Detroit Red Wings

Sure the wings handle things real professional, but not giving him any credit for being what he was isn't accurate either. They catered to him for a reason because it's worth doing it. I wasn't real close to the situation there but I never heard of dats being high maintenence. I just don't see the wings hanging on to a player for so long if he was a bad apple. He used the khl as leverage but he earned it.

 

How did he earn using the KHL as leverage was a 25 year old (it wasn't the KHL yet)? He was on a stacked roster in Detroit and struggled adjusting the NHL and hadn't stayed on the ice for an entire season yet.

Everything in Detroit is high maintenance, it's impossible for a player to get that label there because players get to do everything they want, when they want as long as they perform on the ice when asked...which was primarily the postseason his entire career. How many franchises would have let their players cross the pond for extended rehab stints without any serious schedule or accountability?

I'm not calling Datsyuk anything. I'm just calling out the double standard for character opinions on players, especially Russian players. I don't blame Detroit or Datsyuk for anything, all sides played it well. Sports is about entertainment, perception. I find it intriguing (full of crap specifically) that he was able to generally escape serious character scrutiny for his entire career now.

 

The story that Kovalchuk crippled the franchise was just Lou thinking he could do the same thing he did a decade ago to win, it wasn't going to happen. He didn't and wasn't going to have the money to spend (most the hockey world didn't know it at the time). Vanderbeek was fucked and NJ was budgeted as it was.

NJ was a trainwreck. Between the owner not paying bills for services and Lou treating the players like teenagers on a junior team, that whole thing was bs. NJ had the floor pulled out from under them and after Parise left they weren't even competitive. Kovalchuk appeared to sign in good faith, and he was within his rights to retire, same as Datsyuk. Datsyuk on the other hand seemed to be orchestrating his out, Pronger style, before he inked his last deal.

Most importantly, his contract did more to help that franchise than anything since they would be paying 12 million a year, still. That could have not only crippled the sale of the franchise, but it would have serious painful consequenes for hockeyops for years. NJ was not going to be functional with him under contract, there was no way for a player or even the agent to know how bad things were under the surface in my opinion.

I'm not knocking a player for using the KHL for leverage, even when Datsyuk signed 3 contracts within a month in 2005 (2 were for russian franchises). I'm knocking anybody that labels Pavelec something for forcing WPG's hand for example or anybody that defends Datsyuk but knocked another foreign player for chasing money within the rule set.

 

I meant that he earned it later on in his career, but you bring up good points that I hadn't thought about too closely before.

 

Personally, Im not very happy with Datsyuk splitting on the Wings. He signed a contract that now the Wings have to eat. When he signed a 3 year deal just 2 years ago he knew then what he was doing, but i think he's not happy with the Blashill hiring or the direction the team is headed and just wanted out at no matter who it impacts or hurts.

I love the guy, but a contract is a contract is a contract unless your a spoiled rotten athlete.

There, I said it, lol.

 

I'm not attacking your opinions Skinny, that's part of why I'm bringing it up.
Few were paying attention, and those that were (especially when he signed 2nd, 3rd and the last contract) were quickly drowned out.

 

This decade it sure seemed like he was taking his time coming back over from Russia, especially on rehab stints.

I'm sure Holland suspected the possibility. He has enough redundant prospects that he'll be able to move the contract without (or at least a good part of it) without hurting the franchise too much.

 

Can anyone explain to me how Holland can trade Datsyuk's Cap Space?

I dont get this... me no comprenda.

 

he's essentially trading "Datsyuk", even though Datsyuk is an empty contract.
the acquiring team takes on the ramifications of Datsyuk and his deal, which is essentailly just the cap hit because he wont be paid real money for not playing.
i think its gonna be a lot harder to move that deal than many lennies do.

 

i dont follow, how could Kovalchuk's deal help that franchise?
are you saying him leaving helped the franchise because they were on the precipice of financial ruin? i can buy that.

 

Yes. Vanderbeek had eroded the franchise, ran the thing into the ground. Made Wang or Hicks look more respectable because they at least went belly up, Vandercheat (like that?) was lying the whole time to everybody.

With 85+ million on the books, it was going to impact the sale most importantly. The Sixers group was already going to absorb more than 200 milllion in debt.

With that much salary (12 million) on the books, it was already crippling what Lou could do in the front office. Once Parise left and Brodeur started playing money games with Lou following their 12' finals run, it was pretty obvious which way the franchise was headed for a long time to come. They weren't going to be competitive and they didn't add anything while giving up a few pieces. They were on track to lose their first too and his salary, which was large in relation to his cap hit, was going to make it difficult to absorb salary/cap hits for assets in a rebuild too.

He was an outstanding 2 way player in NJ when asked. He was treated like crap relative to his peers (elite NHL talent) because of the circumstances around the franchise and in the front office. By the time the NJ sale was complete, it was pretty clear to me (matter or opinion on incomplete info) that Kovalchuk leaving did more good for the Devils than bad.

It should also be remembered that Kovalchuk was very transparent. Lou knew what was going on and the KHL knew he was trying to find out a way to leave the contract without crippling the Devils. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-p...uk-didn-t-disrespect-nj-devils-173145938.html
I can dig up stories with more details if asked.

Tying this back to the Wings, Kovy will be back in a year and Radulov is looking to jump the pond again. Will Kenny love him some older Russian talent?

 

He's on a 35+ contract meaning even if he retires, the cap hit remains. The contract doesn't get erased. Datsyuk goes on "sabbatical" never to return so his contract is traded.

The team that acquires the contract gets room for the cap floor, like AZ, without having having to spend actual salary.

 

your point is taken that monetarily Kovalchuk didnt completely screw the Devils over. my issue w/ Kovy also has to do w/ what NJ lost in acquiring him and building their team and system w/ him as an integral part.

 

Lets see now if Stamkos would like to wear Red & White at a rate of 7 yrs, $70M. Good job of Holland to move the Dats contract and pick up a draft pick.

*still holding breath*

 

The Detroit Red Wings traded the 16th-overall pick and Pavel Datsyuk?s contract to the Arizona Coyotes for the 20th- and 53rd-overall selections in the 2016 NHL Draft plus forward Joe Vitale.

 

DENNIS CHOLOWSKI (D) - CHILLIWACK

?Effortless skater who moves puck out of harm?s way defensively. Reads opportunities to jump into offensive attack. Very good puck skills and his sense, poise and vision are very good.?

Picked #20 in the 2016 draft.

 

DET takes Givani Smith at No. 46.