[News] Datsyuk announces he will leave the NHL and return to Russia

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Is it the full cap hit for one year because this contract was since the lockout (instead of recapture penalty)? Can they trade the cap hit (Toronto)?

They probably can, and will trade him to a rebuilding team. The rebuilding team isn't even on the hook for the salary because he's playing in russia. So its literally doing the red wings a favor that cost you nothing

[Roof-Daddy]

Haha wow that will sting.

Hopefully the Wings can't unload Howard, have to sign Mrazek to starter money so they're paying $10 million + combined for goaltending and $7.5 million for a player who's in Russia.

Of course, this is the NHL we're talking about, so I'm sure the Wings will find a way to cheat the rules and get away with it.

[killer_carlson]

what a great hockey player.
whatever he does he's earned the respect of every hockey fan over his career.

[bigtmac19]

Don't like Detroit at all but have always respected him and love watching him play live.

[alan21]

Wasn't Datsyuk along with Hossa both were recognized by their peers as the most skillful players in the game?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Imagine the bidding war if the Wings had made him available at the deadline.

If he retires his capt hit will still count, so, I can't imagine there would've been many takers.

[heep223]

Amazing player. So unreal at both ends of the rink and had a real impact on the game in that sense. Huge amounts of skill and offensive talent but also often led the league in takeaways and was great defensively. Isn't that big, isn't that fast, just so smart and so much skill.

That said, I'm ready for the Wings to suck for a while and it looks like that's going to happen. Can't really blame him for wanting to return home at his age.

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

If true, we should all keep an eye on Detroit's remaining games.

There'll never be another player like Datsyuk in the NHL. He could control the puck like no player I've ever seen, and has made some very good goaltenders and defensemen look like fringe NHL'ers. We all say that Johnny is a helluva puck-handler (and he is), but Datsyuk was just on another level. He had enough raw skill and talent to beat anyone in the league.

Thank you for displaying your immense talent, Pavel. You had an unbelievable career. First-ballot hall-of-famer for sure.

Johnny can puck handle with his skates and catch 150 foot passes out of the air on his stick while doing a 360 sandwiched between two defenders. Give Johhny time, he has the skill to reach Datsyukian levels of dekiness.

When Johhny reaches his prime he'd give Datsyuk a run. Several players have said Johnny's the best at 1 on 1 in the league.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Johnny can puck handle with his skates and catch 150 foot passes out of the air on his stick while doing a 360 sandwiched between two defenders. Give Johhny time, he has the skill to reach Datsyukian levels of dekiness.

When Johhny reaches his prime he'd give Datsyuk a run. Several players have said Johnny's the best at 1 on 1 in the league.

Johnny may rival him w/ the puck, but Datsyuk was just as impressive without the puck (and taking it away)

[Locke]

Datsyuk is one of a kind. I've never been his biggest fan, but you have to respect his talent.

[sureLoss]

Datsyuk tells the Detroit free press he is done in the NHL:

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/co...lumn/82835594/

Pavel Datsyuk wants to go home. His career has been here. His wealth has been here. His celebrity has been here.

But his heart is somewhere else. It’s in Russia — with his teenage daughter and his roots, both of which he wants replanted into his life.

“I’m thinking I go home after this season,” he said, in a long discussion at the Northville home of his agent and friend, Dan Milstein. “I may not be done with hockey, but — it is hard to say — I think I am done playing in NHL.”

While this may be a shock to fans, it cannot be to the Red Wings. The truth is, Datsyuk has been squirming to go home since 2012, the year he played in Russia during the NHL lockout. Last season he basically told Detroit he was finished, and only the length of his contract, terrific persuasion by general manager Ken Holland and personal involvement from Mike and Marian Ilitch convinced him otherwise.

The tug now, he said, is too strong. He wants his family united. And he wants to end his professional career in the country that taught him the game. Datsyuk, who will be 38 this summer, still has a year left on his Detroit deal, and will have one more discussion with Holland before taking formal action — presumably after the Wings are done with the postseason they qualified for on Saturday. So in theory, the door still has a sliver of light peeking through.

But after two hours with the reserved Russian superstar recently, it was clear his heart and head are already back home.
“I have overstayed,” he said.

[BigTuna]

They will have no issues trading the pick imo. A team like Arizona would love to get a 7.5 cap hit with no cash retained.
Wings fans should be more worried about the horrific contract Holland gave to Abdelkader this year.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

They will have no issues trading the pick imo. A team like Arizona would love to get a 7.5 cap hit with no cash retained.
Wings fans should be more worried about the horrific contract Holland gave to Abdelkader this year.

Holland won't trade the cap hit

[Dogbert]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Holland won't trade the cap hit

He might have to. $7.5 million is an awful lot of dead cap space to work around, and several teams would love to pick that space up and not have to pay the actual cash behind it.

[Jason14h]

Why wouldn't they trade it ? The team taking it literally pays zero . Even if they only got a 7th rounder why wouldn't they take a free pick ?

And why wouldn't Detroit give a basically useless pick up?

[Jordan!]

Ha ha, Stupid Red Wings!!

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Holland won't trade the cap hit

He'd be pretty irresponsible not to try.

[sureLoss]

Aaron Ward @NHL_AaronWard
Expect Detroit Red Wings to make announcement tomorrow along with Pavel Datsyuk confirming he will not be returning next year.

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Good info @NHL_AaronWard. Det will push to move the contract. Jurco, Pulkkinen...a 2nd as bait? Stamkos big target

[Benched]

Stamkos in Detroit?

I'd be down to see that!

[Textcritic]

Do the Wings incur a cap recapture penalty for this?