TAKING ANOTHER STEP

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Monday signed former Detroit Red Wings right wing Darren McCarty to a professional tryout. After commencing practice with the team today at 10 a.m., he is expected to make his Grand Rapids debut and play in his first American Hockey League contest since 1993 this Friday in Cleveland, when the Griffins take on the Lake Erie Monsters at 7:30 p.m.

McCarty, 35, was one of Hockeytown’s most popular players from 1993-2004, helping the Red Wings capture the Stanley Cup in 2002, 1998 and 1997. Detroit’s second choice in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, he teamed with Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby in the late 1990s on the famed Grind Line.

The Burnaby, British Columbia, native scored the Cup-clinching goal in Game 4 of the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers to give Detroit its first championship in 42 years. McCarty’s toughness defined the Red Wings’ once-bitter feud with the Colorado Avalanche, highlighted by his legendary brawls with Claude Lemieux.

During his 11 seasons and 643 regular season games with Detroit, McCarty accumulated 1,275 penalty minutes and 273 points (119-154—273), placing him 34th on the Red Wings’ all-time scoring chart. He also ranks 14th on Detroit’s all-time playoff scoring list with 45 points (20-25—45) and 194 PIM in 150 contests.

Following the 2004-05 lockout year, McCarty logged two campaigns with the Calgary Flames, giving him 286 points (126-160—286) and 1,450 PIM in 742 career NHL games. He missed the majority of last season while recovering from hernia surgery and recently began a comeback with the IHL’s Flint Generals, tallying six points (3-3—6) and 30 PIM in 11 contests.

McCarty will don his familiar no. 25 jersey that was previously worn by Griffins forward Jamie Tardif, who will now wear no. 20.

Links to the B2 Networks video broadcast and Newsradio WOOD 1300 streaming audio for Friday's game can be found at griffinshockey.com.

To listen to Darren McCarty's post-practice interview with the media click here.

To listen to head coach Mike Stothers' post-practice comments, click here.

To watch Bob Kaser's 10 minutes interview with Darren McCarty, click here.