Cleary

[russianswede919293 95]

If the Wings can't sign Cleary to an extension before the deadline they may trade him and that would suck. I understand that its his big contract year, so he needs to decide if the big pay cut the WIngs expect him to take from market value is worth it. I hope that Cleary takes less to stay here, but I can't blame him if he doesn't. With Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Rafalski, and soon to be Zetterberg all raking in big money, this is the kind of thing we are going to see as our younger players get better. This is the first time the cap has saddened me....a possible loss of my 2nd favorite Red Wing Dan Cleary....

[nkuehnl 0]

Why would they trade Cleary? None of that makes any sense.

[up2here 41]

If the Wings can't sign Cleary to an extension before the deadline they may trade him and that would suck. I understand that its his big contract year, so he needs to decide if the big pay cut the WIngs expect him to take from market value is worth it. I hope that Cleary takes less to stay here, but I can't blame him if he doesn't. With Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Rafalski, and soon to be Zetterberg all raking in big money, this is the kind of thing we are going to see as our younger players get better. This is the first time the cap has saddened me....a possible loss of my 2nd favorite Red Wing Dan Cleary....

Dont worry. The Wings were Dans last chance and he took advantage of it. He respects Mike Babcock and my guess is he signs for 3 or 4 years for 2-3 mil p/year.

[Anomalously 0]

Speculation?

To me, I don't see how you're so concerned. Why would a team that is failing want someone who has underperformed everywhere but Detroit? Why would they want a player who might not even sign with them when their season is done in a few weeks? And last, if Cleary isn't signing here and now, why would he want to go sign with team that's not going to the playoffs when he's currently on the best team in the league?

It wouldn't make sense for the teams the Wings are trading with to take Cleary. I think you're safe.

[2probert4 8]

If the Wings can't sign Cleary to an extension before the deadline they may trade him and that would suck. I understand that its his big contract year, so he needs to decide if the big pay cut the WIngs expect him to take from market value is worth it. I hope that Cleary takes less to stay here, but I can't blame him if he doesn't. With Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Rafalski, and soon to be Zetterberg all raking in big money, this is the kind of thing we are going to see as our younger players get better. This is the first time the cap has saddened me....a possible loss of my 2nd favorite Red Wing Dan Cleary....

Rafalski is under contract for a while, so no need to worry there.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

If the Wings can't sign Cleary to an extension before the deadline they may trade him and that would suck. I understand that its his big contract year, so he needs to decide if the big pay cut the WIngs expect him to take from market value is worth it. I hope that Cleary takes less to stay here, but I can't blame him if he doesn't. With Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Rafalski, and soon to be Zetterberg all raking in big money, this is the kind of thing we are going to see as our younger players get better. This is the first time the cap has saddened me....a possible loss of my 2nd favorite Red Wing Dan Cleary....

You have a news link/source for that, because I've heard or read zilch on it. Not trying to dog on you (sorry if it sounds like I am doing that) as we can all analyze and speculate on anything/everything, but again this would be brand new happenings to me. I highly doubt we will lose him to a trade.

[interminded 1]

Cleary wants to stay in Detroit and Kenny wants him to stay.

The question is: Cleary knows he can probably earns a million more per year if hits the market.

But probably on a team that's not that competitive as the Wings.

Does he choose money or a great team where he fits in nicely in a franchise that wants an can win every season ?

[Reds4Life 51]

He will stay, he is heart and soul guy and I am pretty sure Kenny will sign him for reasonable money.

[auxlepli 17]

I hope he stays and takes the hometown discount. He seems like the kind of guy who would, but you just never know.

[Zion 93]

"Fearless Dan" will stay in Detroit. He won't put up his kind of numbers on another team. Clearly now (no pun intended), he wants to win. He'll get a payraise and take a discount. Everyone wins.

[Yemack 1]

There are many reasons Cleary wants to stay here. But like article says this is his 'big' contract and you can't just say 'no' to extra mil~ mil n half. So this is a tough situation for both party.

Will he flourish if he goes to some place else? I'm sure this is a question Cleary asks himself everyday. Because he if can't produce by himself or things don't go as much as he hoped, his next contract is going to be very bad.

For 2.5~3 mil, there few players we might be able to get for replacement, I'm sure Oilers, Florida, Tampa will have their own fire sale soon, or we could actually gofor Hossa while that might be little bit pushing it. As for me I hope he re-signs with us and be a vital piece for next few years. Because I think he fits in well, is a good teammate, brings grit, comfortable with where he is AND this is where he will get a opportunity to really make his mark as a solid NHLer.

we will see more of this as we go along in salary cap era. If player can not re-sign at a term we can offer, we have to let him go. It doesn't matter what other teams do, we have to operate within our plan.

