Is there a future somewhere?
Hot on the heels of the news that Kirk Maltby decided to go against my advice and sign a one year, two-way deal with the Wings, Ken Holland finally pulled the trigger on the inevitable, sending Derek Meech to the waiver wire in hopes that someone will give the kid a chance to crack a top six somewhere in the league. Meech and his $500,000 salary are now up for grabs on the open market, hoping that someone will operate under the assumption that a Wings cast-off carries more weight than any other schmuck on the wire and providing a good home for the favorite son of JLA’s press box.
The problem for Meech is that an incredibly stagnant offseason market for player movement has led to a situation that could potentially (maybe likely) see #14 clear waivers and wind up as part of the Grand Rapids Griffins. According to Ken Holland, Meech has already been shopped around as trade bait in an attempt to get a return on his time spent with the Wings, yet there were no takers. Were teams simply waiting for Meech to hit the waiver wire? It’s absolutely a possibility, but it could also very well be the residue of a slow a offseason clinging to a player who would normally be snapped up pretty quickly for a draft pick or two.
At any rate, we’ll know by Noon tomorrow what Meech’s fate will be. If this is it for his time in the Winged Wheel, then let me be one of the first to say “peace out.” I have a hard time hating on the guy, as he genuinely seems like a good person who just wants a real chance to succeed on an NHL team. Here’s hoping that Meech lands on his feet somewhere…even if it is Grand Rapids.