Headed towards career highs in goals and points this season, Red Wings forward Dan Cleary, left, has positioned himself for a big pay raise. He is an unrestricted free agent on July 1. (Brian Kersey/Associated Press)

Dan Cleary admits to making a few mistakes during his eight-plus seasons in the National Hockey League.

Taking off-ice training and playing in the NHL for granted earlier in his career would rank at or near the top of the forward's list.

Cleary's best hockey decision came in September 2005 when he accepted a tryout with the Detroit Red Wings, despite the fact the Toronto Maple Leafs were prepared to give him a better opportunity to crack their lineup.

"I just had a feeling about Detroit. I told [my agent] J.P. [Barry] to call them to see if they would give me a tryout and they did," Cleary, 29, told CBCSports.ca.

"Los Angeles and New Jersey wanted to sign me to two-way deals but Toronto really wanted me, and my wife [Jalena] wanted me to go there.

"It certainly worked out for the best. I believe things happen for a reason and I'm very grateful to play in Detroit. It's something I never take for granted."

Self-discovery took time

A standout in junior with the Ontario Hockey League's Belleville Bulls, Cleary took a few years and four NHL stops to get his head on straight and reach his potential.

Few questioned the Carbonear, N.L., native's talent after he amassed 323 points in four OHL seasons. The problem was Cleary thought he could succeed on talent alone, rather than dedicate himself to the game both on and off the ice.

"It just took me a while, I think, to find myself, my confidence. You really have to work at this game to be good at it," said Cleary, who hooked up with noted personal trainer T.R. Goodman six summers ago.

"I've totally changed the way I live, on and off the ice. The dedication I've put towards everything, I'm proud of that. My work ethic, on and off the ice, I'm proud of that."

So, too, are his teammates, the Red Wings coaching staff and management. The challenge for general manager Ken Holland is figuring out where Cleary - an unrestricted free agent on July 1 - fits into the team's plans.

New deal will have impact

Signing Cleary will impact Red Wings players that follow. Goaltender Dominik Hasek and defenceman Chris Chelios are unrestricted free agents this summer, while forwards Henrik Zetterberg, Valtteri Filppula and Mikael Samuelsson follow in July 2009.

Holland wasn't helped recently by fellow GMs David Poile (Nashville) and Dale Tallon (Chicago), who emptied their wallets for players similar to Cleary, in terms of statistics and versatility.

The Predators re-signed J.P. Dumont to a four-year deal worth $16 million US, while Blackhawks winger Patrick Sharp inked a four-year, $15.6-million pact while approaching career numbers in January.

There is little doubt Cleary is in line for a hefty raise from his 2007-08 salary of $675,000, perhaps in the neighbourhood of $3 million per season on a short- or long-term deal.

Cleary has raised his stock since October by matching last year's career-high totals in goals (20) and points (40).

Cleary says he is shooting more than ever this season. "I go to the net every shift." (Tom Gannam/Associated Press)

Unfortunately for the six-foot, 210-pounder, he won't get a chance to build on those numbers. Cleary had his jaw broken after being hit by a puck during a Feb. 9 game in Toronto and will be sidelined the rest of the regular season.

He has repeatedly told Holland he wants to remain a Red Wing, while Holland told CBCSports.ca that he is motivated to keep Cleary in the Motor City.

Holland said he is eyeing the NHL's Feb. 26 trade deadline to get at least the framework of a deal in place for the former Phoenix Coyote, Edmonton Oiler and Blackhawk.

"We did plan to talk leading up to the deadline," said Holland of Barry, with whom he has had two or three conversations relating to Cleary over the last six weeks. "If we determine we can't get a contract with Dan [in the short term] but we determine that we want to keep him, we might not be as aggressive [at the trade deadline]."

Holland has options, including the possibility of dealing Cleary. However, he said he's willing to give term [a multi-year contract] because "we think he's going to be a real solid player for us going forward. We [NHL GMs] all have a cap number of dollars to spend, but one contract affects another contract."

Phone calls made to Barry's Calgary office were not returned.

Cleary's focus remains on keeping the Red Wings atop the Central Division and Western Conference. Through Feb. 10, Detroit had a 41-12-5 record for 87 points, 14 more than its next closest opponent, the Dallas Stars.

Seventh in NHL in plus-minus

"I told J.P. to call me when [a contract] is done, or close," said Cleary, who stands seventh in the NHL with a plus-23 rating. "I don't want it to be on my mind. I know it'll get done at some point and hopefully sooner rather than later."

Cleary is content to play on, so long as he doesn't have to re-live his life of three years ago.

The NHL lockout was over and Cleary was out of work after Phoenix chose not to tender him a qualifying offer. He wasn't exactly an attractive commodity after scoring a combined 10 goals and 34 points in 125 games prior to the work stoppage.

"Every day was a long day," said Cleary, who now spends some of his days skating alongside the most skilled players in the world. "Phoenix didn't qualify me and I was really worried and nervous.

"My wife and I just stayed positive. I know deep inside we were both thinking about [my future in the NHL] but we never spoke about it."

Since then, Cleary has beaten the odds on a tryout, become one of the NHL's better penalty killers, played a variety of roles and gained notoriety in the 2007 playoffs for knocking hard-hitting Calgary Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf on his butt with a thundering check.

"I think I'm a better player than last year having that [post-season] experience," Cleary said. "I just thought last year was a good stepping stone. Now, going into games I really keep it simple: move the puck, go to the net for a shot and try to get open."

Shooting machine

Cleary, who scored 53 goals during the 1995-96 OHL season, is also shooting more than he ever has in the NHL. With 26 games left in the season, Cleary has 160 shots on goal, 25 more than last year's career high of 135.

"Every time I get a chance to shoot, I shoot. And I go to the net every shift," he said. "I have the mindset the puck is going to be there at some point, so I just try to get a stick on it or get open.

"One thing I drill into my head is that you gotta keep working every day. Never get too high, never get too low."

Now it's up to Holland and Barry to find a happy medium so Cleary can work for the best team in the NHL for years to come.