Why you sign a guy like McCarty.

Darren McCarty- A name that likely flies under the radar for many fans around the league. Except for that infamous Wings-Avs brawl of 1997, I'm betting many young NHL fans today probably don’t have much interest in who this legend is, or why Wings fans act like giddy school girls when they hear the 17 year NHL veteran has been re-signed by Wily Ken-o-tye Holland on a one year, two-way contract.


A two-way contract for a 37 year old guy, Juice?? Who fricking cares??? I know some of you are sayin’ it- but wait for it, wait for it…


If you google Darren McCarty you get a mixed bag of info. He’s had one helluva career with the Wings, 4 Stanley Cups, part of the legendary Wing’s Grind Line, HHOF’er stats (maybe), builds cancer foundations, fronts a rock band. A solid, stand up enforcer with a seriously wicked shot and a great sense of the game. He’s been responsible for some of the most crucial and sickest goals in Red Wing history: 1997 Stanley Cup clinching goal in the second against the Flyers, which was also one of the prettiest I have ever seen. A hat trick against Patty Wah in Game 6 of the 2002 Westy Confy Finals; that Disney storybook ending overtime game winner in the infamous 1997 game on March 26th.


You might also learn he’s struggled with some serious vices and problems that would have left many of us face down in a gutter somewhere. But as I’ve written before, D-Mac isn’t the sort of guy who would ultimately let anything get the best of him. And as it is now announced he is coming back into the Red Wing fold for the 08-09 season it looks like he is continuing to prove me right.


While his personal story is a compelling one, I’ve written about it before, and this time I am focusing on what D-Mac’s presence means for the Red Wings.


People around the league disparage the Wings for signing guys like Darren and Chelios, but you know what? That that is just fine with me.


Because those people completely miss the point and at the end of March, when I’m gearing up to watch two more months of hockey, those people will be polishing their golf clubs. (Not a euphemism… I hope.)


Take a look around the league and focus on some of the up and coming teams full of potential young talent like Columbus and Chicago, even Pitt. Look at teams trying to build from the ground up banking on their youth like Toronto and LA.


Know what they are all missing? The presence of a strong, experienced, skilled elder statesman, who is a commanding leader.


One with Cup and/or extensive playoff experience who the young players absolutely respect and choose to learn from. The guy who makes you laugh all the time, but also kicks your behind all over the ice. The guy who knows adversity and is beating it. The cooler head that brings calm and control to the ice in a playoff where an inexperienced kid finds himself overwhelmed with the enormity of the situation, or just the fact that all of the sudden in the playoffs the dang rules have changed. Think of Crosby crying and whining all throughout the playoffs. You didn’t see any of the Wings young players whining- know why? They had someone like Darren telling them “Kid suck it up, these are the playoffs, the Cup changes everything!”


I know I know- you SHOULD flame me for that one, frankly I’m an embarrassment. But honestly? Its not just a gimmicky saying. The rules change during the playoffs- some rule are enforced, some are not, a harder, tougher rougher game is permitted and skaters are allowed o get away with slicker quicker moves. Patrick Wah is allowed to pad himself as if he lived at the North Pole and had a jello filled belly. And it just gets more intense with each playoff round. It can turn a newbie on his head, flying into the boards wondering if he’s fallen down the proverbial rabbit’s 5 hole.


A guy like Darren McCarty, well. There is just no putting a price really on his off ice value. Darren can bring people together, make anyone laugh, teach those young players willing to learn and be an inspiration to players who struggle. An example of how to fight and win and never give up. He’s “Straight up warrior” to quote a brilliant hockey mind.


And he still has got all those moves that used to make us all gasp and cheer...









When I look at a team like LA or Toronto, I can’t take their management seriously as they say they are interested in growing their youth. Because they don’t have the older, truly valuable players like McCarty around to guide these kids. Sure they have older players, but if Toronto wanted to truly grow its youth- then they never should have let Sundin go. LA- well cripe, who knows what will happen there. Then again Shanny is still available people- someone with a lot of youth ought to go and snatch him up.



$575,000 for a two way contract in which McCarty likely won’t see more than 25 regular season games? What’s the big deal?


If you have to ask, baby you will never know.

Originally Posted on Thursday September 18, 2008 @ 04:24 PM EDT at
http://fans.nhl.com/members/JuiceinLA/blogs/20613

Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved. No use or reproduction without express written permission from the author.