Wings to focus on Datsyuk

[Guest LivingtheDream]

This is where i question his agent. Datsyuk just recently made a comment about his agent - saying how he sounds like a movie preview, saying "coming soon... coming soon" - when Datsyuk asks him about the contract.

That is very interesting as HR40 said! This kid needs a new agent. I really think this guy is a bit of a blow hard (agent). I'd like to see Dats get the same attitude toward his agent that he did in Nashville last night when he laid out that check of the game. The best long term thing for Dat's career is to play for the Wings all the way with Zetterberg. Extra money at other teams is not worth it. This agent is tryig to be a big cheese and is probably not putting Dats's best interests first.

[motorcitykid 42]

Ugh, how stupid would it be to sign Datsyuk BEFORE the playoffs?! I mean, what are the chances, he comes up BIG?

Finally. Some sanity.

Smart move: See what Pavel does come playoff time and use THAT as a measuring stick of his real worth to this organization.

Holland's move: Beg, plead & rush to get a deal done when it simply defies logic.

[Williams29fan 6]

Fedorov is injured, I doubt we will sign him anyway

If Pavs DOES come up big in the playoffs we will have to pay him a lot more, so let's get it done as soon as possible.

Thats true but laitly i think dats has been playing to make sure hes coming back to det. what if he blows it AGAIN during the playoffs?

[DmitrifromRussia 0]

Ovechkin said, he wanted Dats in Washington, he has no good center after the tradeline and the team have enough space to the salary cap now, so Dats to the Caps, why not?

[dicksmack 33]

I think that if Datsyuk is unsigned and plays with Bertuzzi on his line he will price himself right out of Detroit. Naslund knows all about the time and space Bert supplies when the refs pocket their whistles in the playoffs... Pavel would light it up. You just know the Wings will want to see what Pavel can do with Bert. Sign Datsyuk whenever you can, I say.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Signing Datsyuk prior to the playoffs defies logic. For those saying it would save the Wings money if he plays big in the playoffs, just how much do you think it will save? He's probably gonna end up getting somewhere between 5.5 - 6.0 million regardless of whether he signs now or later. He wont sign for some drastic bargain rate just because its pre-playoffs...its not gonna happen. Why not wait...its too risky locking up top dollars on him if he's gonna be a no show every year.

Edited March 16, 2007 by Lou_Siffer

[WhiteLightning91 105]

In my opinion, the argument that Datsyuk cannot produce w/o Zetterberg is out the window. Zetterberg has been out 8 games and Datsyuk has 12 points in those games. Only two of those are goals so that means that he is making someone else better.

Datsyuk should be signed for $5M for 5 years. If Kronwall is going to get paid over $3M the next 5 years, there is no reason Datsyuk should not be getting $5M. The most I would pay him is $5.5M. But that makes me think we may not have enough left over to find re-sign Bertuzzi if he does well in the playoffs.

[discohadestwo 0]

Do whatever it takes. He's untouchable.

Might piss a lot of people off to pay him a lot, but I'm betting he averages a point per game these playoffs.

Put it in stone.

Last year, the guy had to ******* drain his knee every game. & yea, he didn't put up points, but it's not like he was putting it in our net either.

He has more heart than a lot of you think. Just playoffs come at a bad time for him.

It'll be different this year. Mark my words. A player with that kind of skill on a line with Hank doesn't not score.

He'll be here come the playoffs. Give him what he wants.

Ovechkin said, he wanted Dats in Washington, he has no good center after the tradeline and the team have enough space to the salary cap now, so Dats to the Caps, why not?

Because Pav's a Red Wing.

[HenrikRules40 14]

That is very interesting as HR40 said! This kid needs a new agent. I really think this guy is a bit of a blow hard (agent). I'd like to see Dats get the same attitude toward his agent that he did in Nashville last night when he laid out that check of the game. The best long term thing for Dat's career is to play for the Wings all the way with Zetterberg. Extra money at other teams is not worth it. This agent is tryig to be a big cheese and is probably not putting Dats's best interests first.

