#25 is Back

What's old is new again in Hockeytown. Darren McCarty is supposed to be officially called up to the Red Wings this weekend. He could see action as soon as Sunday when the Wings host the Nashville Predators. If that's the case, that will be the most excitement Joe Louis Arena has seen in quite a while. It will be a great moment for Darren as he's worked his way back to the NHL, and it will be a great moment for the fans to once again cheer one of Detroit's favorite sons. Yes, it will be quite a moment when #25 takes his first shift.

The question of course is should McCarty have been brought back? Is this a sound hockey move in preparation of the playoffs or a PR stunt in order to attempt to sell out the Joe, which has had numerous empty seats all season long? Two months ago McCarty was out of hockey. Not a single NHL team had interest in him. He's been riddled with injuries the past two seasons in Calgary. He's never been a great skater or goal scorer. So what is the answer? Most likely, all of the above.

Certainly Darren's arrival will draw great fan interest. We long to have our heroes play for the home team. However, McCarty may simply have been added to provide some grit, toughness, and experience as the team winds down the season and will most likely see some combination of San Jose and Anaheim (big teams) in the playoffs. Let's remember that this acquisition didn't cost the team anything. No players, no prospects, and no draft picks. A nothing to lose kind of move. It's hard to question Ken Holland who is the most respected GM in the NHL, and oh by the way, the guy who brought 3 Stanley Cups to Detroit in the past decade.

For the fans who are at both end of this debate: Let's wait and see how it all plays out. For now, it's a nice story.