Rigamarole # 3 - Datsyuk Holding Out

In the new NHL, where dollars and cents cannot be thrown around as though there is an endless pot of money to pick from, unsigned players have to begin to realize that teams simply don’t have the ability to cave into contractual demands. With a budget, there is only so money to dole out.

Now this all leads us to the question: Who does Pavel Datsyuk think he is? The restricted free agent and the Detroit Red Wings have not been able to agree on a contract with the two sides well over a million dollars apart. The Wings offered him a deal worth $5 million per year yet Datsyuk is looking for one in the neighbourhood of $6 million plus. Datsyuk was quoted in the Russian media earlier in the week saying, "I think I am worth at least what (Dany) Heatley or (Joe) Thornton got from their deals."

Now here is guy who can certainly put the puck in the net scoring thirty goals in the most recent season. But in no way is he the kind of player a Dany Heatley or a Joe Thornton is. While Datsyuk and Thornton had similar scoring outputs last season, Thornton registered a plus 18 rating whereas Datsyuk managed a discouraging -2. Thornton is a big, tough strong guy who plays at both ends of the rink, while on some nights Datsyuk needs a program to find out who his netminder is as he certainly doesn’t get anywhere near close enough to read the name on his shirt. In the playoffs, Datsyuk’s scoring ability seems to disappear.

In years past, the wealthy Red Wings likely would have given him what he wanted and had done with it, but not anymore. The Wings still need to sign 3 or 4 more players as it is with Datsyuk notwithstanding and are faced with precious little room left under the cap. Datsyuk has since signed a deal with a Russian Club for his coveted $6 million but this deal as an escape clause allowing him to return to the NHL at any point. If he is using this as a negotiating ploy, well then he still hasn’t got the picture. Let’s hope he’s there to stay! But hey, all that was just rigamarole.