Hindsight: Dan Cleary

[Drapez 0]

If you're Holland, knowing the cap problems and Cleary's performance or lack there of do you sign him to the same deal WITH a no trade clause?

The NTCs on this team are killing any chance to make a positive change outside of moving depth guys for late picks.

How does a guy who was basically out of the league, a camp invite warrant a NTC? His discount wasn't that severe.. it baffles me. Probably Holland's biggest weakness IMO.

[umredwing11 2]

If you're Holland, knowing the cap problems and Cleary's performance or lack there of do you sign him to the same deal WITH a no trade clause?

The NTCs on this team are killing any chance to make a positive change outside of moving depth guys for late picks.

How does a guy who was basically out of the league, a camp invite warrant a NTC? His discount wasn't that severe.. it baffles me. Probably Holland's biggest weakness IMO.

I agree with you about the NTCs. They are annoying and can get in the way.

This said, I think you are overestimating Kenny Holland's desire to move players and underestimating Cleary's hockey skills. Kenny and Yzerman have both been quoted as saying that they believe that the team we have, when healthy, is a good one. I highly doubt Holland would be so quick to get rid of Cleary...he is coming off of an injury which had him out for a month. He was on team Canada's training camp roster (so clearly he has talent) and is fifth on the Wings in scoring. So yes, I would sign Cleary to that same contract. NTC or no NTC, Cleary wouldn't be getting moved at this point.

Ultimately, I think it is our team's inability to play a full 60 minutes, put the puck in the net, and stay healthy that is killing our chance to make a positive change, not Dan Cleary and NTCs.

Edited February 7, 2010 by umredwing11

[Drapez 0]

I agree with you about the NTCs. They are annoying and can get in the way.

This said, I think you are overestimating Kenny Holland's desire to move players and underestimating Cleary's hockey skills. I believe Kenny and Yzerman believe that the team we have, when healthy, is a good one. I highly doubt Holland would be so quick to get rid of Cleary...he is coming off of an injury which had him out for a month. He was on team Canada's training camp roster and is fifth on the Wings in scoring.

Ultimately, I think it is our team's inability to play a full 60 minutes, put the puck in the net, and stay healthy that is killing our chance to make a positive change, not Dan Cleary and NTCs.

Im not blaming the teams failures on one player im simply asking, does Dan Cleary warrant the contract he recieved? People get on Filppula about his deal but Cleary is nearly making Flip money and isn't in my eyes a top six player. I mean hes a player that can play in the top six while on a line with Datsyuk or Zetterberg, much in the same sense as Holmstrom is a top six player. But neither of them are goal scoring wingers who can carry a line.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Im not blaming the teams failures on one player im simply asking, does Dan Cleary warrant the contract he recieved? People get on Filppula about his deal but Cleary is nearly making Flip money and isn't in my eyes a top six player. I mean hes a player that can play in the top six while on a line with Datsyuk or Zetterberg, much in the same sense as Holmstrom is a top six player. But neither of them are goal scoring wingers who can carry a line.

Cleary's a consistent 20-20 guy who plays the PK and does all the little things.

The Wings paid market value for him at worst. 20 goal scorers who play a gritty, defensively responsible game aren't a dime a dozen.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

NTCs do get in the way... Rafalski.

[Lonewuhf 47]

Im not blaming the teams failures on one player im simply asking, does Dan Cleary warrant the contract he recieved? People get on Filppula about his deal but Cleary is nearly making Flip money and isn't in my eyes a top six player. I mean hes a player that can play in the top six while on a line with Datsyuk or Zetterberg, much in the same sense as Holmstrom is a top six player. But neither of them are goal scoring wingers who can carry a line.

Flip also just came back from an injury, being gone for much longer, and has been stellar since his return. I barely even notice when Cleary is actually on the ice anymore.

Side note talking about contract value and responding to the above comment: Who's stupid idea was it to offer Rafalski a 6 mil NTC contract? He's on a line with Lids and still manages to be mediocre at best.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Side note talking about contract value and responding to the above comment: Who's stupid idea was it to offer Rafalski a 6 mil NTC contract? He's on a line with Lids and still manages to be mediocre at best.

A lot of you guys are unhappy with Rafalski's play and I don't think he's been great either, but his contract is fair. He took a paycut to come here in 2008, let's not forget, and he's given us two great years and one average year. He can bounce back next go around, but even if he doesn't, that he was going to be overpaid at the end of the deal is sort of a given. It would be like complaining about Zetterberg and Franzen not living up to their 4 and 6 million dollar cap hits when they're in their late 30's; that was an understood trade off when the deal was made to get the lowest cap hit possible for the majority of the contract.

[Lonewuhf 47]

A lot of you guys are unhappy with Rafalski's play and I don't think he's been great either, but his contract is fair. He took a paycut to come here in 2008, let's not forget, and he's given us two great years and one average year. He can bounce back next go around, but even if he doesn't, that he was going to be overpaid at the end of the deal is sort of a given. It would be like complaining about Zetterberg and Franzen not living up to their 4 and 6 million dollar cap hits when they're in their late 30's; that was an understood trade off when the deal was made to get the lowest cap hit possible for the majority of the contract.

I don't think he's been a 6 mil player since he came here. Yeah, he was good the first couple years we got him, but never in my opinion worth what he's being paid.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

I don't think he's been a 6 mil player since he came here. Yeah, he was good the first couple years we got him, but never in my opinion worth what he's being paid.

You're entitled to your opinion, but if you look at salaries across the league, defensmen that can play 25 minutes a night and put up 55-60 points are all in that salary range.

[newfy 695]

Lets not forget Cleary's play in the playoffs. That alone warrants him his contract. Year after year he shows up playing hard, making hits(just ask Phaneuf), and scoring timely goals.

Cleary is a player who conistently scores about 20 goals a season and plays with guts, he's earned everything he's got.

[Datsyuk2Zetterberg 1]

resign but no NTC.

[Nev 1,085]

A lot of you guys are unhappy with Rafalski's play and I don't think he's been great either, but his contract is fair. He took a paycut to come here in 2008, let's not forget, and he's given us two great years and one average year. He can bounce back next go around, but even if he doesn't, that he was going to be overpaid at the end of the deal is sort of a given. It would be like complaining about Zetterberg and Franzen not living up to their 4 and 6 million dollar cap hits when they're in their late 30's; that was an understood trade off when the deal was made to get the lowest cap hit possible for the majority of the contract.

Hey, quit it with the logic and the facts! I'm willing to be forgiving on Rafalski, after all he did play through a herniated disk AND a separated shoulder last summer. Like a lot of wings I think he's mentally and physically burned out this season.

If he sucks for the next 2 seasons at $6M per year, well we just have to keep reminding ourselves it was worth it for the cup he helped bring....

Luckily for Raffi, he's not on a descending contract like Mule & Z, so the chances of him being bought out are less.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Playoffs: much like Zetterberg, Cleary has been a beast when it matters most.