Holland to offer McCarty a contract?

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Love it. Put him & Downey together, but I'd have no idea who would center that line. lol

[Kp-Wings 3]

Id rather have a guy that Checks/Fights

then a guy who sucks at fighting and doesnt check.

Stop the presses! I didn't know Drake checks people!

Sucks at fighting? Sure, McCarty's lost a step over the years, but he's still a decent middleweight fighter (which is all that Drake is), but will do it on a more consistant basis. Plus, he still hits guys, plenty more than over half the current roster does.

[Grittzkey 1]

I used the word sucks a lil to liberally.

But tbh, Id have no problem swapping Dmac with Ellis..

But dmac for downey or drake? id rather not tbh..

[Viperar 16]

drake has no purpose, bring in dmac

[CrossCheck24 2]

Im PUMPED. Imagine the roar at JLA when he steps onto the ice....gooosebumps.

[NHLrules? 32]

Maybe im sceptical, but I see this as an excuse for Holland not to go out after a big tough scoring forward.

This seems like a Kenny way to go about finding an excuse.

[rwfan007 18]

Mac would bring such an energy not just to the wings, but to the fans in the building as well, the Joe will be electric when he steps on the ice. I was at the Griffins game his opening weekend in GR and the place gave him a standing ovation... this is Grand Rapids... just thing about him back in the winged wheel people. He will jumpstart energy into the whole city.

[LeftWinger 5,152]

I have love for Downey I really do, but Darren earned a spot on this roster for ten years. If he can come back and be a factor he deserves the spot.

..remind me again, are you for or against Fedorov coming back? Either way that logic there is just silly. McCarty can come back but not at Downey's expense. Downey is a much better fighter than McCarty right now...

[zaxx 0]

Well if he stinks then no big deal. He'll be making league minimum anyway. It's a risk worth taking. Mac's heart alone is worth bringing back. He'll go through a wall for his teammates and he has proven that. You can't teach heart and Mac has it in spades. Hopefully his teammates will see that and it will make them play harder as well. Like Babcock says we need to play GREASY HOCKEY from time to time. Especially against teams like the Ducks. Now if we get Lapointe back I'll REALLY be happy!

You have said it best here. His heart and grit are worth more then the league minimum. If he does play like crap well at least the Wings showed some love to a former player and gave him the respectable chance he deserves. If this happens Mac is going to be my sleeper pic in my playoff draft this year!

[CloudConnected 0]

I say do it. If McCarty can be a Downey type of guy with a little bit better hands...then why the hell not? If he can't keep up to speed, then he doesn't play. It's that simple. We have tons of cap room and we could do a lot worse than to have a guy with his experience and heart waiting in the wings in case of injury or needing to beef up our lineup a little bit. Give him a shot, he'll play with tons of emotion if he gets back on the ice at the Joe.

[Kira 451]

Gee, does this mean my McCarty jersey might just be worth more than the $13 bucks I paid for it???? That it might just be wearable again??? Too cool!

[WhiteLightning91 105]

The way I see it, i'd rather have a guy like McCarty out there than Kopecky, I mean he can't be worse than him. But thats just my opinion.

Are you ******* serious?

[Booster313 138]

..remind me again, are you for or against Fedorov coming back? Either way that logic there is just silly. McCarty can come back but not at Downey's expense. Downey is a much better fighter than McCarty right now...

Actually I am for Fedorov coming back, I don't think he's a better option than say Hossa, but when you factor in that he'd probably come reasonably priced and that we have a pretty decent shot at retaining him past the end of this year, then yes I think that Fedorov is a good idea. That being said, I don't hate Downey like I said I like him but if all things are equal, all things being Mac's and Down's level of play, fighting, goal scoring and I have to pick one based on what they've earned, all I am saying is Downey has been hear a year Mac is and always will be a Red Wing for life, that's it. For all I know Downey is still better than Mac that remains to be seen once Mac plays a few NHL level games. If Downey is better then there's no arguement, you keep the better player. I just don't think you can use loyalty as a arguement for Downey over Mac that's all.

P.S. How do you know Downey is a better fighter? That's really an impossible call to make unless they fight the exact same players in the same circumstances or unless they fight eachother which won't happen this year.

Edited February 20, 2008 by Booster313

[LeftWinger 5,152]

...remember, just because Holland offers him a contact and he signs it, doesn't mean he'll be a Wing. It just means he'll be another Red Wings property playing in GRR, that is the ONLY guarantee for him. He would be available for call-up if needed. Not guaranteed a spot on the roster. I find it hard to believe that Holland would offer him a contract though, without thinking (knowing) that McCarty could be useful at the NHL level, so either way good for us, good foe him! He get to retire a Wing, just like Osgood got to come back and just as Fedorov will. And they will both retire where they had their greatest success, Detroit. (hopefully after a couple more successes, )

[HenryMalredo 2]

Actually I am for Fedorov coming back, I don't think he's a better option than say Hossa, but when you factor in that he'd probably come reasonably priced and that we have a pretty decent shot at retaining him past the end of this year, then yes I think that Fedorov is a good idea. That being said, I don't hate Downey like I said I like him but if all things are equal, all things being Mac's and Down's level of play, fighting, goal scoring and I have to pick one based on what they've earned, all I am saying is Downey has been hear a year Mac is and always will be a Red Wing for life, that's it. For all I know Downey is still better than Mac that remains to be seen once Mac plays a few NHL level games. If Downey is better then there's no arguement, you keep the better player. I just don't think you can use loyalty as a arguement for Downey over Mac that's all.

