We've bagged on him in the past but he's a good dude and a loyal member of the organization. That was a trip seeing him in uniform skating the Calder Cup last night.
I honestly have more negative feelings toward him than positive at this point. While I appreciate his contribution to our cup, everything after that was not okay. He became the face of the country club atmosphere and everything toxic about this organization.
I blame Holland for that, not Cleary. It's not Cleary's responsibility to turn down contracts to help the team.
Cleary had a great career and he's done a lot for this state, enjoy retirement.
Cleary is the one who used a PTO with Philly to leverage a last-minute meeting in an airplane hanger after the writing was on the wall and we were maxed out on cap and roster space, when he knew damn well Babcock would go to bat for him.
We can act like Cleary didn't pull some strings and just signed a contract that was given to him, but I don't buy that for a second.
Cleary is the one who used a PTO with Philly to leverage a last-minute meeting in an airplane hanger after the writing was on the wall and we were maxed out on cap and roster space, when he knew damn well Babcock would go to bat for him.
We can act like Cleary didn't pull some strings and just signed a contract that was given to him, but I don't buy that for a second.
I honestly have more negative feelings toward him than positive at this point. While I appreciate his contribution to our cup, everything after that was not okay. He became the face of the country club atmosphere and everything toxic about this organization.
"K, have fun in Philly."
- What Ken Holland should have said.
Facts. But I also think Cleary knew exactly what he was doing, and went about it in a calculated way.
Come on. The guy scored a career high 26 goals 3 years AFTER the cup. You realize not a single Red Wing scored 26 goals last season?
In the 2013 lockout shortened year he was 7th on the team in regular season scoring and a top penalty killer.Cleary's last functional season was 2012 and he was still on the team after for 3 years after that. That was more on Holland then him though. As time moves on we'll forget the stench of those 3 years and remember the 7 he was solid for us.