Wings sign four prospects 
 
Yesterday, Assistant General Manager Jim Nill announced the signing of four prospects, Eric Himelfarb and Brett Lebda, and veterans Eric Manlow and Bryan Helmer.  The terms of the deals were not disclosed. 

Center Eric Himelfarb (1/23/83) spent four seasons in the OHL before joining the Grand Rapids Griffins for the final eleven games last season.  After a 37 goal, 70 assist season (67 games) with Kingston of the OHL, Himelfarb notched two goals and six assists with the Griffins.   

Defenseman Brett Lebda (1/15/82) spent four years at the University of Notre Dame before joining the Grand Rapids Griffins for the final ten games last season.  After a 5 goal, 15 assist season (34 games), Ledba contributed with a single assist for the Griffins.

Center Eric Manlow (4/7/75) was picked by Chicago in the 1993 NHL Draft (50th overall).  He has appeared in 37 NHL games in the last four years, with Boston and the New York Islanders.  Manlow has 2 goals and 4 assists to round out his NHL career.

Defenseman Bryan Helmer (7/15/72) has appeared in 134 NHL games in the last six years, with Phoenix, St. Louis, and Vancouver.  Helmer has 8 goals and 15 assists in his NHL career.  He has also played for Manitoba and Springfield of the AHL during parts of the last three seasons.  

When I wrote of the Wings signing Jamie Rivers last summer around this time, I was unsure of the journeyman defenseman.  Rivers turned out to be a great asset when our veteran defensemen got injured.  He played solid defense and earned his stay in the second half of the season.  So, who knows, one of these guys could play a similar role for the 2004-2005 Detroit Red Wings.  

Bertuzzi Update

Todd Bertuzzi was charged nearly a month ago with assault causing bodily harm, in response to his March 8 suckerpunch of Avs forward Steve Moore.  Recovering from a broken neck and severe concussion, Moore’s NHL career remains in doubt.

It appears that we will not see the Canuck goon in court for awhile.  Today, the case will appear in provincial court, with the Crown and Bertuzzi’s lawyer, Leonard Doust, ironing out the specifics of a trial schedule.  Says Crown counsel spokesman Geoff Gaul: “We are really at the early stages of organizing a trial date.”  Reflecting this, Michael Mulligan, a defense lawyer with Crown experience says: 

“If somebody told me that the trial was going to be next year, that wouldn’t surprise me.  It won’t be next month, that’s for sure.”

Bertuzzi is believed to be spending the summer with family in Kitchener, Ontario.  If convicted of the assault charge, he could face a maximum of 18 months in jail.  Many believe jail time is unlikely for Bertuzzi.

Beyond the criminal charges, Bertuzzi possibly faces a civil suit from Moore, which would be the NHL’s worst nightmare.  In the event of Moore v. Bertuzzi appearing in courts, it would create the precedent of players filing suit against other players for on-ice events.  I understand why Moore would decide to sue Bertuzzi, since the rookie’s NHL career could be over, and that equates to a significant loss of salary.  However, the precedent it would set could cripple the NHL.  Moore was left unsigned by the Avalanche this summer. 

NHL Layoffs in Lockout 
   
On Tuesday, the NHL told more than half of its employees (in Toronto, Montreal and New York) that they will be laid off on September 20, with the CBA expiring five days earlier.  This is assuming no deal is made by September 16.  One employee confides: 

“He (NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman) told us that the lockout could last 18-24 months.”

The NHL appears to be preparing for a long shutdown, much longer than the strike of 1994, which shortened the 1994-1995 season to 48 games.  But expecting the NHL to get back on its feet after over a year of lockout seems quite optimistic and presumptuous.  The NHL, above all leagues, relies heavily on ticket revenues and fan support, as it lacks a strong national television deal.  So the NHL is assuming the continued support of its fans if the lockout goes for the distance, as Bettman warns. 