P.S. How do you know Downey is a better fighter? That's really an impossible call to make unless they fight the exact same players in the same circumstances or unless they fight eachother which won't happen this year.

If you picked based on who'd earned it, you'd have to pick Downey. He made the team in training camp and has protected his spot all year. McCarty hasn't earned anything yet, the only reason he was given a shot was for being a solid player for the Wings several years ago.

[Grittzkey 1]

...remember, just because Holland offers him a contact and he signs it, doesn't mean he'll be a Wing. It just means he'll be another Red Wings property playing in GRR, that is the ONLY guarantee for him. He would be available for call-up if needed. Not guaranteed a spot on the roster. I find it hard to believe that Holland would offer him a contract though, without thinking (knowing) that McCarty could be useful at the NHL level, so either way good for us, good foe him! He get to retire a Wing, just like Osgood got to come back and just as Fedorov will. And they will both retire where they had their greatest success, Detroit. (hopefully after a couple more successes, )

I think you hit the nail on the head..They are signing him for 1 reason, So he is available for a call up in the playoffs if he is needed.

-Offtopic-

Has this been planned for awhile though? Because GR Griffins are selling Mac Packs.. where you get 6griffin tickets and 2wing tickets for last game of season against hawks.. Has this been planned for awhile? because why would they call it the Mac Pack if they didnt already know Dmac would be a wing by last game of season?

[LeftWinger 5,152]

Actually I am for Fedorov coming back, I don't think he's a better option than say Hossa, but when you factor in that he'd probably come reasonably priced and that we have a pretty decent shot at retaining him past the end of this year, then yes I think that Fedorov is a good idea. That being said, I don't hate Downey like I said I like him but if all things are equal, all things being Mac's and Down's level of play, fighting, goal scoring and I have to pick one based on what they've earned, all I am saying is Downey has been hear a year Mac is and always will be a Red Wing for life, that's it. For all I know Downey is still better than Mac that remains to be seen once Mac plays a few NHL level games. If Downey is better then there's no arguement, you keep the better player. I just don't think you can use loyalty as a arguement for Downey over Mac that's all.

P.S. How do you know Downey is a better fighter? That's really an impossible call to make unless they fight the exact same players in the same circumstances or unless they fight eachother which won't happen this year.

...ahhh, but you do think that loyalty to McCarty trumps what Downey has done this year... interesting...

p.s. response: I have seen Downey fight plenty and when McCarty got bought out, he barely fought anymore even in Calgary he barely fought. And when he did, he was less and less effective at it. Downey is a better fighter, IMO. Darren does bring in the experience factor and I would welcome him back, but not if it would knock Downey back to waiver's. Darren can be a Wing for life, he can, but if I had to choose who would be my tough guy, Downey wins hands...uh...Down...ey :hockeysmile:

[Booster313 138]

I think you hit the nail on the head..They are signing him for 1 reason, So he is available for a call up in the playoffs if he is needed.

-Offtopic-

Has this been planned for awhile though? Because GR Griffins are selling Mac Packs.. where you get 6griffin tickets and 2wing tickets for last game of season against hawks.. Has this been planned for awhile? because why would they call it the Mac Pack if they didnt already know Dmac would be a wing by last game of season?

I've had the feeling since I saw Mac play in Flint and talked to him after the game that this comeback was always his to loose.

[Superman54 91]

GRIND LINE IS BACK BABY!!!

[Redwingsfanin_BC 0]

This is awesome news. I am a big fan of Mac, and i agree with everyone who said he will help with his playoff experience and heart, you can't teach that. Who knows if he comes back put him back with drapes and malts and maybe maltby will get to his old super agitator self? that would be cool to see.

[rwfan007 18]

he got another goal and assist tonight in a 5-4 victory, he has 7 points in 6 games with the Griffs

[VM1138 1,921]

I think McCarty's role is more one to drive the other players. He isn't the player he used to be, but he sure has heart, and I do beleive that he could improve Draper and Maltby's play by changing their style a little bit.

[vangvace 12]

Two weeks ago I was dead set against this, but with the recent injury bug... I'm not as dead set against this.

So will it be a one way or two way contract? Also will he have to clear waivers before coming up or is he too old for that?

[irishtemper14+25 11]

YESSSSSS

[Guest Crymson]

Now if we get Lapointe back I'll REALLY be happy!

What? You mean the guy who hasn't played good hockey since 2001 and is veritable defensive jelly?

No thanks. That's nostalgia, and Lapointe will actually cost us.