Datsyuk done in NHL?
Sorry for format. Damn mobile.
This had been around for the last couple of weeks now. The only thing different is that he finally admitted it because the (regular) season is over. I didn't read that story because Albom, but I'll be sad to see him go. What an awesome player he's been! The highlights!!!
On the flip side, I'm kind of eager to see the new version of the Wings mature. They backed in this year, but I think they'll be better next year. One thing they do need, though - imperatively - is more grit. More players like Abdelkader, that will go into the corners and actually fight for the puck. You know, what Kronall and Z used to do...
But instead of the rumors we have been hearing about it, we are getting "official" word from Pavel. The only issue I have with it, is Albom.
Better after next year maybe, but the streak probably ends in 2017 if they still have Datsyuk's cap hit.
April 10th, 2016 at 10:05 AM ^
Ugh Abdelkader is a liability. Not that good in front of the net and takes too many dumb penalties.
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Really? Even if a player leaves on his own the team is responsible for the money? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard
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April 10th, 2016 at 10:21 AM ^
It's the Kovalchuk rule. It's to prevent teams from signing a 35 year old player to an 8 year deal, which minimizes the cap hit the deal takes, front loading the cash in the first few years, and then getting out of the deal after two years when he retires.
It backfires in situations like this, but if the Red Wings had signed the deal with the knowledge that Datsyuk was leaving midway through the deal, THATS what the rule is penalizing.
April 10th, 2016 at 11:54 AM ^
Wow still blows if a guy up and retires on his own
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April 10th, 2016 at 12:38 PM ^
It's an ad-hoc solution to a problem they created themselves -- there were other ways to stop cheeky deals like the Kovalchuk one. It's obviously very stupid.
The same issue exists in every other major team sport but somehow they've all managed to avoid this absurdity.
April 10th, 2016 at 10:31 AM ^
If that is the dumbest thing you've heard you havent been paying much attention to the news coming out of the NCAA regarding the whole satellite camp ruckus.
April 10th, 2016 at 11:53 AM ^
Touché, 2nd dumbest
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The wings are always a better team with Pavel on the ice. This is a double whammy since the Wings will be strapped against the cap without an elite player. I get that he's old and wants to go home. Happy for him, but this sucks for Wings fans.
April 10th, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^
Always sad when the great ones retire.
He's given us a great 15 years. Hard to believe it's been that long already really. Sad to see him go but also excited and hopeful for the future.
The reality is that Holland has to redeem himself here. He's made a few bad decisions lately (Franzen over Hossa), Giving Ericcson 4+ mil a year, that expensive bridge contest for Nyquist that bit him in the ass this year (Both Nyquist and Tatar have devolved into near liabilities on the ice, turnover machines).
Datsyuk leaving to go to Russia still leaves us with a 7.5mil cap hit next year with virtually nothing for it. If holland can find a way to fix this, a la trade him to a team needing to hit the cap floor, and save us that 7.5 for some depth players or a solid d man, he gets a little redeeming value. If not, he's led us to a place that between Zetterbergs decline, three or four guys playing shit hockey, and Datsyuks departure and Franzengate, leaves over 20milljon of our cap space in dead money or painfully underachieving "stars".
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*bridge contract, sorry, on phone
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Holland butchered this. You won't be able to tell me the Wings have not known this for awhile. These rumors have been out there the last couple seasons.
It wouldn't shock me for them to keep his rights for nostalgia purposes the way this team is run these days.
April 10th, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^
That's what the Albom article seemed to suggest. That would probably be the final straw for me with regard to Holland. Trade his rights and get the cap space. I don't care about Datsyuk retiring a Wing, as much as I love him. He's going to go play in the KHL, so he won't be ending his career here anyway.
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I love what Datsyuk has done here, but I am happy that this mandates changes to the status quo in the Wings organization. This team needs to find a team to take that cap hit though...maybe through in someone for their trouble, but start playing the kids more.
April 10th, 2016 at 11:18 AM ^
I am pretty much done with Ken Holland. Too many bad contracts and failed free agent pursuits. I have the same opinion of him as I do with Dumars. Excellent first half of their tenure, but the back ends have been disappointing.
April 10th, 2016 at 12:31 PM ^
Keeping Franzen over Hossa was only a mistake in hindsight. Hossa got double the money from Chicago and Franzen was in his prime (outscored Colorado in the playoffs by himself the year prior). Holland's made questionable decisions like you've highlighted, but a lot of those are only apparent looking back.
To be fair though, signing Ericsson to his contract was never a good idea. Fucking hate Ericsson.
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April 10th, 2016 at 12:56 PM ^
That was bad at the time. Same for signing Jordin Tootoo and Carlo Colaiacovo after striking out on Weber, Suter and Parise. Signing Daniel Cleary to one-year deals when no one else wanted him was bad at the time.
