Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Trending DOWN – Dan Cleary
This actually not an indictment on Cleary at all. Everyone’s favorite Wing to loathe has actually done nothing wrong. It’s just the fact that he should have no chance of making this team with the emergence of several key young players.
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As everyone knows, Cleary was re-signed to complete the handshake agreement at Babcock’s insistence. While there was still a glimmer of hope for Cleary in 2013-2014, it’s virtually gone now. Pulkkinen is a lock. Tomas Nosek should get his chance now. Dylan Larkin is absolutely making his case. Andreas Athanasiou and Landon Ferraro are showing they belong. Mitch Callahan also garners a look before Cleary.
Again, this isn’t a “bag on Cleary” editorial. I’ve always liked the guy both as a human being and a player. But this is an analysis that Cleary is simply out of time and space on the roster.
There is absolutely no conceivable argument or notion as to why he should be on the team this year. Not even as a healthy scratch. As the kids show their worth with every preseason game, his only opportunity to take a spot would be in a moment of serious injury. Yet I would rather a hungry prospect earn that shot–as would every other fan.
The arrow for Cleary is firmly down–not on him personally–but on his prospects of playing full time in Detroit.
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