Cleary

[Hank 0]

Patrick Sharp's deal is what Cleary's agent will look at. Wings won't give Cleary 4 mill per season, which is the neighborhood that Sharp has moved into. Would like to see him stay, but this is like when Marty LaPointe left, he took the big payday, and I wouldn't blame Cleary if he accepted some overpaid offer.

Me neither. But just like Lapointe, I'm not going to be surprised in the least when he starts putting up 10 goals a year for a team with far less talent and even less potential to win a Cup.

Cleary should be smart and accept a deal that's closer to reality. He knows he's not going to score 25 goals anywhere else. And as far as hockey markets go, Detroit is one of the best, with some of the best talent. I mean, we're the best team in the league for crying out loud.

$1.5M/yr is a reasonable amount for his services in my opinion. Nick took a paycut to stay here and I'm sure Zetts will give the Wings a break as well. Why shouldn't a 3rd liner like Cleary do the same?

[Opie 308]

Hank,

Normally I would argue that players don't look at Detroit the same way fans do, and that players go after the money and so don't agents, blah, blah, blah.

But I think in this instance (and probably Z, hopefully Z) the players will weigh the franchise heavily. Like you said Lids and Dats are steals right now, could Dats have got a better offer, yeah probably not the dramatic difference Z or Lids would get from others (only because of previous playoff performances).

When the leaders of your team are willing to take 1-2mil (maybe more in lids case) less than they are worth to stay with a winning org, it has to make you think as a player.

I mean think about it, you work with the best ad guru in the business, he gets offers from all the other advertising firms in the country, yet he takes less money to stay with your firm because he thinks it gives him the best opportunity to get the best jobs and he feels the company has treated him greatly over the past 10 years.

Now you are a mid level guy in this firm and you happen to work with the Guru on many projects. You may decide to take more money from another firm, but you start to think, will I be surrounded by the same type of people or will I be expected to shoulder the load, will the firm treat me with respect?

Is money more important than being in a firm that I know wants to be successful, and will surround me with quality people that have the same goal?

[puckloo39 5,686]

My gut feeling is that Cleary won't try and stick it to the Wings for too much money, but that he will look at the opportunity he's been given to play for the best franchise in the NHL, and will take a reasonable amount to remain a Red Wing. The Wings treat their players with the utmost respect and care, and that alone in today's cut throat world, ought to be worth a lot to anyone.

I hope Cleary retires one day (no time soon, obviously!) still wearing a Red Wings jersey.

Edited February 6, 2008 by puckloo39

[Marck13 3]

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.

There you go..!

He found what he was looking for and he's this much of a hard working guy that there will be more in the future for him to earn and to play as a Red Wing ( I'm referring to resigning after resigning ).

I personaly don't see him fitting in in any other team even nearly as much as he does here.

I believe he will stay with us and that's great!

[2probert4 8]

Cleary might make sense in a deal for Hossa, Blake or some other player that makes sense for Detroit.

Then if Holland could get Janne Niinima and/or Anson Carter from Europe(would only cost money which the wings have enough of) that would put Detroit in a better position to play a team like San Jose or Anaheim come playoff time if those guys can put on their A game.

why would Holland want 2 washed up bums like Niinima and Anson Carter ?

[detroitdan 0]

$1.5 is a wee bit low IMO, but I agree that he'll most likely never be as effective on another team...Can we say Marty Lapointe 'Part Deux'?

say what you want about Marty Lapointe, but he has 2 Cup rings and a boat load of cash...I like Cleary as much as anyone on this forum, and I would hate to see him leave, but after making $675,000 this season, he has a chance to make some serious coin this offseason...Lapointe got $20 million for 4 seasons after 2001, he's been getting $2.4 million since 2005...he may not have been playing on very good teams, but everyone here would trade places with him, and the cast majority of NHLers would kill to have the type of career he's had...I really hope he'll sign in Detroit for 5-6 years for $2.75-3.23 million a season, but if someone offers him $4 million a year, how can any of us blame him?

Edited February 6, 2008 by detroitdan

[Mudvayneowns91 0]

I think everyone is forgeting that Marty's deal was before the strike. Contracts for players were handled differently they are now. I'm not sure how much relevance this has to Cleary, but I just think that point should be brought up.

[Guest octopusdank]

Hank,

Normally I would argue that players don't look at Detroit the same way fans do, and that players go after the money and so don't agents, blah, blah, blah.

But I think in this instance (and probably Z, hopefully Z) the players will weigh the franchise heavily. Like you said Lids and Dats are steals right now, could Dats have got a better offer, yeah probably not the dramatic difference Z or Lids would get from others (only because of previous playoff performances).

When the leaders of your team are willing to take 1-2mil (maybe more in lids case) less than they are worth to stay with a winning org, it has to make you think as a player.

I mean think about it, you work with the best ad guru in the business, he gets offers from all the other advertising firms in the country, yet he takes less money to stay with your firm because he thinks it gives him the best opportunity to get the best jobs and he feels the company has treated him greatly over the past 10 years.

Now you are a mid level guy in this firm and you happen to work with the Guru on many projects. You may decide to take more money from another firm, but you start to think, will I be surrounded by the same type of people or will I be expected to shoulder the load, will the firm treat me with respect?

Is money more important than being in a firm that I know wants to be successful, and will surround me with quality people that have the same goal?

awesome reply

[Guest octopusdank]

True - however since his days in the Motor City his stock has plummeted - not that it means much since he's nearing the end of his career...Never lived up to the hype (nor earned his paycheck IMO) that Boston created when they signed him...Back then we had a few extra guys that were able to replace him.

