Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Stars have been among the more active teams in the league this summer, adding some young talent through trade and the draft, while also adding some veteran role players, all of which should help them in their quest to get back into the postseason in the 2013-14 season.
According to recent reports, the Stars could look into bringing at least in more veteran into the picture, this one of the free agent variety. With Dan Cleary still without a home, the Stars look like an ideal landing spot for him, for a couple of different reasons. From a personnel standpoint for the Stars, though, it might make less sense.
Cleary appeared in all 48 games for the Detroit Red Wings last season, adding 15 points to the mix, including six goals. Given the depth and current salary cap situation in regard to the Red Wings, his return is extremely unlikely at this point. While the Stars may have a similar problem, they’re believed to be in the mix.
The primary reason for that is the Jim Nill connection, as well as Shawn Horcoff. Remember, the new Stars general manager Nill came from Detroit, so there’s an obvious connection between the two. That’s in addition to the fact that Cleary and Horcoff, who was acquired by Nill earlier this summer, are good friends.
Whether or not the Stars have the cap space to sign Cleary remains to be seen, but it’d be a tight fit. Then there’s the matter of whether or not there’s room for him on the wing. That’s also a question without a sure answer, at least until we see how training camp shakes out.
Cleary is believed to want to make a decision soon, with training camps set to open in the next several days. The Stars are in the mix, but they may not be the best fit for him at present time, given their tight financial situation, and their depth on the wing. But for Cleary, it might represent an ideal landing spot.
