Detroit to Re-Sign Downey and McCarty, Dallas Drake close to retirement

[UKRedWing]

Drake, as expected, has told the Detroit Red Wings he is leaning toward retirement, general manager Ken Holland said.
...Holland told the agents for Aaron Downey and Darren McCarty that he is interested in bringing them back but isn't going to make offers until after July 1. Ideally, he would like to sign them to two-way contracts.

Link

I think Dallas Drake has enough in the tank for at least 1 more season...but if he wants to end a high fair play. Great news about Downey too.

[Grittzkey]

Super happy about this.

hopefully we can get Big RIg and QUincey in the mix and we can manage to not be botton feeders of the ft

[nyislesfan45]

He wants them on two way contracts? That kinda sucks.

[Humpzilla]

Originally Posted by nyislesfan45

He wants them on two way contracts? That kinda sucks.

But would you expect anything different from the Wings? Talk about showing appreciation to Downey and McCarty. I mean, I could understand McCarty being given a 2-way considering his age and overall breakdown of his diminished hockey skills. With that said, Downey DOES NOT deserve that kind of treatment after all he brought to Detroit this year. Say what you want about his absence in the playoffs, but Downey gave a lot of himself to the Wings during the regular season, and that was one of the reasons they were able push themselves past their usual disappointing exit in the first round. For ultimately the Wings were also not beat up, injured, or intimidated like they seem to always be by the end of the year. Of course, McCarty's role on the club played a major part in that. But again, no respect shown by the Douche Wings.

[UKRedWing]

If Im not mistaken, I believe Downey was originally signed on a 2-way deal by Detroit...same with McCarty.

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by UKRedWing

If Im not mistaken, I believe Downey was originally signed on a 2-way deal by Detroit...same with McCarty.

downey yes, mccarty no because of bonuses that were worked into the contract for him. cant get any bonuses if on a two-way deal for someone at his age.

[Isles4life]

Well, it is nice to know that Detroit at least wants to keep these guys in the organization, but the odds of them ever playing together are not good, and 2-way contracts would make that even less likely.

[drwdan19]

I don't care what the terms of the contracts are. I'm REALLY glad we're keeping BOTH of these guys.

[Snipes19]

Originally Posted by drwdan19

I don't care what the terms of the contracts are. I'm REALLY glad we're keeping BOTH of these guys.

Uh... why don't you wait until it's official before you get all excited? How do you know the Wings are for sure "keeping both"? You don't. All this article says is that the Wings are interested in re-signing them but will wait until AFTER July 1st, which is kind of risky because another team could always give them a better offer or something.

So we still have to wait and see if the Wings keep both. Nothing is finalized here, bud. And like Hump said, who knows what this piece of **** Wings team will do. They want two-way contracts for both of these guys? That's stupid. With the Wings, you can never get too excited about them signing an enforcer. We already learned that with the Brad Norton era, no? And a two-way contract isn't what I like to hear for Downey. He needs to stay in the NHL with a one-way deal.

And as for Drake - he's done. He has nothing left in the tank and needs to retire. He got his Cup, so just retire now. He's not the player he used to be, and he's just old and slow out there on the ice.

[drwdan19]

Well seeing as how this season we waived Downey multiple times without anyone picking him up, it's nice to know that regardless of what we may decide to do with him he'll remain in the system.

As for this not being official, I didn't notice it was an old article. My bad Wes.

[PuckHogs29]

One way deal, two way deal, with fringe players like McCarty and Downey it hardly matters. If they sign them to one way deals and then change their minds and feel it's too horrific to have them in the lineup, they'll be sent down anyway. The only difference between a one way and a two way deal is that the two-way deal stipulates a lower amount of pay if that player is sent to the AHL. Of course there's also the whole waiver issue, but that's another story.

Long story short, 1 way contracts would not guarentee McCarty or Downey staying in the NHL anyway.

[UKRedWing]

Originally Posted by drwdan19

As for this not being official, I didn't notice it was an old article. My bad Wes.

Its a day old...

[kwnger1371]

Originally Posted by drwdan19

Well seeing as how this season we waived Downey multiple times without anyone picking him up, it's nice to know that regardless of what we may decide to do with him he'll remain in the system.

As for this not being official, I didn't notice it was an old article. My bad Wes.

Don't worry about it dude Wes just likes to enforce the threads. Be happy because one of them will most likely be signed if not both.

[BGDDYKWL]

Drake was on local (Az) radio the day after winning the Cup and it definitely sounded like he was strongly leaning towards retirement. I'm sure it's very difficult to call it quits, but this sure is a heck of a way to go.

[JKidd]

Originally Posted by nyislesfan45

He wants them on two way contracts? That kinda sucks.

Thats the only thing I took out of that as well.

I guess they want to let them rot in Grand Rapids and insert a few more Euros into the the lineup.