Detroit Red Wings forward Daniel Cleary nearly left the Detroit Red Wings for the city of brotherly love last fall. That deal ultimately fell apart when the Red Wings made Cleary a last minute pitch, and promised to make him whole this summer.
Cleary went on to suffer through an ailing knee throughout last season, and his injury rendered the Stanley Cup winning grinder enormously ineffective. Going into this season, Cleary's health is a major question.
"If he’s on one leg like he was last year, he can’t play on our team," declared Red Wings coach Mike Babcock this summer. "If he’s on two legs, he can help us win."
So far, Cleary is optimistic about the strength of his knee. Though, of course, it's early yet.
"I feel good. It was a good two days," Cleary said this weekend of the opening of training camp. per mlive.com. "I put in the work to get it where it needs to be so that's a good sign. It's put me in a lot better position to move on the ice more freely and more pain free. To be honest with you, it's a good feeling.
"Mentally, it's a huge thing. That obstacle of getting through your mind that you can move out there freely, be able to skate normal, be quick, that's was a good thing for me. Now we just gotta be confident in our ability and go do it."
Cleary may be feeling confident, but his coach doesn't sound entirely convinced yet.
"He's trained really hard," said Babcock. "He's done everything he possibly can. Is his leg up to speed? I thought he looked good this morning. Is his agility there? The same as everyone else: We're going to watch him."
Regardless of Cleary's relative health, the 35-year-old grinder could be in tough to play meaningful minutes for a club that is absolutely loaded with talented young forward depth.