NHL Group Communications Vice President Bernadette Mansur has said that there is no guarantee that employees will be retained once a new CBA is hashed out.  Up to 70% of the league’s personnel could be affected.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman met with NHLPA Executive Director Bob Goodenow at the league’s headquarters in New York today.  This meeting marked the re-opening of negotiations between the sides.  The sides can’t agree on what percentage of the league’s $2 billion in annual revenue should go towards player salaries.  The owners want a salary cap while the players want an open market system.  The NHL recently proposed a $31 million salary cap, but the NHLPA is staunchly against any form of a salary cap. 

The NHL hired former US Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Arthur Levitt to analyze the league’s financial situation, and he reported that the NHL lost a combined $273 million in the 2002- 03 season.  Still, the players stubbornly believe the NHL underestimates its revenues, reflecting the huge lack of trust between players and management.

During the four-hour meeting, the first negotiations since May 25, the NHL presented six models for a new CBA, none of which included a luxury tax system.  All of the proposals amounted to a salary cap, according to the NHLPA.  After seeing the models for a new NHL economic system, Ted Saskin, senior director of business affairs for the NHLPA, said: 

“There’s no reason to be optimistic.  Each of them had a concept that total player compensation wouldn’t exceed an agreed-upon amount of NHL revenues.  Five were structured in a certain way, the sixth was a little different, but it would still have a link with player compensation and what the league was prepared to recognize as leaguewide revenues.”

I hope that either the NHL or NHLPA extend an Olive Branch Petition to the other side and get a deal done.  But what I see now are two special interest groups, with staunch agendas, who are unwilling to give and take enough to get a deal done.  The sides meet next on August 4.   

Penguins for Sale?

With the Penguins’ lease at Mellon Arena expiring after the 2006-07 season, player/owner Mario Lemieux is looking to build a new arena in Pittsburgh.  Unfortunately, the city and county are financially strapped and will be unable to contribute to an arena project.

In order to finance the arena, the Pens are pursuing a parlor in downtown Pittsburgh for up to 5,000 slot machines.  The organization would have to apply for a slots license, which costs $50 million, but future revenue could finance the arena.

If the prospects of building casinos to keep the franchise afloat appear grim, Lemieux has said be might put the Penguins up for sale.  This would mean no more NHL hockey in Pittsburgh.  Lemieux has received three unsolicited inquiries from out-of-town bidders.  Lemieux has been the backbone of the franchise as a player and now as an owner.  He bought the club in 1999 to keep them from going bankrupt, and returned to the ice to become the first-ever player/owner in the NHL.   

I don’t like the precedent of casinos becoming a part of a hockey team, but I guess the Pens are running out of options and it looks like the slot machines could be the single thing that keeps NHL hockey in Pittsburgh.

Brett Hull
 
Agent and brother Bobby Hull Jr. is saying that Brett Hull will not take contract offers until after the World Cup of Hockey tournament, which takes place August 30 to September 14.  They have contacted the Blues, where Hull scored 50+ goals five straight seasons, including an 86 goal, 45 assist effort.  The only teams to have expressed interest in Hull are the Blues and Stars, as well as the WHA club in Dallas (which is a “remote possibility”).  The Wings have expressed no interest in having Brett back next season.   

After a stagnant playoff outing with the Wings, Hull is looking to the tournament as a chance to showcase his aging talent.  Once he gets back in the NHL, his priority is passing Gordie Howe’s 801 goals.  Hull sits at 741.  Says Hull’s father, Bobby Hull, about what he thought about passing Mr. Hockey:

“Before I went to the WHA, folks asked me what I’m going to do when I approach Gordie. I said that I’m going to score one less goal than Howe, then retire. I don’t think I could have gone by the great old man.”  

Playing in Dallas seems a natural fit, having a home and many friends in the Dallas area.  Hull also won his first Cup as a Star in 1999.

I wish Brett the best in his post-Wings career.  I’ll be pulling for him and Team USA in the World Cup of Hockey, but hope that he doesn’t  pass/tie Gordie by scoring 60 or more goals.  Scoring 25 goals last season, Hull would likely need two full seasons, and a lockout lasting ”18-24 months” would virtually end the hopes for the Golden Brett.  The Belleville, Ontario native turns 40 on August 9.  

