I understand that you don't like it. But expecting 20 goals is unrealistic. And the amount he signed for, does not signify a 20 goal expectation.

How do you know what Gagne wanted or was asking for in a contract?
- MJL

It was publically reported that Gagne was willing to take a paycut and for how long at the beginning of the summer.

I hope the Cleary they signed is still the Cleary that helps you win Cups. I just don't think that they needed to meet that price point or those years with other options available including in-house.
- mayorofangrytown

I think its the Grit, 2 way play and leadership that Cleary brings, homer and company stated that our forwards defensive responsibilities were lacking last year.

It was publically reported that Gagne was willing to take a paycut and for how long at the beginning of the summer.
- dingo8urbaby

FWIW, Daniel Cleary's taking a pay cut.

Nobody ever revealed how big a pay cut Gagne was willing to take. He made $3.5mm last year. I have serious doubts he'd have taken less than $2mm

Simply that they won't make official signing announcement until other moves at end of month. Contract is a done deal.
- bmeltzer

What if he gets injured in practice?

He was second on the Red Wings in playoff scoring in 2013. Granted that was a long 4 months ago...
- Jsaquella

I'm thinking more the next two years. I'm okay with the signing. Between the drop of the puck and the final buzzer he'll be my rooting interest. I just don't see the need unless we have something cooking for Talbot.

We have different perspectives on how this season is going to play out so it would be reasonable to assume we would differ on the signing of a veteran winger at this point. You rightly see him as a cog in a playoff team while I see him as an unnecessary signing on a team that's growing toward the playoffs.

I think its the Grit, 2 way play and leadership that Cleary brings, homer and company stated that our forwards defensive responsibilities were lacking last year.
- Buzzo

Gagne is very sound in his own end. He's a responsible player. Gagne misses a lot of games, the last thing this team needs is another injury prone player. Once people see what Cleary brings to the table most will forget about the cap hit and years. The guy is a very solid player. He played 16-18 minutes a night for the best franchise in the League.

What if he gets injured in practice?
- Feanor

He's at the mercy of the team.

I think the Flyers are better with this signing.

Gagne is very sound in his own end. He's a responsible player. Gagne misses a lot of games, the last thing this team needs is another injury prone player. Once people see what Cleary brings to the table most will forget about the cap hit and years. The guy is a very solid player. He played 16-18 minutes a night for the best franchise in the League.
- PLindbergh31

He has bad knees and is almost 35 years old. The only thing I like about this signing is that he can retire and it won't count against the Flyers Cap.

http://www.sportingnews.c...free-agency-stephen-weiss

Would you sign a 34-year-old depth forward with a history of knee injuries to a three-year deal worth almost $8 million?

That's the choice facing the Detroit Red Wings with Dan Cleary, according to the Macomb Daily.

The Daily originally reported that such a deal was almost done. Now, they say, it's not—because of the salary cap. Staying away entirely would be the right decision for the Wings, but the Daily reports they'd like to have Cleary back if they could shed salary.

The proposed contract would put Detroit against both the cap and the 50-contract limit. They signed winger Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss to better contracts on Friday.

Cleary, to be fair, is amazingly tough and a three-time 20-goal scorer. He also also played all 48 games in 2013. But his knees? Oh boy, his knees. Here's what he said before surgery in April 2012. Read this and ask yourself if you'd lock yourself into paying him $2.6 million for the next three seasons:

“There are some tears in there, loose cartilage, some bone on bone, a lot of fluid— the build-up of fluid was a major issue, so hoping that we can get it resolved.

“I going to get the surgery done and hopefully just rehab it. Just have to go in and have surgery on it then just get on a maintenance program and it will be fine.”

A small bright spot for Detroit, if they'd do the deal: Cleary's not 35 yet, so if he retires, the cap hit would disappear.

Best post of the thread: TL;DR category.
- Flyskippy

I took off points for the Matt Read as UFA will be gone next year part... keep Read plz!

the rest is solid

FWIW, Daniel Cleary's taking a pay cut.

Nobody ever revealed how big a pay cut Gagne was willing to take. He made $3.5mm last year. I have serious doubts he'd have taken less than $2mm
- Jsaquella

lots of HB pundits had Gags signed for 1.5 M 1yr

so it must be true I read it on the internet

I took off points for the Matt Read as UFA will be gone next year part... keep Read plz!

the rest is solid
- Marc D

I don't have enough red pens to score everyone's posts. So I just read Skippy's...

It was publically reported that Gagne was willing to take a paycut and for how long at the beginning of the summer.
- dingo8urbaby

Gagne's cap hit last Season was 3.5M. So again, how do you know he would have signed for less then the 2.75M that Cleary signed for?