Right! Ok I'm trying not to think his agent is a creep...buuuut...

Basically I quoted you because that is EXACTLY what I wanted to write but didn't have the proper synapses firing to create such cohesion. Thanks buddy.

[silkyjohnson13 0]

Signing Datsyuk prior to the playoffs defies logic. For those saying it would save the Wings money if he plays big in the playoffs, just how much do you think it will save? He's probably gonna end up getting somewhere between 5.5 - 6.0 million regardless of whether he signs now or later. He wont sign for some drastic bargain rate just because its pre-playoffs...its not gonna happen. Why not wait...its too risky locking up top dollars on him if he's gonna be a no show every year.

I completely disagree with you. What is risky about it? No matter what happens in the playoffs, there will still be some team(s) that will be interesting in aquiring him. He's not a player that you would be stuck with if he continues to have disappointing playoffs - there will always be a team that will take a shot at him.

And for those of you who don't think 1mil a year or so is a big deal... 1mil a year could be the difference from picking up a player like Calder at the deadline or not. In a cap world every dollar counts.

You hope he signs before the playoffs, becasue that's the best possibly scenerio.

That is very interesting as HR40 said! This kid needs a new agent. I really think this guy is a bit of a blow hard (agent). I'd like to see Dats get the same attitude toward his agent that he did in Nashville last night when he laid out that check of the game. The best long term thing for Dat's career is to play for the Wings all the way with Zetterberg. Extra money at other teams is not worth it. This agent is tryig to be a big cheese and is probably not putting Dats's best interests first.

Isn't that basically the case with all agents? The majority of them are scum to me and only care about how much money and repuation they can get.

[WhiteLightning91 105]

The majority of them are scum to me and only care about how much money and repuation they can get.

Isn't that their job???

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

He has more heart than a lot of you think.

I don't think it's a question of his heart, never has been. Pavel gives it his all, and that's great. But teams have rubbed him out come playoff time; that's a matter of ability, not heart.

Guy's got tremendous talent, all he has to do is find a way. Here's to that.

[sibiriak 84]

Thats true but laitly i think dats has been playing to make sure hes coming back to det. what if he blows it AGAIN during the playoffs?

Then you trade him and get something in return. Which would be more than the nothing the Wings get if they let him walk. Also, signing him pre-playoffs would almost certainly come at least slightly cheaper than his UFA market salary would be. Which makes it easier to trade him later, if Holland so decides.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Also, signing him pre-playoffs would almost certainly come at least slightly cheaper than his UFA market salary would be. Which makes it easier to trade him later, if Holland so decides.

If your reasoning holds true, what incentive is there for Pavel sign off to that? Besides, management would never lay out a "perform or we'll trade you" ultimatum. That's not their style.

[WhiteLightning91 105]

Then you trade him and get something in return. Which would be more than the nothing the Wings get if they let him walk. Also, signing him pre-playoffs would almost certainly come at least slightly cheaper than his UFA market salary would be. Which makes it easier to trade him later, if Holland so decides.

Care to enlighten us all about how you trade an UFA?

You get my pick as #1 GM in the league if you can solve that puzzle!

Edited March 16, 2007 by WhiteLightning91

[clutchngrab 12]

OK Everyone, put your GM hat on for a second before you start bangin on the keyboard. Stop and think about your team plus the contracts plus the salary cap - BEYOND THIS YEAR

Please pretend the following with me:

1. Z comes back from the back and is not Pavs from last year. (soon to be ufa)

2. Bert is 75% of the player he was 2 years ago. (ufa)

3. Pavs continues the same level of play from the reg season (ufa)

4. Calder continues to cotribute at a rate that makes the trade look like genius. (ufa)

5. Lang produces like he can with the right players. (ufa)

6. Schneider produces as he has thru the years (ufa)

7. LIdstrom is 7mil man

8. Flip, Hudler and Franzen are untouchables

9. Grigorenko and other Grif D-guys may be ready next year.

Not so simple is it. Frankly, I think Pavs should be signed no matter what (between 6 and 6.5) and potentially dealt after the playoffs in the summer. Maybe for a buttload of picks and prospects. The salary cap sucks for the wings, period.

