32 replies to this topic

[NBCnothingbutcrosby]

Honestly this isn't a flame to pick on Cleary, but does anyone else think it's time to cut ties?

I'm not exactly sure how old he is, but must be in his 30's. He seems to be injured half of every season, and his body is slowing down. He still has some value of veteran leadership and limited gritty skill which has been in decline in my eyes. What I mean by that is when he first came here - Cleary would go into a corner for the puck and always come out with it, now not so much. I'd be open to the idea of trading cleary and lebda or meech for a young 4mill type of sniper... Which we haven't had a true sniper since Shanny. This is all just open to discussion, I know there will be some hardcore Cleary fans... I just wonder what everyone else is thinking

[titanium2]

I don't know about cutting ties but I think they all need to decide once and for all what kind of player he is. Grinder or scoring line player?

[Schmack]

We just signed the guy to a multi-year contract last year. 5 years if I'm not mistaken. He is a great player and had a great playoff run the last 2 years. Don't jump on a 'get rid of him' thing just because he's had a bad season. Can't expect everyone to perform every year.

[8 Legged RedWing]

Yea, he usually comes around come playoff time like the rest of this team. I wouldn't be so quick to boot him out of town yet. His grit and determination to score goals when given the chance I believe is still at the top of this team.

[Xitium]

Wait. You want to get rid of Cleary and the organ music at the Joe? You sure you're a Wings fan?

[mindfly]

Cleary got a NTC

[bdavis]

Don't forget, Cleary was a beast for us last year in the playoffs. He will turn his game up. He seems to come back pretty good after an injury rest.

[mindfly]

"It was a good hard skate," Cleary said after the morning skate prior to Detroit's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. "I'll skate a little harder (today) and see how it goes."
...
Cleary completely tore his groin during the Stanley Cup Finals last season and played through it. He also had a broken bone in his wrist that needed repair.

"This summer is going to be critical to make sure I'm healthy, especially my groin," Cleary said. "You never want to miss games. That's the tough part."

Edited by mindfly, 02 April 2010 - 10:47 AM.

[Zata fan 40]

The guy has been banged up since training camp. He won't be back to normal till start of next year.

[Rick Zombos Ghost]

Holland gave out some Dombrowskiesque contracts after the last Cup

[Zetts]

He's exactly the sort of player that you want to have on your team. He works his butt off, and he can score a few goals too. I believe that he has a NTC anyways, so it's irrelevant.

Having said that, I do think that 2.8 million/year is too much for him, especially if he can't get healthy. There's still 3 years left on his contract after this one. You can't be paying that much for a guy that's been getting a lot of 3rd line minutes. Of course, that might change once he gets healthy and starts playing like he was before.

I'd be open to the idea of trading cleary and lebda or meech for a young 4mill type of sniper... Which we haven't had a true sniper since Shanny.

And I'd like to trade Lebda for Ovechkin. There are almost no snipers for 4 million (Mule is a rare exception because of his ridiculously long contract length) and there is definitely no "true sniper" that you're getting for a package of Cleary and a 6th D.

Edited by Zetts, 02 April 2010 - 02:03 PM.

[CenterIce]

Cleary may be back on Saturday.

http://www.mlive.com..._eyes_week.html

[SouthernWingsFan]

Cut ties? Not in the slightest...

[clutchngrab]

Cut ties? Not in the slightest...

I think this is one of Hollands dumbest deals. "On March 11, 2008, Cleary signed a 5 year contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings, worth $14 million.".

On the other hand there is this:

"In the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs on May 14, 2009, Cleary scored the tie breaking, semi-final series winning goal for the Detroit Red Wings against the Anaheim Ducks with 3 minutes left in Game 7. With the win the Detroit Red Wings moved on to face the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final. Cleary scored 5 goals against his former team in a 4-1 series win clinching the Western Conference title....."

Yet this year he has 13 goals and 16 assists all while being in the top 6 rotation for the whole year. Not enough Danny boy, not enough.

[Buppy]

Holland gave out some Dombrowskiesque contracts after the last Cup

Cleary's deal came before the Cup.

[Buppy]

I think this is one of Hollands dumbest deals. "On March 11, 2008, Cleary signed a 5 year contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings, worth $14 million.".

On the other hand there is this:

"In the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs on May 14, 2009, Cleary scored the tie breaking, semi-final series winning goal for the Detroit Red Wings against the Anaheim Ducks with 3 minutes left in Game 7. With the win the Detroit Red Wings moved on to face the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final. Cleary scored 5 goals against his former team in a 4-1 series win clinching the Western Conference title....."

Yet this year he has 13 goals and 16 assists all while being in the top 6 rotation for the whole year. Not enough Danny boy, not enough.

At the time he was in the midst of a second straight 20 goal season, and he's a very versatile player. I don't think it's really a bad deal. He's been fighting injuries all year, and certainly effected by all the other injuries, just like the rest of the team.

That said, I wouldn't hate it if we could move him to bring in a legit top 6 winger. I'd rather move him than Flip, but either way we don't need 2 (or 3 if Hudler comes back) tweeners making near $3 mil a year.

Edited by Buppy, 03 April 2010 - 12:09 AM.

[Xitium]

I'm pretty sure he's ok...

[GMRwings1983]

He's always been good in the playoffs, so this will be a telling sign coming up here.

He hasn't been good this year and is sadly expendable, especially with Eaves and Miller playing well this year.

[Hossa4Life]

I am hoping it was his injuries holding him back this year. I thought he had one of his best games of the year today. He drove the net a few times and created scoring chances. And i agree that playoffs is when his grinding style really stands out and helps out our team.

[sixer]

Playoffs is when it counts, and that's when he shines. I'd take him over Hossa in the playoffs and he did more then Hossa last year. I don't care about the regular season if you can't rise in the playoffs. I think the Sharks would rather have Cleary in the playoffs over Joe Thornton as well, lol.