Q: what have you been doing the past couple of weeks:
kenny: fill out the coaching staff, close to a hiring couple of people, once the players (only dekeyser) are signed, and coaches are hired, we'll see what the next 6-7 weeks will bring.
Q: how busy have you been on trade front, trying to find RH dman?
kenny: it's pretty slow since middle of july, rosters are mostly set. we targeted 4-5 players on july 1st. likes the G. needs weiss, helm and co healthy, young players need to develop. feels good about what they have up front. we have 7 NHL dman (lol @ kindl and lashoff being NHL dman and if lashoff is one, we have 10 at least), unfortunately all shoot left. would like to add RH D. hot commodity, other teams try that too.
said they are anxious to see what sproul can do in pre-season. mentions marchenko, ouellet too.
Q: can you pin-point why didn't you land anyone july 1st? (props for dery on thinking quincey is nobody)
kenny: 'our needs were specific, RH dman who can generate points, attack and play on the pp'. not a lot of guys like that out there, so many teams going after those few guys. other than 35-goal scorer upfront, we're fine at F. last year we landed our guys (doesn't mention weiss, lol), this year we didn't. that's the new world.
mentions the importance of drafting and developing. says they will give young players opportunity (yeah, right). after they missed out on their people, no need to sign someone who they already have in system and is cheaper and younger.
Q: did any of the big UFA not come here cus the coach has only 1 yr left on his deal?
kenny: .... no (chuckles). other teams have that situation too. 30 teams in the league. everybody was in the game this year (not true btw). says that if some say that players don't want to sign 6-7 year deal bc the coach has 1 yr left, they are just making stuff up. lots of reasons why players don't sign in some place, might be money, term, GF/wife, geography.
Q: what about dan cleary, was there made a promise back last year to bring him back this year, too?
kenny: ..... cleary had number of 3 yr contract offers, chose not to sign them. kenny says he talked to the leadership group of the team, the coach all wanted him back. (kenny also mentions how well he played in playoffs what i don't get at all) one of the few vocal people in locker room, doesn't have a letter, but in the eyes of his teammates he is not far off having one.
unfortunately cleary had tough year, mostly due to injury (i wonder how no one saw that coming!!!).
says he had conversations last year with cleary beyond 13-14 season. kenny says his management philosophy is 'my word is my bond'. says he would try to fill what they discussed, when you're good people, work hard and want to be in detroit..
OMG what a load of crap.
Q: how much will the new arena help?
kenny: will help the city a lot, doesn't think it will help attract FA's, rink, coach and manager hasn't lost them FAs. it's a level playing field, everybody is in the game.
were decimated by injuries last year, cautiously optimistic that player health will make them good enough to compete with the best teams in the east.