I’m liking this deal more and more as the day goes on. Eaves comes at a price you can’t beat with all the reason in the world to prove himself to the greatest organization in sports. Time will tell if he can find a spot with the team in the same way his obvious parallel Dan Cleary did, but there’s certainly little reason to be down about this one.
As we’ve seen before, players sometimes get down on their luck and just need another shot from a team with the kind of supporting cast that can provide that shot, and if that’s what Eaves needs, he’s come to the right place. I won’t go into the season expecting big things out of him, but I do expect him not to be a bust. If my years as a Wings fan have taught me anything, it’s to generally trust Holland’s judgment.
Of course, part of my positive attitude on can be attributed to a basic feeling of relief that the Wings were finally able to make a move. At the peak of his potential (setting the bar at his rookie year), Eaves won’t solve the Wings’ potential problems this season on his own. But his willingness to take the league minimum opens the door for another signing that could further allay those concerns.
Space another signing out later in the month, and August won’t seem so interminable.
A couple more links: George (who called it last month, too) has more on Eaves here, and the guys at The Triple Deke chime in here.