According to mLive.com, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim are “desperately” trying to get rid of former Red Wings center Sergei Fedorov in an effort to dump his salary. They have apparently called the Wings at least twice but have been shot down each time by an unsympathetic front office in Detroit.

I imagine the four years, $30 million left on Sergei’s contract is a large deterrent, as well as the fact that he has the option of becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer. He would very likely exercise that option, given his previous dissatisfaction — with never gaining Steve Yzerman’s popularity and devotion from fans — which led to his leaving in the first place. What the Wings would do if they didn’t have to worry about him bolting for another four years is another question.

Since I’ve never quite gotten used to seeing Sergei in another jersey, I personally would like to see him back in the Red-and-White someday. Unless both sides have a significant change of heart, however, the chance of that happening is about the same as that of seeing Chris Osgood back in the Winged Wheel. Read: zero. Sergei can’t stand the idea of playing in the shadow of The Captain for another year only to have it replaced by those of Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.

It is too bad, though, that Sergei would have the option to leave after next season or else maybe the Wings would bring him back just to torture his sensitive mind. Put him on defense with Jiri Fischer or something.

UPDATE (7/21/2004): Ken Holland has since denied the reports by ESPN and some radio stations that said his team had re-signed Brendan Shanahan.

“That’s premature. Rick Curran (Shanahan’s agent) and I are exchanging faxes and we still have some work to do. Rick is on vacation this week. We’re getting closer, and I expect us to keep working at it until we have a deal. But we’re not there yet.”

The two sides are apparently looking at a two-year, $7 to $8 million deal, not the one-year, $4 million deal reported yesterday.

Some Wings fans may thing $3.5 to $4 million a year straight up a bit much and would like to see them offer him a lower base salary with incentives to bring it up higher. I personally don’t mind Shanny getting so much, especially since he’s been around for so long and has contributed so much. For his loyalty, the Wings should give him something rather than ask him to take an even bigger pay cut. As long as a deal gets done, I’ll be happy. END UPDATE

The Red Wings have signed fan-favorite/scapegoat forward Brendan Shanahan to a one-year, $4 million deal (a $2 million pay cut), according to a report by ESPN, and will bring him back for a 9th season. Since the team has not made an official announcement, this is not official-official yet but they are expected to make it so sometime soon. Even if this specific case turns out to be untrue, there is still a good chance that a deal very similar to this one will end up being what the Wings and Shanahan go with.

There were some who, after Shanny did little in the playoffs this past season, thought he should be cut loose from the team during the off-season. I had some leanings that way myself but I have since changed my mind. After I got over my intial emotions, I realized that Shanahan put in a good effort defensively and worked noticeably hard at breaking his slump. I still believe he is capable of being an effective weapon, despite his age (35) and apparent decline.

Brendan Shanahan’s reaction after being eliminated by Calgary in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals says it all. He still has some fire left and his leadership will be worth $4 million for another year.

If Shanahan truly has re-signed, the Wings now have 15 players comitted to next season and a payroll of around $45 million. That’s a considerable amount over the projected salary cap level that the NHL office and owners apparently want. So is the $61 million or so that the Wings’ full roster is expected to cost, despite all their efforts to bring that number down.

Free Agent Draft Day One: July 17

1. Dany Heatley, RW (3)
2. Drake Berehowsky, D (14)
3. Mike Zigomanis, C (19)
4. Chris Nielsen, C (30)
5. Steve Kariya, LW (35)
6. Patrick DesRochers, G (46)
7. Alexander Perezhogin, RW (51)
8. Michael Henrich, RW (62)
9. Todd Elik, C (67)
10. Dmitri Yushkevich, D (78)
11. Brad Tiley, D (83)
12. Jason Jaspers, C (94)
13. Martin Kariya, LW (99)
14. Darren Van Oene, LW (110)
15. Chris Hajt, D (115)
16. Beat Forster, D (126)
17. Chad Wiseman, RW (131)
18. Seamus Kotyk, G (142)
19. Greg Jacina, C (147)
20. Jeremy Stevenson, LW (158)
21. Mike Schutte, D (163)
22. Craig Anderson, G (174)
23. Ryan Ready, LW (179)
24. Chris Hartsberg, RW (190)
25. Ted Drury, C (195)
26. Bubba Berenzweig, D (206)
27. Craig Mills, LW (211)
28. Patrick Traverse, D (222)
29. Serge Payer, C (227)
30. Mike Brown, LW (238)

