Cleary wants Goal #100

Khan(!) provides us with a little insight to Dan Cleary and his mindset while being stuck at 99 career goals...

"Getting antsy, that's an understatement. Can't get too frustrated. Try to make sure I keep skating, good on the forecheck, that's how I create my offense. It's not based on being in the high slot and shooting, it's always around the net. I got to make sure I stick around there."--Dan Cleary

Cleary hasn’t netted a g-note in eleven games and only has one thus fear in the young 2009-2010 season.

Another career milestone for me to see first-hand?

Lidstrom’s 1,000th point: Check
Osgood’s 50th Shutout: Check
Cleary’s 100th goal: Pending

Cleary Quietly Producing

So apparently 'good news' means 'no news' when it comes to Detroit.  After they lost to the Dives?  No one would shut up about it.  But after they make the all and powerful Ro-Borat-o Luongo eat his lunch?  Nothing.  Just the generic rhetoric you would expect if the Flint Generals won a game from...whoever the hell else plays in that league.

So instead of looking for a story to comment on, I thought I'd do a little research of my own and come up with one.  I've watched every single Wings game this year (5 in person)..okay, I fell asleep after the 2nd period against the 'Yotes, and thank god for that.  But what I've noticed, or should say "haven't really noticed" thus far this year, is Dan Cleary.  Don't really hear his name much, no 'Game Star' honors.  So I thought I would do the usual minimum amount of research and come up with a story about how he isn't playing up to par. You know what I found...he is.

Cleary sits at 1G-4A for 5 Pts. (let's ignore the fact that he's -5).  So through ten games he has an average of 0.1 goals per game and  0.4 assists per game.  Do your simple math, project that over 82 games, and you're looking at about 8 goals and 32 assists for 40 points.  Here's what Cleary has done thus far as a member of the Detroit Red Wings...

2005-2006: 3G-12A-15 Pts

2006-2007: 20G-20A-40 Pts

2007-2008: 20G-22A-42 Pts

2008-2009: 14G-26A-40 Pts

So it would appear that Detroit's favorite Newfie is right on track for another 40 point season.  What's that you say?  He's supposed to be producing more because of all the scoring we lost to Free Agency?  Well I have four short but strong words for you: shut the hell up. 

Cleary's point totals are actually quite impressive if you consider that he's basically played on a line with everyone on the team at some point.  He's played  the wing of the first line as well as the fourth line.  Recently, Babcock has fallen in love with the idea of putting him out there with Todd Bertuzzi...a move that I questioned at first.  The two big-bodied wingers seem to be playing well with each other, especially with Filppula between them.  When (if) Dan can finally settle in with the same linemates for a string of consecutive games, it wouldn't be unfair to assume that an increase in point output is likely.

Cleary seems almost a lock for 15-20 goals every season and at least 40 points.  As I said before, the fact that he's playing at 0.5 points per game amidst the goal-starved Wings is impressive.  Here's a question for you, "how many goals does Cleary end up having to celebrate while laying on his back?"  Who wants to look up that little peach?  My guess is more than a couple times. year in and year out.  This is due to the fact he is alwayss up in the goaltender's grill and not afraid to muck it up and score a dirty one (ask Jonas Hiller).

So just because he's not lighting the lamp like MaryAnne Hossa or Mikael Samuelsson, don't be so quick to jump all over him (as I was about to do).  If you don't see him on the scoresheet right away, don't worry: you can find him where he always is - mixing it up along the boards, going to war in the corners, and giving the opposing netminder fits.

Zetterbergs Ljumske mår bättre

Sorry...just practicing (thank you, Google Translator). It means "Zetterberg's Groin is Feeling Better", as reported here by Helene St. James who is currently in Stockholm...apparentyl she got the whole week to go over there.

"This is the best I've felt since it happened, so that's positive. We'll see how it reacts to this, and go from tomorrow."--Henrik Zetterberg

Mike Babcock, also quick to quip, had this to add:

"He gets back to Sweden, maybe smells that fresh air, or something like that, will make him feel better."

Zetterberg and Cleary will both play on Wednesday...not sure about Big Bert.

Tonight's Lineup vs. The Blue Shirts

Khan(!) has your lineup here at mlive.com along with some discussions about the nagging groin epidemic that seems to be going around...

Here's how they'll start tonight:

Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Leino-Filppula-Ritola

Ryno-Emmerton-Maltby

Newbury-Abdelkader-Tatar

Kronwall-Stuart

Meech-Ericsson

Kindl-Delmore

Larsson

Cloutier

Yeah, it's big bad Dan Cloutier getting his first pre-season action tonight. Hopefully, Larsson stands tall in the first part of the game.