We probably can't afford to resign Lang and Schneider and still stay within the cap. Especially since Z will demand equal or greater than Dats, and is frankly, worth more on the wings. That is the irony, Dats will always be worth more on a marginal team than on a competive team.

Edited March 16, 2007 by clutchngrab

[sibiriak 84]

If your reasoning holds true, what incentive is there for Pavel sign off to that? Besides, management would never lay out a "perform or we'll trade you" ultimatum. That's not their style.

For Datsyuk, the advantage of signing early is in insuring himself against the risk of injury or bad playoffs leading to his UFA market salary being much lower than anticipated, which he would protect himself from by agreeing to a small discount off his expected UFA salary to signwith Detroit before playoffs.

[clutchngrab 12]

Care to enlighten us all about how you trade an UFA?

You get my pick as #1 GM in the league if you can solve that puzzle!

I'm with stupid. Sign him first.

For Datsyuk, the advantage of signing early is in insuring himself against the risk of injury or bad playoffs leading to his UFA market salary being much lower than anticipated, which he would protect himself from by agreeing to a small discount off his expected UFA salary to signwith Detroit before playoffs.

Plus, the press we have been hearing this time around, at least from Pavel, is that he really likes it in Detroit and wants to sign. Maybe that's all PR bulls***, but he doesn't strike me as the calculating type. His agent on the other hand....

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

For Datsyuk, the advantage of signing early is in insuring himself against the risk of injury or bad playoffs leading to his UFA market salary being much lower than anticipated, which he would protect himself from by agreeing to a small discount off his expected UFA salary to signwith Detroit before playoffs.

If injury risk factored in, every player everywhere would be sure to re-sign with their team before the playoffs. And since when has poor playoff performances stopped GMs from blowing huge wads of dough on UFAs? You think Washington gives a crap about his playoff numbers? Pavel will get paid this summer, on this much we can be certain.

And to reiterate, management would never dole out a "perform or we'll trade you" ultimatum. Not to mention it's pretty counter to any "I want to stay in Detroit" arguments that have been raised (not necessarily by you).

Edited March 16, 2007 by Heroes of Hockeytown

[sibiriak 84]

Care to enlighten us all about how you trade an UFA?

You get my pick as #1 GM in the league if you can solve that puzzle!

OK, send your vote in.

It is simple, really. You sign Datsyuk to a contract now, offering him 5-7% less than his expected UFA salary would be. Then, if he underachieves in the playoffs again, you trade him to the highest bidder in the off-season. There will be takers, because Datsyuk would be signed for less than his full UFA salary. Refer to my above post for the reason Datsyuk might agree to that.

You really should read the post that I was replying to as well as the reply. You wouldn't be confused then.

If injury risk factored in, every player everywhere would be sure to re-sign with their team before the playoffs. And since when has poor playoff performances stopped GMs from blowing huge wads of dough on UFAs? You think Washington gives a crap about his playoff numbers? Pavel will get paid this summer, on this much we can be certain.

And to reiterate, management would never dole out a "perform or we'll trade you" ultimatum. Not to mention it's pretty counter to any "I want to stay in Detroit" arguments that have been raised (not necessarily by you).

Injury risk does get factored in, and every impending UFA in the league would sign with his team, if the offer is high enough. It is a risk/benefit analysis excersize.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Injury risk does get factored in, and every impending UFA in the league would sign with his team, if the offer is high enough. It is a risk/benefit analysis excersize.

So what you're reasoning is that Pavel would give up 5-7% of his perceived worth in case he gets hurt this spring.

