-Vintage Canuck- Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Source in Detroit: Datsyuk’s Got One Year Left, Datsyuk leaving for the KHL after next season?: Pavel Datsyuk turns 36 on July 20th, 2014. That birthday will be celebrated a few months after the last minutes of hockey he'll ever play for the Detroit Red Wings. Next year will be his last in the NHL and that's according to a very reliable source in Detroit, someone close to the organization and entrenched in regional hockey programs. Why? Datsyuk wants to go home. We all understand that. But according to this source, a guy who skates with at least one recently-retired Red Wing and whose family is a staple in the Michigan hockey world, it's not just the lure of mother Russia. Datsyuk sees the realignment, knows the kind of nightly abuse he's going to take in the Eastern Conference and wants to "go out like Barry Sanders did." Healthy, in other words. And he wants to give the KHL a few years of brilliance. He wants his home country to see him while he still has magic left. Interesting comparison to Barry Sanders isn't it? Are you thinking about it? If not...go ahead. A few similarities. Health, retirement at an early age, a career of brilliance in Detroit. And stubborn coaches who refuse to budge, even if it means hamstringing their best players--and the team at the same time. Barry Sanders left because of his relationship, or lack thereof, with Bobby Ross. Pavel Datsyuk hasn't scored a goal in 12 games. He's had Justin Abdelkader on his wing since February 17th. Datsyuk hasn't had a primary assist on an even strength goal scored by a forward since the day that line (with Dan Cleary up until last night, now with Johan Franzen) was formed. It's unfathomable. It's disgusting. And it's all on Mike Babcock. I get it. I get the desire to go home. Loyalty's a powerful drug. And it's admirable. Everything about Datsyuk is admirable. Many of us wouldn't have been surprised if he'd elected to stay in Russia after Gary Bettman's third work stoppage, the second Datsyuk's had to endure. If he'd stayed, not a single one of us would have begrudged him because he loves his country just as we love ours. Patriotism. Nationalism. It's a strong pull for those who feel it. And he does. The Eastern Conference thing. Got that too. Primeau. Lindros. Crosby. Malkin. Pronger. Five big names from two different eras. All of them fuzzy from concussions. All in the East. Yes. The Western Conference has its share. Corey Perry's making sure of that. But the East is a rougher conference. Always has been. Datsyuk isn't scared of it. We've seen him give back. But he wants to be sure the Russian people see him at his best, if only for one or two seasons. He'll take that abuse next year and he won't complain one bit. He's taking a different sort this year and saying nothing. Literally. When's the last time you saw a quote from him, a funny clip, a post-game interview. You haven't. Not in at least a month. Nik Kronwall, in case you haven't noticed, is the voice of this team. And that's fine. But Datsyuk has fallen silent. On the ice and off, that is. And that's on Mike Babcock. He has silenced the most offensively gifted player to ever wear the Winged Wheel. It's deplorable and it's an offense that should lead to his dismissal. You have about 100 games of Pavel Datsyuk left. Don't blame him. He's going home. If it pisses you off, turn your attention to the guys with the nice hair and the suits. One has let a team disintegrate without replacing or even offsetting big-name departures, and the other has somehow done what the rest of the league's never been able to accomplish: he's shut Datsyuk down. http://kuklaskorner.com/a2y/comments/source-in-detroit-datsyuks-got-one-year-left Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lonny_Bohonos_14 Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Sucks for the NHL, but good for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86Viking Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 would be a huge loss for detroit. May we see the wings start to be a rebuilding team if he leaves ? Take any elite #1center from a team and you usually would take a pretty big hit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blömqvist Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Datsyuk retiring? Kesler and Booth for Datsyuk. Luongo and Schroeder for John Carlson and Neuvirth. Edler, Raymond, and a 1st for Voracek and Couturier, and Talbot. Bring up Jensen. Cup. Daniel ~ Henrik ~ Burrows Voracek ~ Datsyuk ~ Jensen Higgins ~ Couturier ~ Hansen Talbot ~ Lapierre ~ Kassian /jokes It will be a big loss for Detroit, the NHL, and most importantly the fans, but we have to respect the decision of probably the most skilled and complete player in the league right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 He obviously wants a Kovalchukian retirement contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanKeslord17 Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Peace out Wings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Mind Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Sucks that he's going to go. He's one of the best players in the league to watch. Most skilled individual too. I don't blame him at all for wanting to leave at all. I'm gonna have to watch some more Wings games before he goes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everybody Hates Raymond Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Man, don't post the full article for smaller sites. They miss out on the ad revenue and site hits. Bigger sites, whatever, but these people write these articles to feed their family sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollo Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 He's paid his dues... if he wants to play at home then that's completely fair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-AJ- Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 "and that's according to a very reliable source in Detroit" I'd wait until a source that can be named, but still, that'd be kinda lame. I understand why he'd want that though, I suppose. He's good enough to play into his 40s though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magikal Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 It will enver happen, but I would give up just about anything to see Datsyuk play even just one season in a Canucks uniform. One of, if not the most talented player in the game. his puck handling abilities make opponents cry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xbox Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Good for Datsyuk. One of the most liked players in the game, and one to be remembered. It was always fun watching him on TSN Top 10s. Guy is gifted and makes beautiful plays. I completely understand why he is leaving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoneypuckOverlord Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 He's afraid of the beating out int he East? I thought the beating was out in the Wild wild west. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyville88 Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Would be a huge loss for the NHL. He's a one-man highlight reel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theminister Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Next year, not this year. If Datsyuk goes then I can see them entertaining moving Franzen too. Zetterberg will be the last man standing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spliced Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Good to see he'll honor his current contract. I wonder if Detroit will make a push in the off season to improve and take one more run next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Heffy Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Will be a sad day for the league when he leaves. Most complete player in the NHL and by all accounts a class act. He'll be missed, but I respect his decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Stamkos Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 With the economy the way it is in Detroit I would want to get out of there too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 He's been playing out West and he's worried about the Eastern conference? Strange.. More power to him though, he's paid his dues and had his success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayRayDown Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 So the Wings have been dominating the West for years and now that Lidstrom is gone, soon to be Datsyuk, they move to the east. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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