Cleary out 2 months with fractured jaw
After enjoying a 65 degree day in South Carolina, I return to Detroit and its lovely -9 degrees. I make it to the Joe for work to learn that not only did we lose to the Maple Leafs in overtime yesterday, but we lost gritty forward Dan Cleary to injury. A puck shot by teammate Mikael Samuelsson fractured Cleary’s jaw in a couple places.
Doctors told him he could have the jaw wired shut for two months and allow the bones to naturally heal, or choose surgery. Cleary has already had his operation, which resulted in 12-15 screws and three metal plates. His jaw will be wired shut for the next two weeks. As such, he should be out for about two months. Yikes.
Cleary had scored 20 goals this season and had won the Hardest Working Player award (decided on by the coaches and the front office) so his presence will definitely be missed out on the ice. IwoCPO @ Abel to Yzerman reminds us exactly what we will be missing out on:
Let’s go ahead and take a quick look at what the Wings will be trying to replace. Dan Cleary, who hadn’t missed a game this season, leaves a hole in the lineup to this kind of tune:
5th in points with 40.
2nd in goals with 20.
7th in assists with 20.
+23, fifth best on the team.
5 PP goals and 3 game winners.
161 shots. With the Wing mantra of “just shoot it bitch.” That’s three Cleary lasers per game gone.Oh, and that’s 17 minutes, 24 shifts per game: gone. Dangerous shifts. Gritty shifts. Shifts that can’t be replaced by an oompa loompa who can’t score anymore, or a brawler who never could score. 24 shifts that can’t be replaced by a legend in Grand Rapids or a guy we used to hate but now wears #17.
On top of all that, the Wings lost to the Anaheim Ducks yesterday (yes, their third straight loss), 3-2.
Add all this up and Detroit fans are starting to stress a bit.
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3 Responses to “Cleary out 2 months with fractured jaw”
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February 11th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Man, even though the wings lost to the Leafs, it has to bring back the good memories of all those battles in the old norris.. it was great.
—fordfieldrow2.blogspot.com
February 18th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Yeah, a win obviously would’ve been better but it’s always great to revist a traditional rivalry.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:40 pm
[…] puck shot by teammate Mikael Samuelsson hit him during the game against Toronto on February 9th. He opted for surgery and a shorter recovery time. The surgery required three metal plates and 12-15 screws. Cleary will […]