Four Wings are down with groin injuries. Zetterberg, Cleary, Bertuzzi, and Jason Williams are all sitting out because of "non-serious" groin problems. Let's here from some of them..

Zetterberg...how's the groin?

“Maybe it’s 2-3 percent better today than Friday, so it’s going the right way. Going to have a new evaluation tomorrow and we’ll see what that will bring.’’

Zata's gunning for Friday's game against the Leafs. Let's hope his injury keeps "going the right way". We need our future captain healthy for a full season.

How about you, Dan?

"I think we caught it at a good time. Get some games in this weekend and be ready to go.’’

Um...did you notice that your entire line is out, Dan?

"Yeah, I know Babs said it’s embarrassing.’’

Don't read too much into that quote, outsiders...Babcock was just being Babcock. He does joke around...sometimes. Just look at this:

“The Bertuzzi-Cleary-Zetterberg line hasn’t played together once in exhibition; eventually you’d like that to happen. Should be getting frustrating for them, it’s time to start playing. You can’t give guys days off. I don’t know what happens around here. Golf course wears them down. Datsyuk came in here all cheery, but he didn’t know he had to go to New York until he got here so I might have wrecked his day."--Mike Babcock

Funny guy.

Random Clip on a Tuesday Night

Remember this one?



Karma's a b*tch, ain't it Anaheim?

All Dan Cleary

Found this on detnews.com...

"This year I stuck around here and played a lot of golf. Obviously my groin was torn in two places so I couldn't really do anything training-wise for five weeks, so it was a good time to play golf. I wouldn't have even skated until Monday, which is two days from now, but I had to get skating earlier because of Team Canada camp."

Double-groin pull...ouch. But wait, it gets worse:

"It almost got torn off the bone. It's awful. We couldn't shoot it up with any needles because it would have just made my groin even worse, so what we did is I just got some treatment and played on it."

You're a heartless cad if reading that first sentence didn't make you cringe. Just goes to show how tough this guy really is and how badly he wanted to win.

"I waited five weeks and it healed up pretty good. I skated in Calgary and felt great. I feel strong. I had a huge advantage in training camp, I know that, because I knew all the drills. I was fielding a lot of questions, let's put it that way -- his (Babcock's) style, how he wants things. My roommate was Vinny Lecavalier, he was always asking me, so I was just trying to tell him how he likes to have his players play and it's hard. It's hard work playing his system."

Like Dany Heatley saying "Dude, can I copy your homework?" at Wisconsin, Vinny was looking for an inside track with his roomate...can't say I blame him.

Stevie-Y had some encouraging remarks for Danny:

"He looked very good out there, he certainly didn't look out of place. The one thing that makes Danny very valuable is the versatility. He can play any of the three forward positions and he can do a lot of the grunt work, stand in front of the net on the power play, kill penalties, he'll take a faceoff if needed, so he's a valuable player. Obviously, he's not a high-profile guy like a lot of the players that are going to be on that team, but he's a very versatile player and that's why we brought him to camp, and we're going to decide in December who's on that team."

Does Cleary deserve to be on Team Canada? Absolutely. But don't count on it. Unless Yzerman wants controversy before the torch is even lit, he'll play the political game and leave Cleary at home come Olympic time...which is a shame.

Cleary also took some time to address Detroit's recent additions/departures...

"We lost Hossa but we won the Stanley Cup without Hossa. I think a full season with Darren Helm and Johnny Ericsson's going to be a huge addition for us. I like our additions. I think Patrick Eaves is going to be a great replacement and an upgrade on Kopecky. I think (Jason) Williams is an even trade for Samuelsson and I think (Todd) Bertuzzi's going to bring a different element. Big body that's going to be physical and fits well in the locker room. I just think we're a better team."

Did you hear that everyone...FITS WELL IN THE LOCKER ROOM. So everybody just shut up and let's see what Bert brings to the table. And Williams an even trade for Sammy? Jason must have learned how to backcheck. A better team without Hossa, eh? Maybe somebody was a bigger cancer in the room than the 'Tuzz...

I like the fact that he didn't pull any punches on the rats that jumped ship...you tell 'em, Dan!

Cleary makes his Olympic Case

From NHL.com's Dan Rosen...

