Red Wings re-sign Dan Cleary to 1-year deal

35-year-old forward stays with Detroit for at least another year

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed veteran forward Daniel Cleary to a one-year deal, the team announced Thursday.

Cleary signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with Detroit in 2013 and became a free agent at the end of the season. Details of the new contract have not been released.

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In 52 games with the Red Wings this past season, the 35-year-old winger scored 4 goals and 4 assists. He registered a minus-11 rating. His last appearance with the team was Jan. 28 in Phoenix.

After that, Cleary was out with a knee injury.

During the lockout-shortened season of 2012-13, he appeared in all 48 games with the Red Wings, scoring 9 goals and 6 assists. He also scored 4 goals and 6 assists in the playoffs that year.

Cleary nearly left the Red Wings last summer, and even went to training camp in Philadelphia. However, he decided to stay in Detroit. General Manager Ken Holland reportedly said the offer was on the table. All Cleary had to do was make up his mind.

If he's healthy, he adds veteran depth to a Red Wings offense which has become a lot younger over the past couple of seasons -- more so over the past few weeks. Todd Bertuzzi, Mikael Samuelsson and David Legwand are not returning with the team.

Related: Retrospective: Bertuzzi, Samuelsson

Cleary is a strong penalty killer who can play tough 4th-line minutes. He's strung together a few 20-goal seasons for the Wings, too.

He's been with Detroit since 2005.