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We could really use Franzen, it's a shame what happened to him.

Did he say, "Bret screwed Bret" ?

Let's retire the name datsyuk. No player named datsyuk can play for the wings again. They will have to legally change names.

1. His blood clot issues have been taken care of. It's a non issue. 2. He is a center. If you haven't noticed, we kind of need a #1 center right now.

This is sad way for him to go because the discussion everywhere seems to about the contract rather than celebrating the NHL career of one of the best players to put a Wings jersey on. I don't hold anything against Pav. He's been loyal to us. We had him at a 6.7 caphit 08-14, which is definitely a hometown discount and helped out the team financially. That should be considered in the picture. Also, from Holland's characterization of the situation and him firing his agent, it seems clear that Datsyuk wasn't aware of the rules involved when he signed the 3 year, 35+ deal. I see many situations where it's not advantageous to trade the Datsyuk contract (trading youth, high picks) but I hope we trade the contract just so people don't blow this little blemish out of proportion; saying he crippled us by leaving the caphit. Especially if we were to miss the playoffs, I could foresee some blame being dumped on him. I'd like to see his number retired, but I think Fedorov is more deserving and should be done first

dear god no!

Glad he's re-signed. Not a player I wanted Holland to go after.

Again, Incorrect in bold. His cap hit was $7,500,000. His actual salary would have been $5,500,000 in a state with an income tax rate close to 42%. His actual take home would have been just over $3,000,000. I don't pretend to know what his tax rate in Russia will be next year, but I am confident his KHL salary over the next 2 or 3 seasons will be close to what he would have made in the NHL - which was an impossibility when he left in 2001. The other interesting financial tactic the KHL employs (which I've posted about before) is bonuses per goal, per assist, and per victory... This is a top 3 player the KHL has ever recruited, and the captain of Russia's Olympic team - if you don't think his salary, bonuses, and new endorsements will exceed $3,000,000 next year - I simply disagree. At the end of the day, I understand and appreciate your optimism - but sometimes it is what it is. Pavel Datsyuk didn't do us any favours with this decision, and we won't be much better for it because AA, Bertuzzi and Mantha could see a little more ice time (assuming the last two even make the team). Maybe it makes pursuing Stamkos more important, but if we don't trade his contract away (which would come at a different type of cost) it's financially impossible - not exactly ideal. Here's a different way to put it: If Datsyuk's family situation was so urgent that he needed to leave, why is he still going to play professional hockey next season? The commitment is largely the same? In my opinion, the money is similar and he would rather be in Russia - which is funny, because in most industries if I terminate my contract a year before it expires, to go do the same thing for a competitor - I would be facing a lawsuit. But in hockey, we are talking about retiring his jersey.

I don't think you entirely understand Tampa Bays situation. This year they have to re-sign Killorn, Kucherov, Stamkos who will get paid quite a bit. Others lesser paid will be Namestnikov, Paquette, Brown, Nesterov. Next year they have to resign Drouin, Palat, Johnson (hello big money), Hedman (biggg pay day), Bishop (contract might be bigger than his frame). They have $18 million this year to resign people. If they throw $10 million at Stamkos that leaves 8 million to resign Killorn, Kucherov and the rest of the RFAs. There simply is NOT enough money for this team to re-sign people. Stamkos is the common denominator here. If they want to retain the team that went to the conference finals this year, Stamkos might be the guy who walks while everyone else is resigned.

But I really don't think the cap hit for one year is that bad. Maybe we don't sign any free agents and go with the kids. That could end up being great for the organization long-term with AA, Mantha, maybe Bertuzzi getting more opportunity than usual. We weren't going to win the cup next year anyway. Also, I think him leaving actually gives us more of an opportunity to sign Stamkos than we would have had. Russia would have been the hometown discount? What does that mean in the context of what I was talking about? I was making the point that he could have made more by signing with other teams in the NHL. Just because he could have made less in Russia doesn't negate that. He stay with us for 14 years which is rare in the NHL and shows loyalty. As for the "KHL has evolved" stuff - If you're trying to insinuate that he's going there for more money, we debunked that in another thread. That league is struggling due to Russia's economic woes and the hard cap for that league is being lowered successively for the next few years. He won't make more there for next year. His salary would have to be over 7.5 mill. He hired an indepentent lawyer and talked to the player's union to try to find a way to leave without leaving us with the cap hit. Doesn't sound like disregard to me. He's divorced, his ex-wife took his daughter back to Russia. He's only able to see her the summer months. I consider that a legitimate family situation. We don't really know the specific (rightfully), but I think you can imagine the effect of losing touch with your daughter.

Imagine if this situation consisted of Howard instead of Datsyuk. Jimmy would have to hire the secret service to protect him.

You've convinced me. Datsyuk screwed the Wings.

