[Signing] Detroit signs Dan Cleary 1 yr deal $950k

[The Original FFIV]

@ChrisKuc: Meanwhile, the Red Wings have signed forward Dan Cleary to a one-year contract.

Don't know why, up against cap and too many f as is. Hope he likes popcorn or Grand Rapids

[Locke]

Seriously?

[pseudoreality]

I had no idea this guy was still playing.

[undercoverbrother]

hmmm

For no other reason than his name is in this song

[Coach]

I thought this was an old thread for a second.

[The Original FFIV]

I believe there was some understanding that Detroit would look after Cleary after he bailed on signing a 3 year deal with the Flyers a few years back. Detroit was cap strained at the time (still are) so the player and team are showing mutual loyalty.

[Locke]

Do they know that hes not allowed to bring a chair onto the ice with him for support?

[T@T]

Cleary must have a pic of _____ with a hooker or maybe even a sheep.

[Caged Great]

What year is it?

[Komskies]

Detroit fans just can't seem to shake this guy. It's almost like a running joke now that Dan Cleary will sign perpetual 1 year deals.

[MrMastodonFarm]

While Curtis Glencross gently weeps.

[mikephoen]

I thought for sure this was an old thread that was bumped. I swear I remember Cleary retiring 2 or 3 years ago.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

I believe there was some understanding that Detroit would look after Cleary after he bailed on signing a 3 year deal with the Flyers a few years back. Detroit was cap strained at the time (still are) so the player and team are showing mutual loyalty.

This is the case. Cleary all-but-signed a 8.25M, 3 year contract with the Flyers during the 2013 off-season. It wasn't just a rumour, it was pretty much set except that the Flyers needed to clear cap-space by putting Pronger on LTIR when the season started. Prior to that he was on a PTO and expected to be at the Flyers camp.

But before it became official, Detroit offered him a one-year contract and even back then it was speculated that there was an 'understanding' that the Red Wings would do their part to make up much of the difference between the contracts. However, by signing him to a one-year, 1.75M deal in 2013 he became eligible for the 35+ bonus performance contract in 2014. So in 2014 he received a 1.5M salary contract with another 1.0M in performance bonus (utilizing the bonus cushion). The bonus was acheived when Cleary played 10 games. Much like Iginla's Bruins contract it was a way of getting around the cap.

Early this off-season, with Cleary "known" to be done in the NHL, it was rumoured that he was offered a position as a scout making an inflated salary which I'm not sure I believe. Would have been super frowned upon by the league. Imagine the Flames promising Giordano 6.75M to be Harvey in 2012-2022 instead of playing hockey...

Really a sketchy situation with the Wings. Didn't work out for them at all, but the promise of future 'guaranteed' earnings goes against the spirit of the CBA. In any case, he's made 5.2M from Detroit now since he bailed out of the 8.25M contract. For their sake, I hope that's what Cleary agreed with. Would be funny to see him signed again next year though.

[codynw]

This is beyond sad at this point.