[40#1Fan 0]

Here's the article from today's Detroit Free Press about Dan:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...384/1053/SPORTS

Dan Cleary is about to decide just how much he loves being a Red Wing.

Few players have developed chemistry as instantly with a new team as Cleary did. He joined the Wings as an unrestricted free agent in October 2005 after an impressive training camp, and immediately found an easy rapport with teammates that usually takes months to develop.

On the ice, he dedicated himself to playing well in his own zone while demonstrating a proven offensive instinct, enough to earn him a two-year extension in summer 2006. That deal was worth $1.325 million, or an average of $662,500.

He's approaching free agency again, and the Wings would like to lock him up long term.

"We want to find people that fit into our program, at a price that makes sense for the player and the club," general manager Ken Holland said. "We're hoping Dan wants to stay here. We're willing to pay, but if we can't get something done, we'll look at options."

That might be necessary. Chicago recently signed Patrick Sharp, a player comparable to Cleary, to a four-year extension worth $15.6 million, or an average of $3.9 million. The Wings aren't going to give Cleary that amount. Not even close.

"In a salary-cap world, you have to attach a fair value to a player, and also be prepared to lose players," said Holland, who has backed that up by halting his pursuit, over the years, of Martin Lapointe and Todd Bertuzzi.

Holland would like to know where he stands with Cleary before the Feb. 26 trade deadline, because that will help shape what the Wings do. Would the Wings trade Cleary if it appears certain no deal is reachable? Possibly, if the return is another top-six winger with more term on his contract.

Cleary admitted it is a subject he thinks about, even though he is trying to leave it to his agent. "I think everyone knows how much I like it here, how much of a fit it is for me," he said. "I really want to be here for a long time, and I believe things will get done."

That confidence may ebb as the numbers are laid out before him. The Wings want to get Cleary done at around $2.5 million a season, and in return will offer plenty of term. But do the math in the Sharp deal, and that adds up to Cleary's camp knowing he might make $1.4 million more on the open market this summer.

"That's a lot of money," Cleary said. "That's something I would have to talk with my family about and make a decision about. It'd be a tough spot."

Others on the team have done so. Nicklas Lidstrom has, for several years, taken $1 million to $2 million less to play in Detroit, because the Wings give him something else he wants.

"I've had some discussions with Kenny over the years even before I've signed contracts," Lidstrom said, "and one of the things I've always asked him is, are we going to be competitive? He's always told me they're going to do whatever they can to win here, and that's the main reason why I've wanted to stay. Maybe I could have gone somewhere else and made more money, but this is where I want to play and this is where I have a chance to win."

Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby and Tomas Holmstrom all have made the same decision, but Cleary's situation is different. Lidstrom has made tens of millions during his career. Draper, Maltby and Holmstrom all have had lucrative contracts, too. That isn't the case for Cleary.

"Now he's in a situation where this is probably the biggest contract that he is going to sign," Draper said, "so you can understand where he's coming from. But you don't have to tell him. He's been in different organizations, he knows how this organization is run and he loves it here and he is hopeful that something gets worked out."

Cleary has established himself as a top-six forward who will play in front of the net on power plays and kill penalties. This season he has shown the one thing lacking last season: consistency.

"You kind of saw last year what kind of player he could be," Henrik Zetterberg said. "But this year he's been steady all through the year and really become a good, all-around player for us. Hopefully we can lock him up for many years."

That Cleary loves being in Detroit is certain. But at what price?

[egroen 384]

I just have this feeling we will lose him. Sucks.

That he has the same agent as Sharp does not brighten my day, either.

Many teams would love to have Cleary at $3.5-4 million after what he has shown the past two years. He would fit in under a lot of team styles.

[scotvm 0]

hhhmmm, ok if the wings were at the bottom of the standings and had a stupid GM id give this notion about a 50/50 chance of happening. but since we are certain to make the playoffs and kenny is not a moron, theres ZERO chance Cleary gets traded....for anyone! its obvious that we have a good shot at the cup this year and that Cleary one of the reasons why. the risk of loosing him for nothing in the off season is nowhere near the reward of winning the cup this season. that being said, i think theres about a 5% chance of cleary leaving in July. if he decides to take the money then so be it, but my gut tells me he remains a wing and still gets a pretty fair raise

[lfd250 1]

I see the wings signing him for a mill each for two years, then sign him to the front office for 6 million for one year so it doesn't take a hit on the cap. Sounds good to me any way.

