Cleary out for up to four weeks...great

by Casey Richey on Dec 10, 2009 12:43 PM CST in News Comment 6 comments

Detroit Red Wings' Dan Cleary celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period of a first-round NHL hockey playoff game Thursday, April 23, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

11 months ago: Detroit Red Wings' Dan Cleary celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period of a first-round NHL hockey playoff game Thursday, April 23, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

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As if those players already sitting in the stands weren't enough, add forward Dan Cleary to that group. Cleary will join Johan Franzen, Niklas Kronwall, Jason Williams, Valtteri Filppula, and Andreas Lilja on the injured list. Cleary separated his shoulder in last night's 1-0 loss to the Blues and is expected to miss a month at the most of the season.

Here's pretty much what this will mean for the Red Wings until either Cleary or Filppula returns:

1. No call ups will be made (according to Babcock) so everyone available will play
1a. An injury to a forward within that time span will likely result in a call up but don't expect one for insurance
1b. If there is another injury not only will I assuredly curse, we could POSSIBLY see Tomas Tatar called up. Unlikely but he has shown in a short amount of time that he is an explosive scorer. Don't bank on it but don't be surprised either.

2. Dan Cleary is invaluable to this team. Sure he doesn't put up the offensive numbers to warrant the same respect of a Marian Gaborik or Evgeni Malkin but he's a huge part of this offense by positioning himself very well, passing at the right times, and having a pretty good shot. Along with the offense, he is a crucial defender and is probably the third best defending forward that the Wings have.

3. Cleary's 7 goals and 16 points will surely be missed but it may mean that Ville Leino will have to produce in the absence and can improve his game while playing on the second line in Cleary's spot.

Hopefully Cleary will be back sooner rather than later but that void is going to be hard to fill with the lack of production from a lot of guys that were expected to be big time secondary players on this team.

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Comments

greattt

man we just need to stay close and keep it together till people start coming back

we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE

thanks for a great season Rockies!

LETS GO WINGS!

by TuLoRocks2008 on Dec 10, 2009 1:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

We can't catch a break

But just keep up, if we can get in then it’s a whole nother ball game.

Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain. Lily Tomlin

by Leapin Lion on Dec 10, 2009 1:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

this is too painful to watch

this season has been just painful to watch. we’re losing players like flies. this is just
getting too serious. wings isn’t the only team with injuries….the pistons are dropping players on and off as well…what’s going on?!

by forever_rednwhite on Dec 10, 2009 2:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Pistons need to put in Deron Washington!

I actually have no idea if he’s even on the active roster but he was electrifying in college.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Dec 10, 2009 2:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Need4SWEEDEEE

washington hasnt put up enough spunk for the bench and so the three rookies from the draft are on the active roster, but let me tell you, Jonas Jerebko has been playing like he’s been in the NBA for 4 or 5 years. I think it’s because of the Swedish phad we got in Detroit. Sooner or later, the Pistons will also be Swedish loaded

by forever_rednwhite on Dec 10, 2009 5:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs