Dan Cleary does not live in a bubble.
He’s heard your complaints about his new one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. He’s aware of the trash talking that’s been aimed his way via social media outlets.
His goal is to prove all of you wrong.
“It’s always part of it,… Cleary said of the criticism. “Everybody has doubters and people like that, even as you’re proven. Listen, you try and not let that bother you and you just go out and do your thing and believe in yourself.
“If you don’t believe in yourself then who else will?…
Based on what’s being said about Cleary, not many, if any at all.
Out for all of training camp with an torn left quad muscle, Cleary played his first pre-season game of the season in Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins and truth be told, did little to gain notice other than a tripping penalty 1:51 into the contest.
He knows his odds of making Detroit’s opening-night roster are long but it’s not in Cleary nature to give up without a fight.
“I’ve certainly faced adversity for sure and came through the other end,… Cleary said. “It’s been fantastic for me.
“Detroit has been a huge part of my growing up process, being a professional, NHL player. I owe a lot to the city, the fans.
“It’s great. I love being a Red Wing.…
Detroit coach Jeff Blashill recognizes the Cleary he has at his disposal now is a far cry from the guy who was coming off a career-high 26-goal season when Blashill was hired as an assistant coach by the Wings in 2011.
“Ultimately Clears has to be what he’s been at times as a Red Wing,… Blashill said. “When I first got the job here as an assistant I watched a lot of game film from the previous season and he was arguably one of the best forwards on the team. Obviously that’s a number of years ago, but he’s been that at different times.…
To remain a Red Wing – and that’s a longshot at best – Cleary must be a different type of player.
“He’s going to have to be a guy who’s on the forecheck creating some turnovers,… Blashill said. “He’s going to have to be a guy with net-front presence. He’s going to have to be a guy who’s real accountable defensively and if he gets a chance to kill do a real good job killing penalties.…
Blashill makes no promises to Cleary other than that he will be given an opportunity to show what he can still do.
“Ultimately we’ll make a decision on the roster come next week and the best players will make the team,… Blashill said.
Cleary isn’t asking for anything more.
“I feel that I’ve given my entire body to this game, so I’m proud of that,… Cleary said. “I definitely don’t look back and regret it.
“You want to play as long as you can. This is the best game. The game has given me everything I have.…
Whether Cleary has anything left in him to give to the game, well that question will be soon answered – if it hasn’t already.
Kindl States Case In a battle for a spot on the Detroit defense, Jakub Kindl scored a goal, dished out three hits, blocked a shot, was plus-one and left a positive impression on his coach.
“I thought he played well,… Blashill said. “I thought he did a real good job.
“Obviously the one shot was real good there from the point. To beat a guy clean from the blue line is not easy to do, but I thought his overall game was real good.
Franzen Feisty In his second game back following an eight-month absence caused by a concussion, Detroit forward Johan Franzen opted to tough it out.
He played a physical game all night long, even coming close to fisticuffs with Boston’s Tommy Cross during the second period, though Franzen scoffed at the notion he was thinking about dropping the mitts.
“No, I didn't almost have a fight,… Franzen said. “I made sure I wasn't going to fight, so I grabbed around his neck. “So it was hugging.… The referees assessed both players roughing minors and roughing was foremost on Franzen’s mind as he continued to test out his response to returning to game action, delivering four hits on the night.
“That was on purpose,… Franzen said. “The first game was kind of just feeling it a little bit. I took the next step today, tried to be a little more physical and get in there, get a little dirtier and see how that felt.…
And how did it feel?
“Good,… Franzen said. “It was fun.…
Injury Updates Defenseman Xavier Ouellet (upper-body) could be back in action early next week.
“He practiced the last two days full,… Blashill said. “He says he feels good. We’ll make a decision on Monday.
Defenseman Mike Green and forward Teemu Pulkkinen, both listed as day to day and nursing minor undisclosed injuries, are less certain at this point.
“Green I’m not sure on,… Blashill said. “I think we’ll wait and see how he feels Monday. Pulky, I would not expect him to skate on Monday.…
Roster Moves The Wings trimmed their roster 46 on Saturday, assigning forwards Martin Frk and Marek Tvrdon, defenseman Richard Nedomlel and goaltender Jake Paterson to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. Forwards Kurt Etchegary, Jeff Hoggan and Joel Rechlicz and defensemen Jared Nightingale, Nathan Paetsch and Andrew Prochno were released from their tryout agreements.
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