[WingsZR2 1]

Cleary is a product of his environment. He was a first round pick that never took off until he came in as a camp tryout. While he has improved his game tremendously the last 2 years it’s a result of what’s around him. He plays with world class players and a hardnosed coach, both push him to play to his full potential. Can he duplicate that success somewhere else?

[Icer 0]

I like Cleary but I feel he is probably one of Detroit's most expendable players. Give him a decent offer and let him walk if he doesn't take it.

[zata40 3]

I worried about him and flip, I really dont want to see those two go.

[wingslogo19 281]

I really can't see Cleary going anywhere, he loves to play here.. he's not going to find another team that's competitive every year like the Wings are

[Echolalia 2,961]

Instead of trading him, how about we sign him to a 3 year contract close to 3 million a year, and make him an alternate captain when Lids/Draper retires.

This guy brings to the table what the 90's era Wings had. He's gritty, not afraid to fly into the corners and sacrifice his body there or in front of the net to get the puck or create a scoring opportunity. He knows how to score, whether it be from a wrist shot in the slot, or gritting it out getting the garbage goals (or as I like to call them, playoff goals). He's not afraid to stick up for himself, or his teammates, even when it means facing Pronger, who is a clean 9 inches taller than him. And hes hungry for a cup. You could see it last year in the playoffs. He was one of our mvp's throughout the entire postseason last year. He was hungry as hell and it showed. Thats the kind of attitude our team feeds off of, and its the kind of attitude that we need to stick around.

Besides, despite his being born in Europe (which is apparently a turn off for all the bandwagon fans), he has the blue-collar attitude of McCarty or Shanahan, players that were idols in the 90's and help put fans in the seats. He may not have that kind of effect on his own, but its something. Especially if McCarty comes back.

ps as of right now only Zetterberg and Homer have more goals than he does, and he's fifth on our team in points, behind Z, Dats, Lids and Rafalski.

Edited February 5, 2008 by Echolalia

[detroitdan 0]

I JUST got his jersey...I will be pissed if he leaves...I think a contract of $2.5 million for 5-6 years works well for everyone involved...it gives him a lot of security for years to come and lets the Wings have some flexibility with regards to signing Hank, which is the most important signing for the next few years...I really want Kenny to get Cleary signed...I will be so mad if he leaves

[hamip1998 3]

Cleary is a product of his environment. He was a first round pick that never took off until he came in as a camp tryout. While he has improved his game tremendously the last 2 years it’s a result of what’s around him. He plays with world class players and a hardnosed coach, both push him to play to his full potential. Can he duplicate that success somewhere else?

I agree. Dano reinvented himself here. When he got his shot here, his career was nearly over. He is probably one of my favs of the post-Captain era Wings and I would hate to see him go. While it's easy for us to say "jeez, don't get what you think you are worth and stay" and take the salary hit, this has got to be a tough decision.

I made the mistake once of taking a job for the money, and I was miserable and lasted about 10 months before I couldn't take it anymore and moved on. While it's not quite the same - we are obviously talking about millions of $$ at stake, you can't put a price on being comfortable, happy, and in this case successful.

He is still young. He would be smart to take a decent one or two year deal, further refine his game and prove his consistency, and see what options are out there when the time comes. IMO, he still has something to prove before he can demand the big $$.

[PROBIE4PREZ 58]

I worried about him and flip, I really dont want to see those two go.

Flip wont/cant demand that much until he's a proven skater. Sometimes he looks like a teenager who just hit puberty and is clumbsy in and around the boards. He can draw a penelty every so often but he still cant seem to come away with the puck like cleary can in tight. Give him another 2-3 yrs and hell pry be worth 3-4 mill a yr. but by then the cap will change yada yada yada.. but it would be a drag to lose Cleary and i dont blame him for not signin right away

[LeftWinger 5,132]

...who's better, Cleary of Hudler? Dump Hudler and there's $1,015,000 freed up. Take the 2-3 million he would get from Holland, add Hudlers $1 million and there we have somewhere between 3 and 4 million for someone who deserves it more than Hudler. Hudler blows anyhow, his missed his opportunity this season to prove he belongs and it's obvious he doesn't...

[wingsfan40 0]

I really can't see Dan going anywhere...he knows the Wings are the team to play for