There was a special participant at the Lions’ player organized workouts today at Detroit Country Day high school and that participant was longtime Red Wing Kris Draper.
Draper took part in conditioning drills with Lions players and even caught a pass from Lions QB Matthew Stafford after running a passing route.
However, Draper who just turned 40 isn’t looking to become a wide out with the Lions, he is looking to stay in shape to play one more season for the Wings.
“I just turned 40 (on May 24) and I felt great this past year, I really did,” he said. “That’s why I feel I can still play. That’s why I have been training as hard as I have been. I feel really good. I want to play. I think I can play. But I need Kenny Holland to believe in me.”
According to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News, Draper has met with Holland twice and expects to know his fate within the next 7 to 10 days.
However if the Wings decide to go in another direction and opt to not bring Draper back, will he go play for another team?
“I have played out a lot of different scenarios in my mind,” Draper said. “To be honest, for me to play hockey somewhere else for a year would be pretty selfish. I know my wife and my family would support anything I do, but I know that if you ask my 9-year-old son, there’s no way he thinks his dad is finished playing NHL hockey.
“But it would be a tough decision. I love this organization and I want to play here. I told Kenny that. You never say never, but I don’t see myself wearing another team’s colors. It wouldn’t be right.”
Once Draper retires, it is assumed that he will take a job within the organization, probably similar to what his former grind line teammate Kirk Maltby has taken on. In fact Ken Holland brought it up to Draper. The veteran Red Wing however isn’t ready to discuss his time away from the game.
Source: Detroit News
