[Rumour] Datsyuk to the KHL after next season

[devo22]

Pavel Datsyuk turns 36 on July 20th, 2014. That birthday will be celebrated a few months after the last minutes of hockey he'll ever play for the Detroit Red Wings. Next year will be his last in the NHL and that's according to a very reliable source in Detroit, someone close to the organization and entrenched in regional hockey programs.

Why? Datsyuk wants to go home. We all understand that. But according to this source, a guy who skates with at least one recently-retired Red Wing and whose family is a staple in the Michigan hockey world, it's not just the lure of mother Russia.

Datsyuk sees the realignment, knows the kind of nightly abuse he's going to take in the Eastern Conference and wants to "go out like Barry Sanders did." Healthy, in other words. And he wants to give the KHL a few years of brilliance. He wants his home country to see him while he still has magic left.

http://kuklaskorner.com/a2y/comments...medium=twitter

http://thehockeywriters.com/rumor-ha...ter-next-year/

[MrMastodonFarm]

haha, eff the wings!

[Bertuzzied]

Is the East that much more physical than the west?

[EddyBeers]

Nightly abuse in the Eastern Conference? Those big bruisers in Ottawa, Montreal, Buffalo, the Isle, the Devils, the Pens, the Caps, the Hurricanes, the Panthers, Lightning? Um ok.

[topfiverecords]

Detroit should look at trading him then. I see a Bouwmeester + 2nd + prospect for Datsyuk trade in the future.

[AR_Six]

That makes no sense. Yeah, because he'll leave behind those powderpuffs in Chicago, St. Louis and Nashville and have to play against the bruising might of the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens. Lolwut?

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Detroit should look at trading him then. I see a Bouwmeester + 2nd + prospect for Datsyuk trade in the future.

Then he can play against creampuffs like LA, Anaheim and Phoenix. Eastern Conference more physical, that made me laugh out loud.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

Nightly abuse in the Eastern Conference? Those big bruisers in Ottawa, Montreal, Buffalo, the Isle, the Devils, the Pens, the Caps, the Hurricanes, the Panthers, Lightning? Um ok.

Not to mention the cushy travel schedule.

[Ozy_Flame]

I can't believe that guy is 36. I remember when he was 27 and flying high. His game hasn't really diminished either. Wish he would go right to the end in the NHL - when him and Zetterberg both leave it's going to be the end of an era.

[CGY12]

That will be a sad sad day. The most entertaining hockey player in the league. He is one of a few players I would pay to see.

[Username: Flames]

Amazing player.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I can't believe that guy is 36. I remember when he was 27 and flying high. His game hasn't really diminished either. Wish he would go right to the end in the NHL - when him and Zetterberg both leave it's going to be the end of an era.

I was shocked by that number too... I thought he'd be like, 33 maybe? But he's older than Iginla, it doesn't seem like he's been around as long.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I was shocked by that number too... I thought he'd be like, 33 maybe? But he's older than Iginla, it doesn't seem like he's been around as long.

He is currently 34.

And he was 23 when he joined the Wings

[Ashasx]

Wings are so ****ed.

[mikephoen]

After two and a half decades of being the best team in the West, Detroit finally is sliding back to a mediocre or worse team. Seems like a great time for them to move to the East!

[$ven27]

I can't really blame the guy. 2(or is it 3?) Stanley cups, Selke winner multiple times, why not go home and play in front of your home country close to friends and family while you still can?

[GreenLantern]

Zetterberg is leaving too?

[sun]

[Huntingwhale]

That's quite an odd rumor, but I can see it happening. It'll be a sad day if that does happen. How the mighty Wings will have fallen after nearly 2 decades of dominance.

Is he a HOFer? He has the cup, hardware, and Hart nominations to back him up. I think he's as borderline as it gets (only due to his limited point totals), but I think he'll make it in eventually.

[Yoho]

They have had empty seats the last few years with winning teams, It'll be interesting to see how a drop in standing effects the attendance