Pavel Datsyuk confirms he is leaving the NHL

[Humperdink]

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" After a week of reports circulating, Datsyuk confirmed to Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press that he will return to Russia after this season, leaving one year remaining on his contract."

"Since Datsyuk's contract was signed as an over-35 contract, his full $7.5 million cap hit will still count against the Red Wings' salary cap next season whether he is there or not."

[Sigwolf]

That is well and truly screwing the Wings with that cap hit without him. Unless someone in the organization truly pissed him off on an epic level, I can't imagine him leaving the team that handicapped with just one year left on his contract. Not saying it won't happen, but man, that is a big "F you" to the only NHL team for which he has ever played. The odd timing of the announcement lends credence to something else going on behind the scenes, though.

[Jim]

This points to something happening when the leadership/management changed. I understand the family side but this seems to be more of a "I want out" rather than "family matters"

[Humperdink]

I agree with Sigwolf regarding the timing. Announcing your abandoning the team at the start of your playoff run is more than strange.

The reaction from the Wing fans at their first playoff home game should be interesting.

[Jim]

That's why I feel that it seems to be more of a holding up the middle finger while walking away kind of thing. It is like something happened and he is just, "You know what, F this!"

[DelPen]

The Wings should have cause to get his contract revoked with no cap hit if he is in fact playing in another league. I get needing to eat the cap hit if you structured the deal to have a guy retire at the end but this shouldn't hurt the Wings.

[Durbano]

I don't recall the co-hosts names but on NHL radio this morning, they said DET may be able to trade the contract to a team that needs to reach the cap floor.

At least for the moment, Datsyuk probably deserves the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he was just being too honest in a weak moment and wasn't thinking of the cap ramifications. He did walk it back today, apparently, saying he hasn't ruled out a return.

[no name]

There are rumors that Radulov wants to return to the NHL and he wants to play for the Red Wings. Wonder if they will have cap room to do this??

[interstorm]

You never know...maybe some team that doesn't want to spend big will approach Detroit and say, "Give me a 2nd round pick and I'll take Datsyuk off your hands" -- this way they can reach the salary cap floor without having to spend money to do so. Wouldn't be the first time something like that happened...

[bhaw]

You never know...maybe some team that doesn't want to spend big will approach Detroit and say, "Give me a 2nd round pick and I'll take Datsyuk off your hands" -- this way they can reach the salary cap floor without having to spend money to do so. Wouldn't be the first time something like that happened...

True. My Arizona Coyotes Pronger jersey turned out to be a bust.