Amateur Draft Day Two: July 18

1. Andre Benoit, D (3)
2. Patrick Jarrett, C (14)
3. Danny Richmond, D (19)
4. Jonathon Lehun, C (30)
5. Robert Nilsson, C (35)
6. Robbie Schremp (to Toronto), C (46)
7. Cory Stillman, C (51)
8. Dominic Deblois, RW (62)
9. Michael Knight (to Toronto), D (67)
10. Mark Stuart, D (78)
11. Patrick Ehelechner, G (83)
12. Curtis McElhinney, G (94)
13. Greg Moore, RW (99)
14. Lee Falardeau, C (110)
15. Mike Brown, G (115)
16. Mark Heatley, RW (126)
17. Jake Dowell, C (131)
18. Matt Hunwick, D (142)
19. Jason Ryznar, LW (147)
20. Chris Murphy, F (158)
21. Brian Lee, D (163)
22. Magnus Akerlund, G (174)
23. Richard Demen-Wuillaume, D (179)
24. Paul Bissonnette, D (190)
25. Mike Brown, RW (195)
26. Oscar Hedman, D (206)
27. Lukas Mensator, G (211)
28. Matt Carle, D (222)
29. Ryan Bowness, RW (227)
30. Magnus Hedberg, F (238)

 Exemption Pick: Chris Chelios, D

It should be understood that these selections in no way entail membership of the Detroit Gladiators, especially for the NHL players.  In other words, do not expect Dany Heatley to be in a Gladiator sweater this fall just because he was their first selection of the draft.  After being drafted, players must sign with the Gladiators.

The Gladiators made a smart move in selecting Mark Heatley after they selected his brother, Dany Heatley, the previous day.  It is an obvious move to entice Dany to Detroit to play with his brother, Mark, who is currently playing for Wisconsin in the NCAA.  

Notable Selections 

Amateur Draft

1.  Sidney Crosby (#1 in WHA draft, then #1 in 2005 NHL draft?), Toronto

21.  Al Montoya (current UM goaltender), Dallas

40.  Derek Meech (Wings 2002 draft pick), Founders’ franchise

126.  Mark Heatley (Dany Heatley’s brother), Detroit

189.  Andre Deveaux (Devereaux without the “er”), Hamilton

217.  Matt Schneider (the other Mathieu),  Founders’ franchise 

Free Agent Draft

1.  Simon Gagne (first pick overall), Quebec

3.  Dany Heatley (picked in lieu of trial), Detroit

6.  Todd Bertuzzi (picked despite goonish behavior), Founders’ franchise

9.  Steve Shields (former UM goalie), Florida

20.  Theoren Fleury (picked despite substance abuse background), Hamilton

25.  Jamie Rivers (journeyman defenseman, Wings call-up), Florida

41.  Sean Avery (former Wing), Florida

43.  Jiri Slegr (8 game Wing), Founders’ franchise

91.  Jamie Pushor (former Wing), Founders’ franchise

111.  Anders Myrvold (Wings call-up), Halifax

140.  Steve Thomas (retiring Wing?), Toronto

148.  Marc Bergevin (former Wing), Hamilton

157.  Mike Keane (Wings still “gutless” and “heartless”?), Hamilton

217.  Bill Muckalt (former UM star), Florida

Exemption Pick: Brett Hull (former Wing, could join dad in WHA), Dallas

**Note:  Founders’ franchise is a team to be named later.  The WHA draft was set up to accommodate eight teams, but only seven are set to play (Quebec, Halifax, Detroit, Hamilton, Toronto, Dallas, Florida).  So an eighth team will need to be established, or “Founders’ franchise” players will be jobless.  Possible cities include Cincinnati or Winnipeg.  The Florida franchise remains homeless, with Orlando and Jacksonville dropping out, so there are only six confirmed franchises. 

