TRAVERSE CITY – Daniel Cleary once was a highly touted first-round draft pick. He also was a reclamation project whose NHL career was on the rocks at age 26.
He's played on the top line; he's played on the fourth line.
Cleary has experienced so much during his 19-year pro career. Now he's looking forward to imparting his hockey wisdom to Detroit Red Wings prospects.
Cleary signed a one-year AHL contract Friday with the Grand Rapids Griffins and will continue the role of part-time player and full-time mentor that he began last season.
"It was a great experience for me last year to go down there, work with young players," Cleary said Friday, following the first day of Red Wings training camp at Centre I.