The Datsyukian Deke

Buyout won't work, we'd have to trade the contract and still get a cap hit penalty of 2 mil because it was frontloaded. Which wouldn't suck as much as the full (dead) cap hit of 7.5, if he leaves and we won't manage to trade it...but still..better prevent it rather than take it.

We'll see - if I'm reading correctly between the lines of what his agent said, it's still possible for the Ilitches and Holland to convince him to stay for the final year.

Thanks for..oh, nothing. ............................................................................ Pavel is the reason I stuck with the NHL after watching a couple playoff games 6 or 7 years ago. Simply for the reason he did things I didn't get immediately, waiting for replays to understand what he just did. Amazing, amazing player, unique style and generational talent. To me there is no doubt he should have his number retired when it's all said and done.

I don't get why one would want him in the first place, at that expected price. I was suspicious with Kane (who proved me wrong by simply shredding anyone else in offense this year) for the same reason as Stamkos, not being two-way players. I always think 10m/year is too much for a single player under this kind of salary cap, but when you pay it for a guy like Toews or Kopitar , it sounds at least more reasonable to me.

@paulwoodsfan: It was me calling him that, and it was for the timing too, not only for reporting the news itself. Just to mention. @kickazz: I called it that, because what slavery meant was that some human being was reduced to being someone elses "property". And yes, I'm fully aware that using this term in relation to professional sports guys getting paid millions of dollars is somewhat of hyperbolic, of course. But in general, it can be reduced to that. You have to be able to resign voluntarily, from every job. Within a certain period of time (it's usually 3 months over here..maybe in the U.S. too, idk..) , of couse, for your employer to be able to react too it and find an adequate replacement, but that's about it. I would understand the criticism (and join it..) IF he was about to leave AND get the money regardless, but he doesn't. The cap hit only becomes a problem if a) Holland or b) the Illitches are too stupid/stubborn to trade the contract, but that's not his fault because he would agree to it to help the team. So it comes down to people thinking professional athletes are property, which they are not. And as much as one might be jealous about the money they make, or their priviledge to make it with a sport rather than one of our regular jobs, they still are not.

Those "you signed that contract, fulfill it" people make me wonder...what do you think, that slavery is still allowed? If he wants to go, and for good reason, while leaving the money on the table, then let him go. Everyone of us in every regular job can do the same. There isn't even a substantial approach for criticism. Not even that stupid "over 35"-rule, because he would agree to have his contract traded to help the team. If Holland is insane enough not to trade it, the blame is on him, not Pavel. If he goes back to Russia, and it appears so, it shouldn't change our appreciation for him one bit. Just read that article...

I think the Philly game decides the season. If we lose it, we lose Thursday in Boston, too. If we win it, we win in Boston, because our guys will take the momentum in there and come through. I think that's more of a factor than rest/fatigue and the advantages/disadvantages of both.

THIS. That "some validity, let's report" approach is more yellow press rather than serious journalism. For example, would The Guardian have reported what Snowden approached them with just because of some say-so? No, they reported it because he had valid information to offer. THAT is serious journalism. Now you could say that sports journalism has lower standards than political papers like Times or Guardian, and that's true. If it was some beatwriter blogging that stuff, I wouldn't even complain. But on national television, I'd like to see some standards, like only reporting what you definitely know. But yeah, maybe that's just me and a few others with that kind of expectations.

Oh, of course "class" should be a necessary part of journalism. But yes, people tend to forget that.

A few thoughts.. - I love Mickey, but at this point of the season, he had better kept his mouth shut on this.. - Some reporter picking that up with three games to go...class isn't something everybody has.. - I doubt he would potentially hurt his leagacy, if not for significant reasons - If it's family reasons, there is no point argueing it

Go around the blackout, it's pretty simple.

7 games to go for us, not 6. For the Bruins it's 6, and that's the team to catch. Comparing the schedules, it really comes down to winning in Boston to get in, if you calculate the likely results for the other games: Boston: @Devils @Blues @Blackhawks vs Canes vs Wings vs Sens If you go with W-L-L-W-L-W, it's 6 more points for a final 94. Detroit: vs Sabres @ Habs vs Wild @Leafs vs Flyers @Bruins @Rangers Winning against the 3 lottery teams and the Bruins gives us 8 points, so it would be one more win (or two OT losses.. ) out of the three games against Wild, Flyers and Rangers to get to 95. Which isn't all that unrealistic by numbers and records...but right now, I wouldn't bet against us losing vs Buffalo, either. .... EDIT: Oh, I thought Philly had 87 points, but it's 85. Their schedule: vs Jets vs Caps vs Sens @Pens @Wings vs Leafs vs Pens vs Islanders 6 expectable points vs lottery teams, but then again..a win for us could get us in, because they could easily lose three of their other four games. ... "Coulda, woulda, shoulda", yeah, I know...we would prefer to have 95 right now, not 85, that's for sure. On the other hand, without Petr's outstanding play for the majority of the season, we would sit at 75 points right now, at best.

The more I think about our lines, the more I wanna see Dats with Tatar..

THIS. That's pretty much it. I'd like to see a) Abby-Dats-Z as the first line or b) keep Larkin-Z-Abby together but get Tatar and Nyquist with Datsyuk.

If they send Marchenko down for cap reasons, when Q is back, i'll be freakin out. Get rid of Smith..

Yup, I'd take those 2 minutes every game. ..... My main point about his game...thank you, coaches challenge, to take back a soft goal Jimmy let in! Who knows how this game would've developed..

My point in the Miller-Thread (why was that one deleted, btw?) get's stretched on WIIM, too: http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2015/12/2/9830650/the-glendending-draws-near Yup..same for Drew and Luke...we should've kept Ferraro...

I hope you troll. The idea was getting rid of miller and glendening, not rotate the wasted 3rd guy next to them.

Can anyone explain to me the idea of Pulk on the 4th line? Because I don't get it..

Khan, 2 hours ago: I'm pretty much ok with the lines. I liked the potential of Jurco making it when Blashill was announced, but he didn't put up points in the preseason (again..), which makes me support the scratch. Let Teemu unleash the slapper instead. PP2 looks very interesting to me, with a legit right-hand shot and an experienced vet in Richards...we'll see how that goes. Exitement is here, I can feel it! Let's go! ........ For the drink discussion, my personal favorite right now (ever since I found it a year ago, on second thought.. ):

I voted Tatar because he had the better playoff performance this year. Generally speaking, I would like to see more of the energy that Tomas shows from Gus, too. I think Goose has the higher potential, but he needs to get tougher and deliver when it matters.

Honestly I think Franzen should go on LTIR Pronger-like for the remainder of his contract. First of all, it doesn't hurt the team through any kind of penalty. But more important, Franzen needs to stay off the ice and hang'em up. With his history of concussions and his continued problems, it's not worth it. Even if he never plays again, he could struggle with this condition for a long time. He needs to do whatever he can to get his health back, so he can enjoy the rest of his life. With the millions he already earned he should never have to work again, so..just let it go.

Condolences Robo...keep your head up, as hard as it might be. All the best, for you and your family.

Maybe, but its 33.5k with 17 B2Bs. I'd rather have the 34.2k and 12 B2Bs from last year.

I think the best way is an appropriate museum, which has to be state of the art in its own way, too. Or him with his head in Clearys ass. Brilliant! I have a new bookmark.