Free Press: Pavel Datsyuk to return to Russia following Playoffs

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

this is just me, but I think we will be fine after a rather large elephant in the room is addressed. Who will be Captain when Z retires, which will be shortly after Datsyuk leaves -- if in fact he does leave and doesn't honor the rest of this $7.5M hit. Z is aging and injured and won't survive without his EuroTwin.

Nyquist plays like a ghost when Pasha is out there. It's time for him and the younger players to establish an identity on the ice and play Wings hockey. Haven't seen that in a while -- it is time for a change, even if it hurts like Hell to do it. What I have been looking at is a team with two identities, and they do not communicate well.

Time to put the sign back: To whom much is given, much is expected. This is Hockeytown.

Hank will be here what another 3 years at least ? If Larkin keeps progressing and just keeps getting better he will be the next wings captain

[Wheelchairsuperhero 1,453]

This is sort of on topic so I don't feel too guilty about asking this here, but can anyone tell me why I can't find an official Datsyuk jersey with the "A" on it anywhere? I gave my jersey away to a friend because it wasn't my size and now I want to buy another before Datsyuk goes, but I want the "A"!

[MTU_Huskies963 398]

If he retires with the yotes, he won't be on LTIR. He will just be retired. He won't be paid, unlike other players on LTIR.

Right, but if we were to trade him to the yotes he would have to be placed on LTIR, then retire at the end of the year. How would this benefit the yotes? while his cap hit is 7.5 his salary hit is 5.5. Pronger has a salary of 575 but his actual cap hit is 4.9mil.

[puckloo39 5,686]

Hank will be here what another 3 years at least ? If Larkin keeps progressing and just keeps getting better he will be the next wings captain

Well, we don't know that for a fact, with his injury issues. Contracts don't seem to mean as much, when money isn't really the issue, it seems. Agreed on Larkin, but I think it will go to Abby or another veteran if Z hangs them up sooner.

Edited April 10, 2016 by puckloo39

[Nyquistfan14 489]

Right, but if we were to trade him to the yotes he would have to be placed on LTIR, then retire at the end of the year. How would this benefit the yotes? while his cap hit is 7.5 his salary hit is 5.5. Pronger has a salary of 575 but his actual cap hit is 4.9mil.

It would help Arizona because it's a higher cap hit and because he's playing in Russia they don't pay him in actual money just have the hit. I believe with pronger there actually paying him which the wings would do but they would have the cap space

[MTU_Huskies963 398]

It would help Arizona because it's a higher cap hit and because he's playing in Russia they don't pay him in actual money just have the hit. I believe with pronger there actually paying him which the wings would do but they would have the cap space

Why would the yotes not have to pay him?

[Franzine 739]

Excluding pensions, retired people don't get paid.

[MTU_Huskies963 398]

Excluding pensions, retired people don't get paid.

My question is if he retires with the yotes, would the wings be hit with a recapture penalty?

[13dangledangle 958]

This all is what it is. Pavel shouldnt have signed a contract he didnt intend on seeing through..That said he has had a beautiful career and I certainly as a father cannot judge him for wanting to go home to his daughter.

Thanks Pasha, now give us one last good run!

[kylee 727]

Heartbreaking. Can't believe he is leaving. Guess I'll be following his KHL team.

[Echolalia 2,961]

My question is if he retires with the yotes, would the wings be hit with a recapture penalty?

"All years of existing SPCs with terms in excess of five (5) years will be accounted for and charged against a team's Cap (at full AAV) regardless of whether or where the Player is playing. In the event any such contract is traded during its term, the related Cap charge will travel with the Player, but only for the year(s) in which the Player remains active and is being paid under his NHL SPC. If, at some subsequent point in time the Player retires or ceases to play and/or receive pay under his NHL SPC, the Cap charge will automatically revert (at full AAV) to the Club that initially entered into the contract for the balance of its term."

How long was Datsyuk's contract for? Less than 5 years?

Edited April 10, 2016 by Echolalia

[MTU_Huskies963 398]

So the wings would be hit with a 2mil recapture penalty, hey that's 5.5mil less. Holland better trade him

Edit: I found this link

http://wingsnation.com/2016/4/4/how-pavel-datsyuk-s-departure-could-affect-the-red-wings

Edited April 10, 2016 by MTU_Huskies963

[kliq 3,755]

Are you guys sure this is Holland or rather the Illitches who want Datsyuk's contract to stay with the org? I mean it looks like both Mike and Marian were pretty involved in getting him to stay here another season last year.