And you're right that keeping Franzen over Hossa was not considered a bad move at the time. But an 11-year deal with an annual cap hit of about $4mil was a risk that did not work out for us.
It was a 1st Round Pick for Quincey!
Sad news. He may be my favorite all time Wing to watch. Detroit fans have really been spoiled with some of the amazing talent that has come through in the last 25 years - Yzerman, Fedorov, Lidstrom, Datysuk. To me, that's why keeping the playoff streak alive is so special, it keeps the connection to that era alive. Hopefully they can make some noise against Tampa . . .
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April 10th, 2016 at 10:02 AM ^
I think since Stamkos is out, that they've got a puncher's chance.
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Stralman, hedman, Callahan, and Johnson are out. Way more than a punchers chance.
is he a hall of famer? he had a 2 year stretch where I felt he was the best player in the league. too bad he didn't win a hart one of those years. defensive players get undervalued in that voting.
April 10th, 2016 at 10:46 AM ^
Probably. He is one of the best puckhandlers ever and at least as good as Yzerman defensively.
I will miss his hunched, unsuspecting glide.
If he's not a hall of famer, I don't know who is. The guy won 4 consecutive Selke (best defensive) & Lady Bing (most gentlemanly) trophies, 2 Stanley Cups and was a leader on a team that never missed the playoffs during his career. Add in his incredible puck handling, passing and even his sneaky good shot and he was he most complete player in the league for a good 7-8 stretch. I'm rioting in the streets if he's not in on the first ballot.
Holland was due to finally be bitten on the ass. I feel like "the streak" has become a curse because he seems like he believes all he has to do now is keep it alive and that in and of itself is good enough. This team was probably going to need a light rebuild to get back to truly competing for Cups, but that's never happening as long as they still manage to do just well enough to squeak into the bottom rung of playoff teams every year.
April 10th, 2016 at 10:05 AM ^
I've felt this way for a few seasons too. It seems like the goal every year is to be the 6th or 7th best team in the conference, because that keeps the steak alive.
April 10th, 2016 at 11:11 AM ^
I've said this ever since that terrible trade for Legwand. The streak is an anchor
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April 10th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
Don't care, will link to the Freep article, because it's actually really quite good.
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/mitch-albom/2016/04/10/alb…
It's like Mitch Albom threw out all the awful writing conventions and hokey aphorisms he's relied upon for the last 20 years and actually decided to be a sports writer for a minute. I didn't even realize it was an Albom piece at first.
April 10th, 2016 at 11:27 AM ^
Contract should have been year by year once he hit 35 to avoid this possibility. I will miss watching Pavel play; here's hoping he goes out with at least one series win.
April 10th, 2016 at 11:31 AM ^
Terrible that the Wings will take a cap hit next year. Holland had to have an idea this was coming. Not good.
April 10th, 2016 at 12:04 PM ^
This sucks. Pavel is amazing with the puck and the ultimate pick pocket. If you watch him on the power play you'll notice the other team always gives him space when he has the puck. It's out of respect for his ability. I never worry when he is controlling the puck.
April 10th, 2016 at 12:54 PM ^
The Red Wings have been going downhill for awhile. This just helps get to the bottom faster . There is too much talent in the Wings organization to be stuck with contracts that pay too much and for too long ( Abdelkader, Erickson, Kronwall, Howard , Zetterberg). Trade some of that talent to fix the areas that need fixing . Toronto just did it , so it can be done .
Play the damned youngsters!! No reason to bring Mantha here and sit him. Play AA more, he has done alot with the limited time he has seen . You bring Anderson up for one game and he plays 1 minute?? And in that minute he gets a goal( even though it didnt count). You broke Jurco and Pulkinnen .
Blashill has been a terrible coach . Part of that is due to the players he is stuck with though .
Holland has made some very bad choices , and remained too loyal to players ( CLEARY!!!) He was right when he said having Nick Lidstrom made him look like a better GM.
It pains me that the streak looks to be ending soon. It pains me because I care about the stupid thing . The Wings would have been better to miss the Playoffs this year . The only good thing about it is getting to see Pav play for 4 more games.
I get what he said and how he regrets signing the deal, but still you signed it Honor it . Suck it up for one more year .
I will miss him though . An amazing player .
Go Wings!
Admittedly, don't know how these contracts work, but it would have been nice if the Wings could have sold his rights to a team in the KHL, even if only to recoup some of the lost money. Always a joy to watch him. Everytime his skates hit the ice you expected something to happen. He, Stevie, Lidstrom, and Gordie are my all-time Wings, a notch above some other greats we've had over the years.
this year
Losing Pavel and the cap money is really bad. I have a Zetterberg fat head on my wall and love what the guy has done during his Wings' career, but he is close to the end. In two years we'll have about $15 million to buy some players.
We were one Boston cluster fu$% second period away from this season being a failure. Hard to feel more optimistic about next season though.