I agree. Bringing Cleary back just confirms my thoughts that Holland isn't serious about re-building this team and winning anymore cups.
Me not being able to run a 4 minute mile means I am not serious about physical fitness.
The point is that re-building a team and winning Cups with a re-built team without missing the playoffs for years and years is not something I've seen anyone actually do yet. Pointing out that the failure to accomplish the (as yet) impossible implies an absence of the attempt or willingness to try seems to be something of a logical fallacy.
I personally don't care if the Wings tank for a few years and roll up some high draft picks. Holland obviously does, and he's trying to do something no one else has done (rebuild without high drafts) while continuing to do something no one else has done, namely be in the playoffs so regularly that someone could have been born, grown, and graduated college by now and still not ever seen the team not in them.
Cleary's deal always read to me as the A) main contract, which was a toss off nearly league minimum slot to a depth player who may or may not ever get any use, and b), the GP bonus which read as his career achievement/retirement gift from the organization. Holland always tries to hook up the depth guys with a little something on their way out the door, especially when they were relevant in some substantial way to its success somewhere along the line.
IIRC the GP requirement was 10 games, yes? It was obviously intended to be met, and obviously designed so it could be shoved off onto this years cap if necessary (I don't remember if they declared they were moving that bonus forward or not). I don't think Detroit was right up against the cap last year so they could have stashed it then, but even if they moved it forward to 2016 I don't think it'll be in the way.