I don't have enough red pens to score everyone's posts. So I just read Skippy's...
- FlyersGrace

If it's more than 4 paragraphs then it's not HB appropriate.

He has bad knees and is almost 35 years old. The only thing I like about this signing is that he can retire and it won't count against the Flyers Cap.

http://www.sportingnews.c...free-agency-stephen-weiss
- Feanor

He played every game last year. He hasn't missed many games in his career due to injury. That being said, once he puts the Flyers sweater on he will probably stumble upon a hornets nest and be stung to death.

I don't have enough red pens to score everyone's posts. So I just read Skippy's...
- FlyersGrace

this will work well 99% of the time so its a good strategy

I'm thinking more the next two years. I'm okay with the signing. Between the drop of the puck and the final buzzer he'll be my rooting interest. I just don't see the need unless we have something cooking for Talbot.

We have different perspectives on how this season is going to play out so it would be reasonable to assume we would differ on the signing of a veteran winger at this point. You rightly see him as a cog in a playoff team while I see him as an unnecessary signing on a team that's growing toward the playoffs.
- mayorofangrytown

I personally feel that the Flyers would have been better off using that roster spot to develop and find out what they have in a younger player. Which is why I was against signing Gagne. Nothing to do with how good of a player that Gagne is. And if you feel you need to add a veteran for a playoff run, you can make a deal at the trade deadline.

Gagne is very sound in his own end. He's a responsible player. Gagne misses a lot of games, the last thing this team needs is another injury prone player. Once people see what Cleary brings to the table most will forget about the cap hit and years. The guy is a very solid player. He played 16-18 minutes a night for the best franchise in the League.
- PLindbergh31

I'll ask why the best franchise in the League wasn't willing to sign him to a 3 year deal with a 2.75M AAV?

If it's more than 4 paragraphs then it's not HB appropriate.
- mayorofangrytown

I agree, although imagine what you could be doing with those longer posts...
Printing them out to burn for winter to keep warm?
Using them to wallpaper your bathroom?
Using them as underwear?

this will work well 99% of the time so its a good strategy
- Marc D

Yeah gotta watch out for his posts where he screams
SQUIRREL!
and runs into a brick wall.

I'll ask why the best franchise in the League wasn't willing to sign him to a 3 year deal with a 2.75M AAV?
- MJL

Because Holland is Holmgren's biatch. See the Leino/OKT trade.

Gagne is very sound in his own end. He's a responsible player. Gagne misses a lot of games, the last thing this team needs is another injury prone player. Once people see what Cleary brings to the table most will forget about the cap hit and years. The guy is a very solid player. He played 16-18 minutes a night for the best franchise in the League.
- PLindbergh31

I'll be honest...
before seeing Gagne with the Flyers last year I thought he was really done.

After last season he was at times their best two way forward on the ice.
He is always in the right position and I was shocked how good he looked. Still has the wheels, maybe not the same shot but overall he was a very pleasant part of the awful year.

I hoped they would re sign him this season as he added a lot of smarts and good 2 way play to a team that is sorely lacking in those two areas.

I also expected him to have a season ending injury at some point this year given how things generally go with the Flyers.

So I don't know, still wish they went with Gagne, but Cleary is a beast. Best years like Vinnie and Streit are likely past, but still a quality player and will make them better and harder to play against.

I personally feel that the Flyers would have been better off using that roster spot to develop and find out what they have in a younger player. Which is why I was against signing Gagne. Nothing to do with how good of a player that Gagne is. And if you feel you need to add a veteran for a playoff run, you can make a deal at the trade deadline.
- MJL

Yep, the page we're on is the same.

I'll be honest...
before seeing Gagne with the Flyers last year I thought he was really done.

After last season he was at times their best two way forward on the ice.
He is always in the right position and I was shocked how good he looked. Still has the wheels, maybe not the same shot but overall he was a very pleasant part of the awful year.

I hoped they would re sign him this season as he added a lot of smarts and good 2 way play to a team that is sorely lacking in those two areas.

I also expected him to have a season ending injury at some point this year given how things generally go with the Flyers.

So I don't know, still wish they went with Gagne, but Cleary is a beast. Best years like Vinnie and Streit are likely past, but still a quality player and will make them better and harder to play against.
- Marc D

I wouldn't have had a problem with bringing Gagne back. He played well for the Flyers last year. He's injury prone, perhaps that was one of the reasons he wasn't brought back. Or maybe Hextall had some input on Gagne. Who knows. I do know that Cleary is a very good player and he will help the Flyers. That's all that matters.

He played every game last year. He hasn't missed many games in his career due to injury. That being said, once he puts the Flyers sweater on he will probably stumble upon a hornets nest and be stung to death.
- PLindbergh31

And I'll totally blame Jim McCrossin when it happens.