I suppose it's few who actually know Pavel's thought process on the issue, but let it be on the record that I doubt that this is it.

You've twice failed to respond to my points on management's offering this ultimatum. Do you disagree?

[WhiteLightning91 105]

OK Everyone, put your GM hat on for a second before you start bangin on the keyboard. Stop and think about your team plus the contracts plus the salary cap - BEYOND THIS YEAR

Please pretend the following with me:

1. Z comes back from the back and is not Pavs from last year. (soon to be ufa)

8. Flip, Hudler and Franzen are untouchables

9. Grigorenko and other Grif D-guys may be ready next year.

Not so simple is it. Frankly, I think Pavs should be signed no matter what (between 6 and 6.5) and potentially dealt after the playoffs in the summer. Maybe for a buttload of picks and prospects. The salary cap sucks for the wings, period.

We probably can't afford to resign Lang and Schneider and still stay within the cap. Especially since Z will demand equal or greater than Dats, and is frankly, worth more on the wings. That is the irony, Dats will always be worth more on a marginal team than on a competive team.

Not sure I understand what you are saying about Zetterberg.

Hudler is an RFA after this season and will get a raise to about what Cleary is making.

Grigorenko will make about $900K I think since he is making $1M tax-free in Russia.

I do not think we can afford to sign Datsyuk for more than $5.5M and still keep the team competitive.

Datsyuk - $5.5M

Lang - $4M

Zetterberg - $2.7M

Draper - $2.128M

Holmstrom - $2.25M

Maltby - $1.25M

Samuelsson - $1.2M

Bertuzzi - $4.5M

Franzen - $942K

Filppula - $733K

Cleary - $663K

Calder - $2.3M

Hudler - $750K

Kopecky - $525K

Grigorenko - $900K

Lidstrom - $7.6M

Schneider - $3M

Markov - $2.5M

Lilja - $1M

Kronwall - $3M

Chelios - $850K

Lebda - $650K

Osgood - $850K

Total = $49.791

Its not possible to pay Datsyuk more than that. That's close to the cap and we still don't have a goalie, since Hasek will want to retire on top I believe and lightning doesn't strike the same place twice so I do not know if I wanna gamble with his groin again next season.

Of course some players will not be back and others will join but this is purely just based on the current team adn what I feel it will take to keep the same players around.

OK, send your vote in.

It is simple, really. You sign Datsyuk to a contract now, offering him 5-7% less than his expected UFA salary would be. Then, if he underachieves in the playoffs again, you trade him to the highest bidder in the off-season. There will be takers, because Datsyuk would be signed for less than his full UFA salary. Refer to my above post for the reason Datsyuk might agree to that.

You really should read the post that I was replying to as well as the reply. You wouldn't be confused then.

OK. I gotcha. I see what you're saying now. That would definitely be the safest thing to do and would make Holland look like a genious if we got something good in return. Too bad the draft is held before July 1st so draft picks wouldn't really work out. But if we got a roster playing return it would be a great move.

[motorcitykid 42]

Might piss a lot of people off to pay him a lot, but I'm betting he averages a point per game these playoffs.

Put it in stone.

No thanks.

Playoffs:

05-06: 3 PTS 0 GOALS

03-04: 6 PTS 0 GOALS

02-03: 0 PTS 0 GOALS

01-02: 6 PTS 3 GOALS

Bottom line: he does not produce when the games matter, yet he wants to be paid like a player who does. What exactly has you confused?

Again 3 career playoff goals in 42 games.

It ain't like reality much matters to Holland, but spending 5.5-6 million on a perrenial no-show is in most books, inexcusable.

[motorcitykid 42]

And since when has poor playoff performances stopped GMs from blowing huge wads of dough on UFAs?

Since when has a GM blowing huge wads of cash - wasting it - been cool?

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Since when has a GM blowing huge wads of cash - wasting it - been cool?

It's an expression.