I would be shocked if this was a Holland decision. The guy has the green light, but when it comes to handi capping a team with 7.5 million, I just dont see the him having the ultimate say. Unless we all just dont understand the exact rules and trading him would do nothing.

Edited April 10, 2016 by kliq

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Damn.

[VM1138 1,921]

This all is what it is. Pavel shouldnt have signed a contract he didnt intend on seeing through..That said he has had a beautiful career and I certainly as a father cannot judge him for wanting to go home to his daughter.

Thanks Pasha, now give us one last good run!

I think he planned on finishing the contract originally, but his ankle surgery changed things. Now he probably feels like he's on borrowed time and wants to be able to play in Russia without being unable to contribute.

[joesuffP 1,746]

Is this a bigger distraction knowing he's leaving or speculating he'll be back? This feels like when Lidstrom left and we got spanked by Nashville

Edited April 10, 2016 by joesuffP

[Jesusberg 1,256]

"All years of existing SPCs with terms in excess of five (5) years will be accounted for and charged against a team's Cap (at full AAV) regardless of whether or where the Player is playing. In the event any such contract is traded during its term, the related Cap charge will travel with the Player, but only for the year(s) in which the Player remains active and is being paid under his NHL SPC. If, at some subsequent point in time the Player retires or ceases to play and/or receive pay under his NHL SPC, the Cap charge will automatically revert (at full AAV) to the Club that initially entered into the contract for the balance of its term."

How long was Datsyuk's contract for? Less than 5 years?

3 years. I've seen the 2M penalty floated around, but I'm not sure if that's the balance between the cap hit (7.5M) and his salary (5.5M), or if it's just a penalty the team incurs for moving a 35+, retired contract. Not to dismiss the WingsNation link Huskies posted, but I'd like to see something concrete. Either way, Holland saying he won't try to move the contract (Albom article) is asinine. In the same article, Pavel says he'll do whatever the Wings need to help out the situation. At the very least, Kenny has to consider it.

Edited April 10, 2016 by Jesusberg

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

If the Devils can get away from Kovalchuks cap hit just by retiring, the wings should be able to do the same with pavs.

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

I just...

[Wings_Toledo 233]

If the Devils can get away from Kovalchuks cap hit just by retiring, the wings should be able to do the same with pavs.

The problem is that Kovalchuk wasn't 35+ when he signed that contract. The best thing to do here would be to send Pav to a cap floor team for an AHL player or something similar.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

The more I think about it, the less likely I think Holland is to move the contract. Although, he just lost his top center, so I think he's crazy if he doesn't take a run at Stamkos here.

Doesn't feel like a Kenny thing to do though, does it? When you combine the way he views loyalty, and how the move might impact the perception of Pavel (at least in his mind), I can see him standing pat and eating the cap hit. Also, Detroit's most likely going to have to cough up a prospect/draft pick to get someone to take on Pavel's contract.

[barabbas16 499]

I think he planned on finishing the contract originally, but his ankle surgery changed things. Now he probably feels like he's on borrowed time and wants to be able to play in Russia without being unable to contribute.

This seems to imply that he isn't leaving for 'family reasons.'

[paulwoodsfan 52]

Am I the only one worried that Holland's hands may be tied, that the Illitches are no longer interested in spending whatever it takes to win? Mr. I. may be focused on estate planning at this point. Spending below the cap seems contrary to everything the team has done for 30 years, but I don't feel we can safely assume it's business as usual.

[kickazz 5,459]

I think he planned on finishing the contract originally, but his ankle surgery changed things. Now he probably feels like he's on borrowed time and wants to be able to play in Russia without being unable to contribute.

The article stated he wanted to leave after last season finished and met with the Illitches who convinced him to stay. Shortly after he left for summer break to Russia. The ankle started to get worse in Russia and he had to immediately come back to the US and do the surgery.

Edited April 10, 2016 by kickazz

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

He will be missed as he's still our best player and we're not exactly a great team to begin with. It sounds like it's the best decision from his standpoint. I'll remember him as the best stickhandler I ever saw. One of the most respected players in the league from peers. Hall of Famer.

It'll be even harder to make the playoffs next year and Kronwall and Zetterberg aren't getting any younger. We'll see if Larkin and Mantha can elevate their game to keep us afloat.