As for Cleary; yeah he def deserves a raise...He came into the league with huge expectations, & more or less fell flat on his face with 3 different franchises...Now after resurrecting his career in Detroit (much of the credit goes to his wife) I'd like to think that he's smart enough to work out a deal with Ken Holland, & retire a Red Wing

is that true?

[WingNutt 12]

I haven't had the chance to read this entire thread but I would say us getting rid of cleary would be a mistake the guy plays with so much heart and always makes big plays. He may not be a flashy player or have the type of skill some of our other guys do, but he has heart, and works hard every night, he fights, he hits, he grinds it out in the corners, he makes plays, shots, scores, blocks shots. In the playoffs he never gives up keeps playing his game and does whatever he can to help the team.

He deserves a raise yes but just a slight one, his role hasn't changed a whole lot, but he has earned himself more ice time and the respect from all his teammates.

I like Dan and hope to see him in a Wings jersey for a while.

[Opie 308]

is that true?

I remembered reading something like that, but couldn't remember if it was Cleary or not. She pretty much told him to work hard and earn what he thought he deserved or he was never going to be what he thought he was or could be.

Something like that, but again I wasn't sure if it was Cleary or not.

[Guest octopusdank]

TO ALL THE CLEARY TRASHERS

how can you forget this?

or this ?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=P-skSDLSLZE

???

[jim3033 1]

why would Holland want 2 washed up bums like Niinima and Anson Carter ?

Well they have been playing league hockey all season in a Swiss league. Anson Carter is a right winger and wanted a 4 million dollar deal or something and no team would bite. He scored 33 goals in 81 games in Vancouver a few years ago. Niinimaa is a defenseman and won a bronze in the olympics. They are both big.

It is possible they could be dead weight but the wings have a lot of cap space to get some depth players. If someone gets hurt maybe these guys would be better backup than a Quincey or a Lilja or another mediocre guy I can't think of right now. They're more mature, which is an advantage in the playoffs. Plus you don't have to give up any players, prospects or draft picks.

Could be a bad move. But they could pull a Cleary!

[Zeta Power 40 1]

Cleary must be resigned..Kenny get it done!!!!

[spydrwebb 0]

Cleary might make sense in a deal for Hossa, Blake or some other player that makes sense for Detroit.

Then if Holland could get Janne Niinima and/or Anson Carter from Europe(would only cost money which the wings have enough of) that would put Detroit in a better position to play a team like San Jose or Anaheim come playoff time if those guys can put on their A game.

Then if for some reason Detroit doesn't get Brunnstrom in the summer we still have Hossa, Niinima and Carter.

If one of those 2 teams win the 'Forsberg sweepstakes' Detroit is going to have to find someone better than Lebda and Lilja. Those guys aren't creative enough with their play.

--Toronto wants to trade Sundin for an entire team, management and all, which is friggin' stupid.

I like Cleary a lot but I will be super pissed if the Wings don't win the cup this year. I'm under the opinion that if Kronwall hadn't gotten hurt last year we would have won the cup.

i had to double check when the last time i posted was because its been too long to recall.

before now, it was 10/23/07, but your post clearly was enough to break the hiatus.

i'm making every attempt not to offend you but have you seriously lost your mind?

two words above (bold) completely negate any validity to the remainder of your post.

ANYone (with the only exception being that of a cruel joke) with the least bit of hockey

sense will arrive very quickly at the conclusion that you've had a momentary lapse of reason here.

please assure me this was bad humor on your part.

[russianswede919293 95]

Cap to go up by $3 million next year

Which is enough money to sign Cleary....problem solved....

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Great News!

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Cleary Article

[bloodred13 0]

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

if you cant resign him because he wants more money you might as well just try and see what you can get for him.

i wouldnt like that because cleary is the type of blue collar player the wings need out there, he isnt afraid to get in front of the net and get into a fight with a guy a foot taller than him.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

if you cant resign him because he wants more money you might as well just try and see what you can get for him.

Well what if they are unsure that they can sign him, but think there is still a possibility to sign him after the trade deadline has past? Kinda too late then...

[Opie 308]

Well what if they are unsure that they can sign him, but think there is still a possibility to sign him after the trade deadline has past? Kinda too late then...

Well that is the tricky part and where a good GM makes his money.

ATL for example they pretty much are 98.5 % sure Hossa is not coming back, that is an easy one. You trade Hossa get 5 prospects (MLB reference) and your job as a GM is pretty easy in this situation.

The easiest situation would be a Lids situation, you know he is one of the best, you know he wants to stay, and you know the money it will take to keep him here. Cut and Dry simple as writing it down on paper.

Then there is this situation, where the team is not sure they can afford him (at current cap level), the GM has to have a crystal ball. In this situation I think Holland (I hope) realizes that having Cleary for the playoffs, as he has shown, is way better than trading him just to keep from losing him. However if he can be thrown in on a deal too good to be true, Hossa for example (I know impossible), you have to throw him in the deal.

[Opie 308]

Even though he could be used as trade bait (in your example as part of the Hossa deal) - there's always the outside chance of signing him come July 1st when he's a UFA.

Do you mean Cleary could resign, ala Tkachuk, or they could sign Hossa.

Sorry haven't had coffee yet.

[Opie 308]

Gotcha I agree 100% that was what I was thinking cleary for hossa I could live with, but I would like to have what he brings to the table in the post season.

[Turkey 0]

I would only trade Dan Cleary for Bionic Dan Cleary. Bigger, faster, stronger...etc. I love this guy and would love to see him hoist the cup with us. He's just the sort of guy we need.

[The Enforcer 13]

Trade Draper before you trade Cleary. At least Cleary scores and plays physical.