Three words: Rob. Zamuner. Nagano.

The last thing we need is Dan Cleary on this team.

Posted by TJ from Princeton on 08/26/09 at 09:43 AM ET

I may be biased because I am a Wings fan, but I watch a lot of Dan Cleary.  I think this article really nailed what he does for the Wings, which is play smart hockey.

Cleary is no Zamuner.  He has good hockey sense, good hands, and a willingness to do what it takes to win (which for him means not trying to be a super-star).  Looking over the red and white team rosters, I think that is a unique talent and one that Team Canada will seriously consider adding to the mix.

Posted by John from Pittsburgh, PA (Wings fan for life!) on 08/26/09 at 10:14 AM ET

Check the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He would have received a few Conn Smythe votes if the Wings had won. This guy can do it all. I’m not saying he will make it for sure, but he is definitely not out of place and the Zamuner comparison is not a fair one. He will likely be the 13th forward if he makes it but he can play on all four lines, power play and penalty kill, and plays 100% at all times. Is there a more versatile player in the NHL today?

Posted by detroitdan1982 from St. John's, NL on 08/26/09 at 10:16 AM ET

He would have no shot if the team wasn’t being run by Yzerman, and Holland.  While he is a versitile player for sure, and a key guy on the wings...there is no way he should be considered one of the top 13 forwards for Team Canada.  This is a two week period where stars play like grinders just for a shot to be on the team....

Why not put any of Doan, Mike Richards, Brendan Morrow, Brad Richards, Jonathan Toews for the 4th line?  All can do many things for a team, and arguably at a higher level than Cleary…

Posted by Greg on 08/26/09 at 10:33 AM ET

I disagree, Greg.  I like the approach of building a team with specific components to accomplish a particular task rather than just loading the team up with snipers and danglers.  Cleary is a role player that does his job well and that is why he is being considered for team Canada.

I would like to see more of this for international competitions, especially with the US team.  It seems in the past all we did in previous Olympic years is just pick the best players instead of actually building a team for a specific purpose.

Posted by drimo on 08/26/09 at 11:08 AM ET

Why not put any of Doan, Mike Richards, Brendan Morrow, Brad Richards, Jonathan Toews for the 4th line?  All can do many things for a team, and arguably at a higher level than Cleary…
-Greg

Outside of Mike Richards, how many of those guys have ever played a shutdown roll in the playoffs?  That should tell you about what Cleary can do for the team.  Just because Canada could fill its roster with 30+ goal scoring super-stars doesn’t mean they’d be better for it.  Good NHL teams need guys like Milan Lucic Dan Cleary to win, International play shouldn’t be any different.

Posted by ChrisinA^2 from the University of Michigan on 08/26/09 at 12:57 PM ET

I"m not saying he wouldnt’ have a purpose on Team Canada, in fact i think he’d be very well suited to any role he got...my only argument and maybe it’s got to do with trying to be too cute with making a team, like Clarke did when choosing Zamuner, why not just take the best 13 players and let them go.  i realize that might not work over 82 games when egos start coming into play, but i’m assuming that even Heatley would accept a limited role to play for his country.

It’s a good thing that it is Holland/Yzerman making the final decision because they’ll give Cleary the shot they know he deserves, and put him in spots to succeed, whereas other GMs may look past him.  I’d love to see Lucic on the team by the way, in his hometown he’d put as many guys through the ice or boards he could....

Posted by Greg on 08/26/09 at 03:47 PM ET

I’m a Pens fan, and I still think he should and will make it.

From what I’ve read, Team Canada is going to go with 3 scoring lines and 1 checking line. With that in mind, I have a feeling that he will make it, and I think there’s a good chance a guy like Jordan Staal could make it as well. Meanwhile, players who are undoubtedly better than those two won’t make it, but the 2 of them can play their role, and thats why Yzerman and Babcock will want them.

Just imagine a Lucic, Cleary, Staal, Pronger, and Neidermayer shut down line.

Posted by Kstewy16 on 08/26/09 at 06:00 PM ET

anything more than a 4th line role, limited minutes type thing for Cleary is insane. also, anything David Staples does is kind of bogus. he rates every Oilers game where players get a numeric rating, 1-10, and usually theyre deeply skewed and overrated. this whole “look what Cleary” does for the team is situational at best and dependent on him playing on a topline with Datsyuk and others. is he useful in the NHL? sure (As long as you have studs to make the game easier for you). does he deserve a primary role on team Canada? hell no.

“shut down” line? please, Ovechkin would blow by Staal’s stump legs, Cleary and Lucic.

Posted by Death Metal Nightmare from MKE on 08/26/09 at 11:14 PM ET

Ovechkin would blow by Staal’s stump legs, Cleary and Lucic.

Clearly you’ve never seen Cleary skate.

Posted by mrfluffy from Cincy on 08/27/09 at 08:34 AM ET