The first statement in bold is incorrect - in his official retirement press conference, he was asked if he knew about the age 35+ rule when he signed the 3 year extension and the financial implications it would have on this team: His answer "Yeah I know, they explain me everything - Yes I know". (https://www.nhl.com/video/datsyuk-press-conference-618/t-278867578/c-44232103) - fast forward to the 7:13 mark. The second statement in bold is exactly why he shouldn't have his number retired, nor will the organization celebrate him much moving forward. He was absolutely one of the best two-way players we have had on this team, and he left on the worst terms I can remember. To say that we offered him a hometown discount is generally true, but also a very ironic statement. We seem to forget that in 2001 - he came to a championship caliber team, to learn from the best coach in NHL history at a time when the KHL was incomparable in terms of player salary. In the 14 years he played here, he amassed over $80,000,000 USD - which actually would have made Russia the "hometown discount" had he stayed there his entire career. The reason I can't side with him here, has more to do with the collateral effects this decision renders - more than him deciding to leave early. He signed a 3 year contract extension exactly 2 years ago, and apparently needed convincing to honour even the 2nd year before doing the exact same thing in Russia. That disregard toward the ownership/franchise that took a chance/invested heavily into him makes it clear that he absolutely doesn't care about the state of this team, or the fact that (1) unloading his contract is going to cost us a valuable asset or (2) if we fail to unload his cap hit, we cant sign an equivalent replacement. All in all, from the start of this post-season when he approved the release of an article that confirmed he was heading back home - which was an ill timed distraction - to the news of this weekend, I can't say any of it sits well with me. He failed to do what was so obviously the right thing in this case, and play out the final year. I would understand injury, or perhaps a legitimate family situation - but to simply go home (considering the impact it has on the Red Wings) a year early makes me feel like when he needed us, we gave him every opportunity and more to succeed and make his "family" a lot more money than Russia could have. But the KHL has evolved, and maybe now that he doesn't need us as much as he once did - his decision becomes one out of preference rather than respect.

I'd like to see a ring of statues grace the new arena. It'd be a way of honoring the greats without necessarily retiring numbers.

You must have wept when the Wings traded for Chelios.

Even if he did, should he really have his number retired? It's close..but he wasn't anything like a Lidstrom or Yzerman. Maybe if he led us to another cup.

Lucic? Are you out of your mind? I still remember that piece of s*** spearing Danny between the legs...no, thanks. Guys like him are a disgrace to the game and I don't want any of them on the team..

Was that you who posted something? It's been going on in multiple threads. I posted an article about Babcock hinting at him not being interested in Stamkos. Anyways, my post was mostly talking about LGW in general not you. Folks were talking down about Babs for months last year and how he's the reason Detroit can't acquire free agents and blah blah, and now that he's there it's as though Toronto > Detroit. The teams you mentioned can't even make the playoffs right now. How can you say you would take them over the Wings lol. In order to win a cup, you first have to be able to qualify for the playoffs. Edmonton with all their picks just can't seem to get it done.

Re-read the posts? Most people agreed that Babs did a phenomenal job by getting the Wings into the playoffs. Just because some thought Blash would come in and be even better isn't Babs nor Blash's fault. Nobody said they are going to be contenders but the Leafs are doing the right thing right now...Mathews, Rielly is a really good start and they could always use Marner or Nylander to get a top defender I.e. they are assets. Will it work? Who knows but having Mathews, Eichel and Pulju in the same conference is not something I'm looking forward too Would I take their team over the current! Wings ? Of course I would same goes for Buffalo and of course Edmonton with McJesus and Nurse. The Oilers are 1! top pairing guy away from taking of and as soon as that happens it won't be pretty for the rest of the league, that's for sure.

First, you're trying to move the goalposts. I said Toronto has a brighter potential because of high draft picks vs. Detroit's current prospects. Were Stamkos to base his opinion on potential, he and most everyone outside of Detroit would see Toronto as a better prospect. Second, the Blackhawks and Penguins say "hi" to your Edmonton cliche. Third, which of these opinions (your word) aren't true? -Larkin did fade as the season progressed -Mrazek has been inconsistent but brilliant at times -Mantha's stock has dropped since he started playing in the AHL -Sproul and Oullette are predicted to be middle pairing guys -Nyquist and Tatar are small and soft. Boston in the playoffs says hi. -AA has been called Helm with hands by many posters here Finally, it seems you don't like facts when they contradict your opinions. Not to be rude.

It's funny that it all happens right next to the Ram ad on the boards.

It's because Matthews is going to be like Toews with more offensive upside, Marner is going to be as good or better than Kane, Nylander is going to be like a young Hossa, Rielly is already comparable to Keith... That's not to mention all these other studs like Gauthier, Leipsic, Brown, Kapanen, Soshnikov, Percy, Dermott and Harrington, to go along with a great veteran core of Van Riemsdyk, Kadri and Bozak... Meanwhile, the Wings have a lot of unproven talent that likely won't ever reach their potential... Larkin started out hot and then faded. I mean what rookie does that in their first season pro coming from college. What a chump. Athanasiou has speed but likely won't ever be anything more than a Helm with hands. And we know how much Helm sucks. Mantha is lazy and won't amount to s***. Svechnikov is another Russian that will probably fade out and head back to Russia. Sproul and Ouellet haven't made the NHL yet so they obviously suck. Nyquist and Tatar are soft Euros that will never get it done in the playoffs. Jurco and Pulkkinen aren't even NHL calibre players. Smith is dumb. Mrazek hasn't proven s*** and will likely amount to nothing...

Larkin: looks like a gem, but faded as the season progressed. Still best of the bunch. AA: Helm with hands. Does that make him Kris Draper then? Mantha: stock has plummeted since being drafted and playing with actual adults. Mrazek: inconsistent though young and has shown flashes of brilliance. Defensive prospects: all projected to be middle to bottom pairing guys. Nyquist and Tatar: Soft, small complimentary scorers. Yes, Toronto having the first overall pick and a bevy of high picks for the next couple of years is more enticing than the Wings' prospects and average young players.

Yzerman will always be the worst one for me. Going out on an upset to Edmonton. We were the president's trophy winner that year and were supposed to win the cup. With Pav the decision was easy. We are no were near winning the cup.

Honestly, I don't think it's an overpayment - just about everyone on the team had an "off" year. Guys like Shawn Matthias, Lars Eller and Colin Wilson all produced around the same as Riley last season and are making from 2.3-3.9M per. Sheahan was ranked #87 in the entire league last year in lowest cost per point. The deal will give both parties two years to see what kind of player he turns into, and he's still RFA after it's done. It's not a bad signing at all, IMO.