Cleary back to help young Wings take flight
Ready to start 12th year with Detroit organization after signing AHL deal
As expected, Daniel Cleary is back for another year — his 19th in pro hockey after signing an American Hockey League contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins Friday.
This will be the 12th season in the Detroit Red Wings organization for Cleary, who returns to Grand Rapids — the Red Wings’ AHL farm team — as an unofficial player-assistant coach.
The Riverhead, Harbour Grace native played all of last season in Grand Rapids, appearing in 35 games and recording three goals and 15 points for Todd Nelson’s Griffins.
“It was a great experience to go down there, work with young players,” Cleary told reporters at the Red Wings’ training camp in Traverse City, Mich., on Friday.
“At 38 (on Dec. 18), I know it’s the end of the line, but certainly I loved seeing the maturity and the growth of some young players. My goal is to be a good leader for these young guys, help them become great Red Wings.
“I love the Red and White and I’ve already seen huge strides in a lot of these young players that are going to come up here and be good Red Wings for a long time.”
Cleary was drafted by and turned pro with the Chicago Blackhawks, making the team just short of his 18th birthday in 1997.
He recalls Chris Chelios, who was coming off a James Norris Trophy season in 1995-96, taking the young Newfoundlander under his wing.
“He used to always make sure he did battles with me one-onone, these skating races, and he was always someone that I was like, ‘Geez, that’s so cool,’” Cleary said. “As you get older, you want to be like that. I want to have a young guy say, ‘That’s great that he’s working with me and helping me.’
“And even when I got to Detroit, (Kris Draper) was a good role model for me, too, in terms of being a leader and working hard every day, never taking a day off. I always appreciated that and respected it.”
Cleary has let it be known he would like to get into coaching when he finally retires as a player.
“I’m going to see where the path takes me, but certainly I have a passion for hockey,” he told reporters. “I love the Red Wings. I feel that I’ve given them everything I could and I’m going to continue doing it even though it’s not in Detroit.”
As an AHL-contracted player, Cleary is officially attending the Red Wings’ camp as an invitee.