Wings’ Dallas Drake retires, won’t pull a ‘Favre’

BY GEORGE SIPPLE • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Red Wings forward Dallas Drake officially announced his retirement today. Drake, a fan of the Green Bay Packers, said fans won’t have to worry about him having a change of heart like quarterback Brett Farve.

“I’m a little disappointed in Brett right now,” Drake said. “If he comes back I want him to come back and play for Green Bay. But no, you don’t have to worry about me doing that.”

Drake, 39, announced his retirement during a conference call from his home in Rossland, British Columbia. He will have the Stanley Cup there tomorrow.

Drake, who played the 119 games of his 15-year NHL career with the Wings, returned to the team last season hoping to finally win the Cup.

The Wings needed a physical veteran to fit in on the third or fourth line and Drake fit right in. He had three goals and three assists and 41 penalty minutes in 65 games this season for the Wings. He had a goal and three assists with 12 penalty minutes in 22 playoff games.

Leaving the game as a Stanley Cup champion made the decision to retire easier for Drake, who played in 1,009 games with the Wings, Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, and St. Louis Blues.

“Mentally, I think I still really want to play,” Drake said. “But my body just got to a point where I just don’t recover very well anymore.”

Drake, who starred at Northern Michigan and lives in Traverse City, finished his career with 177 goals, 300 assists and 477 points. He scored 14 goals, 19 assists and 33 points in 90 career playoff games.

Source: Detroit Free Press