After nearly moving his family to Philadelphia, veteran forward Dan Cleary will re-sign with the Detroit Red Wings after all.
The unrestricted free agent — whose name was listed on the Flyers’ camp roster — is flying back to Michigan and will ink a deal with the Red Wings Thursday evening as he and the club have agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth $1.75 million, according to the Detroit Free Press:
The 34-year-old was weighing his options early this week in advance of NHL training camps opening. Although Cleary spent the last eight seasons as a solid defensive forward for the Detroit Red Wings, the Carbonear, N.L., native received offers from two other clubs.
“It’s not an easy decision to make,” Cleary told the Free Press Monday. “But I’ve got to come up with something.
“I’ve got options with guaranteed contracts from other teams, so that’s what I’m trying to make a decision on.”
Multiple reports — including ones from Rick Tocchet and the Free Press‘s Helene St. James — had Cleary agreeing to join the Flyers earlier this week on a handshake deal for three years and $8.75 million. The paperwork was meant to be signed by month’s end.
According to St. James, “After a miserable Tuesday, a day when it sank in that he’d be moving to Philadelphia for three years while his wife and two daughters would stay in Detroit, Cleary reached out to (Detroit GM Ken) Holland and (coach Mike) Babcock, arranging a meeting.”
The Red Wings invested heavily in free-agent forwards Stephen Weiss and Daniel Alfredsson this summer. According to capgeek.com, the team is currently over the new $64.3 million cap for 2013-14, meaning Cleary’s return will cost at least one player a roster spot.
“It’s not a rumour; it’s a reality,” Red Wings forward Tomas Tatar told the Associated Press. Tatar could be one of several players facing their release as Detroit tries to get under the salary cap.
Cleary’s previous contract, which expired in July, carried a $2.8-million cap hit.
The 13th-overall pick in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, Cleary became the first Newfoundlander to win the Stanley Cup as a member of the Red Wings’ 2008 championship club.
