isn't a top 6 guy.

While I would put Cleary in the top 6 role before Sammy any day, I'd also put Mule there too. That' is a terrible reason.

If you want to talk about the season he had last year, I think you have to look at who he as playing with. Or rather, who he wasn't playing with, Dats and Hank. Teams were so focused on stopping those two, and not really worried about Lang and co.

We all know that playoff success does not necessarily translate into regular season success just as regular season success does not necessarily translate into playoff success.

Finally, the game he plays isn't really a top 6 kind of game. He is a grinder. His job is to muck it out in the corners. He plays a lot like Drapes. Does the guy have top 6 potential? Certainly. He showed us all that last season. But I think before that responsibility is thrust upon him, he needs to prove last season wasn't a fluke.

[Guest Crymson]

Dan Cleary is the man. And if he plays good enough to be on the 2nd line. Then that's where he will be. I never would have imagined that the mighty Detroit Red Wings would have Cleary on the second line. But hell, if he earns it. Then he deserves it. But there is a little part of me that is a little sad about our roster just not looking as good as it did last season. I think we'll be ok and all. But it doesnt change the fact that we have alot of guys that havent proved anything in the NHL yet. Hopefully that will be happening this season.

From our roster last year, we are missing Lang. We are also missing Williams, but he did so little that sometimes I wonder if he really played for us.

He did shoot the puck wide a whole lot.