"I just think I have earned the right to be here based on my play the last few years in the playoffs and the regular season. I think I'm good at both ends of the ice. I have played on top lines and I think I had a good playoff this year, a good run. I have good experience of being in critical situations. With our team in Detroit I play in every situation. I play in the last minute of the power play and penalty kill. I feel I deserve to be here."---Dan Cleary

I don't think anyone who watches the Red Wings with any consistency would argue with that. I think he still might be flying a little low on the radar for the rest of the league, including his home and native land.

Babcock had this to say:

"It's just that he's a good hockey player. Just look at the playoffs and the amount of scoring he does, the way he plays with and without the puck. He's just a real smart hockey player and he gets things done. He's a very usable guy whether it's on the power play in front of the net, in a checking role, physical on the forecheck, in his own zone or on the penalty kill. He's a good player."

Does he deserve to be on this team? Yes. Will people whine and make excuses if he gets selected? They've already started.

When asked about feeling pressure skating at the camp with Canada's best, Cleary had this to say:

"I have played against all these guys, went head-to-head with all these guys, checked them and had lots of battles with them. I feel comfortable. I don't feel any pressure. These other guys have way more pressure than me."

He's right, you know. What does he have to lose when many think he doesn't even have a right to be at camp? Just go and give it your all, Charlie Bucket. You have Hockeytown behind you.

"If it happens it happens, but you see, I know what I have to do to make the team. I'm going to focus on those areas and hopefully that's enough. If it's not, I will know I gave it all I can give."

We know, Danny. That's why we love you...a Wing for life.

Forget about Offense

From the official website and the Buick Open in Grand Blanc, MI.


“We’re losing whatever it is, 80 goals, we’re not going to be a high-scoring team, but we have to focus on defense.”--Dan Cleary


Um...what? This is coming from a guy we're expecting to step up. Maybe it's because he's got golf on his mind and high-scoring comes with a negative connotation. But we DO still have Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Franzen right? All those predictions about Filppula netting 20 and Leino not far behind? Well hold on, it's not all Danny "Rain Cloud" talking...


Malts had some to add as well.



“Our depth will definitely get tested maybe a little bit more with this happening,” Maltby said. “We have guys in Grand Rapids who were with us during the playoffs who are obviously ready to play and will fill those voids. But there are injuries and things that happen in the course of the year and that could be an issue, but as for the guys in the dressing room we know that we still have a lot of talent, we have a lot of experience, and character in that dressing room.”



That's a little more like it. Keep the microphone away from Dan, please.

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"Alright I'll take pros, you can take cons on this one."

Dan in Real Life

The Detroit Free Press posted an article today on Charlie Buckets.

If you’re not familiar with that nickname for #11 Dan Cleary, you need to head over to the A2Y Glossary of terms to find this plus other wonderful little tidbits from “The 19”…

“Dan Cleary, the boy with the golden ticket. Wandering the streets of
dreary whatevertownBucketsgrewupin, not wanting to go home because Grampa Joe
wasn’t getting out of bed and yet another dinner of disgusting thick tasteless
soup awaited him. A sparkle in the gutter, a silver dollar. That
money could feed his family for a week! Oh, the turmoil. Tasty Wonka
chocolate and a chance at a trip every child in the world was hoping for, or
food on the Bucket table. Screw it. Grabbed it. Bought the bar.
Ripped it open. Golden Ticket. Hell yes."

Basically this is a metaphor for Cleary’s career in the NHL. During his junior years, he was hyped as the second coming of Eric Lindros. Drafted 13th overall in 1997 by the hated Chicago Blackhawks, he spent time with ‘Hawks, Oilers, and Coyotes and never amounted to much. Cleary nearly gave up on pro hockey, if not for the insistence from his wife, Jelena, to stick it out and get back into shape. Ken Holland offered him an open tryout for the Wings in 2005…he was signed on October 4th (happy birthday, sis) thus getting his proverbial “golden ticket”.

By the way, Cleary signed a 5 year extension in March of 2008, he became the first “Newfie” in history to win the Cup three months later.

Well that wonderful muse of inspiration, Jelena Cleary gave birth to a second daughter this summer and thus Dan has spent the off-season in “the D” instead of Newfoundland or California.

Dan along with Kirk Maltby will be participating in this week’s Buick Open in Grand Blanc. Cleary said he’ll be the better Wing.

Well congrats, Dan and good luck…at golf and raising two little girls.

He talks about Hudler as well, but I’m not going to get into that, read it if you want to know what he has to say, (Hint: Cleary is a class act.)