Avssuc

Gretz gets it: When talking about the transition in coaching... "On one hand, it's difficult to argue with the Red Wings' success when it comes to player development, especially recently where the farm system has produced some really promising players, from Nyquist to Tatar to Riley Sheahan to Teemu Pulkkinen. But the Red Wings have also sometimes been extremely slow at promoting these players and giving them an opportunity in the NHL. The best example: keeping Dan Cleary on the 2013-14 roster at the start of the season and burying Nyquist in the AHL even though he had shown that he was already too good for that level and ready for the next step. Since Nyquist was recalled he has been one of the Red Wings' most productive players. It's one thing when it's 2007-08 and the team has the most stacked roster in the league and jobs are hard to come by. It's quite another when the 2014 version of Dan Cleary is getting a preferred spot on the roster while younger players are banging on the door deserving of an opportunity. In a salary cap sport, and especially on a team that is as close to the cap as the Red Wings are with so many big-money players, you just cannot waste prime years of a top prospect like that. If there was a reason to be critical of Babcock's time in Detroit, especially in recent years, this might have been it." None of us will probably ever know how much it was Babs or Kenny, but we all know it hurt. http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25245736/how-will-the-detroit-red-wings-look-in-the-post-mike-babcock-era

Um... wat? "2015 Stanley Cup Final Second-Most Watched in Past Two Decades 06/16/2015 Only once in the past 20 years has the Stanley Cup Final averaged a larger audience than this year." http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2015/06/stanley-cup-final-ratings-second-most-watched-series-since-1995-blackhawks-lightning-nhl/ And what the hell is your argument, Frank? Both leagues have a cap. The revenue is exponentially higher with the NFL, so what is it exactly that you suggest here? Parity should be a goal here for all fans. Maybe not for us spoiled Wings fans, but what about the folks in smaller markets? I know it hasn't worked out all that well so far, but I think you're suggesting the opposite here.

Again, you cite an anonymous derivative of the Freep agent 'tweet'... that is the singular source giving legs to this mess. It 'seems' like you took time to read my reply (given the extensive bold highlights/redaction), but did you let the body sink in? Certification is certainly unattainable, but common sense should provide understanding that the narrative here is bogus. A baser and unbiased look at this situation provides perspective that, most likely, would contradict your findings. If you still fail to understand the source origination, I'm unable to render further assistance.

Don't know if the irony has been pointed out yet, but your SN is one of a beat reporter spreading BS in the local paper for one of his favorite players (Reg Dunlop) to help his career. Worked pretty well too.

So in summary, anyone forwarding the idea that Cleary had any contract in place is poorly speculating. By doing so, they parrot the white noise of one beat reporter. A reporter who not only had a relationship with Cleary (seeing as how Cleary was the non-official media liaison), but is also cut from the Ivy Lee & Eddy Bernays PR school... as an arm of the Wings front office public relations. Cite the last article where St. James was critical of anything done by the Wings org (since that is supposed to be part of her job) and I'll think about revision here.

You do know that the origin source for all the evidence you laud is a St. James (Freep reporter) tweet....right? So this means that there is only one moderately placed source, giving one sided information. The key to vetting is using both sides of the equation, tethered with common sense. You show bias in that you didn't offer the opinion of Holmgren, or his staff. You go on to back the St. James fodder by saying a 3 year deal was in place pending a physical. Did you even watch the video? Holmgren reinforced his stance that it was a tryout. I don't have a metric, but the number of guys that have gotten lucrative 3 year deals off of professional tryouts has to be nonexistent. Danny was/is a good country club guy. He left it all out there, so Holland felt obligated. I have no problem with Cleary getting paid, but he was a impedement in his first year, a non-factor last, and who knows this year. Holland needed/needs to have the guts to tell this guy he needs to scout, sit in the front office, sell popcorn, etc. The problem with this is salary structure in the front office. Cleary can't make the same amount without upsetting the balance with Drapes and Malts.

Listen to Holmgren in his own words...a day after Cleary decided to go to the wings (and after it was alread reported Cleary was not offered a contract). https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MPMhA9nV9YE It's not the fact that Cleary was signed originally that upset everyone (or the continued tradition), it's the rationale behind the signing, and the obvious lie. No GM in their right mind was offering Cleary a contract at that point in his career. Not even Philly!

Gotta vet those sources better: "General manager Paul Holmgren confirmed on Tuesday that Dan Cleary will be at the Flyers' camp Thursday on a tryout contract. However, Holmgren said no deal was in place, as was reported by the Detroit Free Press." Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inqflyersreport/Report-Cleary-headed-to-Flyers.html#1E2J3WVT8x2wtASD.99