Daniel Cleary refuses to report to Grand Rapids

Detroit — Daniel Cleary will not be playing in Grand Rapids.

Cleary informed general manager Ken Holland he will not report to the minor-league affiliate Griffins after Wednesday being waived by the Red Wings (Cleary cleared waivers Thursday without being claimed by another team).

Cleary signed a one-year contract worth $950,000 just before training camp, but Holland said there are no salary cap ramifications for the Red Wings despite Cleary's decision not to report.

In 17 games last season, Cleary had one goal and one assist as several young players and prospects passed him on the depth chart.

Cleary, 36, was one of the more popular Red Wings early in his 10-year career with the Red Wings, but not so much the last few seasons.

Cleary rejected a verbal contract agreement with the Philadelphia Flyers two seasons ago to stay with the Red Wings.

The Red Wings have signed Cleary to one-year contracts for three consecutive seasons since then, although his production has fallen and the first year he returned kept Gustav Nyquist in the minor leagues because there was no room on the NHL roster.

Cleary joined the Red Wings in 2005, coming out of the lockout, making the roster after a professional tryout.

Cleary had three 20-goal seasons with the Red Wings, reaching his career–high with 26 in 2010-11.

A versatile player, Cleary entered the NHL in 1997 as a first-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Cleary has played 938 games in the NHL scoring 165 goals.