Comments

Check out the Detroit Gladiators’ official site, which was unveiled on Friday.  There, you can check out the teams’ draft selections and learn more about Detroit’s new hockey team.
 
With a list of possible players finally cemented, I am a bit more hopeful of the WHA’s success this fall.  My main concern is that many of the NHL players selected in the free agent draft will snub their WHA teams.  This would create a void in players, and the WHA would then have to move towards a new pool of hockey talent.  
 
In regards to the Gladiators’ pick of Chris Chelios as their exemption pick, Coach Moe Mantha has not spoken to Chelios or any other Wings, for that matter: 

“I have too much respect for the Red Wings and Mike Ilitch and Ken Holland.  I haven’t contacted any Red Wings.”

In other words, don’t expect Chelios in a Gladiator sweater this fall. 

Heatley Indicted

Atlanta Thrasher Dany Heatley has been indicted on six charges, stemming from the September car crash that killed teammate Dan Snyder. Heatley crashed his Ferrari into a brick pillar. Charges include vehicular homicide in the first degree, vehicular homicide in the second degree, reckless driving, driving too fast for conditions, failure to maintain his lane, and speeding. The NHL All Star faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on all counts, but Heatley could get off with only probation. The one thing working in his favor is that the Snyder family has publicly forgiven Heatley, and they could work towards getting him off scot-free. Although the family has released a statement saying:

“Our feelings have never changed and we continue to support Dany and the entire Heatley family. Despite our personal feelings in this matter, we respect the responsibility of the district attorney’s office and the legal process.”

Snyder died on Ocober 5, 2003, after sustaining massive head trauma in the high-speed accident. He was ejected 30 feet from the Ferrari.

Heatley also suffered serious injuries, including a broken jaw, minor concussion, bruised lung and kidney, torn medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments, as well as lateral meniscus. He missed a bulk of the 2003-2004 season rehabilitating from his injuries.

Heatley was named a member of Team Canada for the World Cup of Hockey, which takes place from August 30 to September 14.

Danton Pleads Guilty

Mike Danton pleaded guilty to a murder-for-hire conspiracy charge on Friday. The former St Louis Blues player faces 7 to 10 years in prison (as well as up to $250,000 fines) when he is sentenced on October 22. After months of media coverage where his agent, David Frost, defended his longtime associate, it is now clear that Danton was seeking to murder Frost. Danton made the plea as a part of a deal that had the charge of making a telephone call in connection with a murder-for-hire plot dropped.

Native of Ontario, US prosecutors will allow Danton to serve his prison time in Canada. Danton has been jailed since his April 16 arrest in San Jose.

Datsyuk Waves Arbitration

After speculation that Pavel Datsyuk would file for arbitration (with the deadline midnight Thursday), the Russian All Star has decided to continue with negotiations. This comes after a breakout season in which Datsyuk racked up 30 goals and 38 assists. His agent, Gary Greenstin, explains:

“I explained to him how arbitration works. He doesn’t want to go through the process. He believes he’ll get a good deal because he’s proven everything to the Detroit Red Wings organization. We have to make a deal by Sept. 16.”

This is good news, as arbitration hearings pit player against management, and often turn into bitter and divisive battles. Datsyuk has previously stated his desire to remain a Red Wing, and this move to avoid arbitration affirms that.

After months of speculation that we were watching the last episodes of “Coach’s Corner” during the 2004 playoffs, the CBC has decided to bring back the Coach, Don Cherry. On Tuesday, Cherry met with Nancy Lee, head of CBC Sports, and the meeting went well. Cherry assured the CBC that he would be a good citizen and avoid politically incorrect remarks (ie bashing French/European hockey players and Canada’s decision to not send troops to Iraq, among others). Cherry is expected to be offered a one-year contract, but it could also include a second-year.

I expected the CBC to backtrack on its Cherry-bashing and keep him as the hallmark of Hockey Night in Canada. First of all, there was a rush of support behind Cherry’s partner, Ron MacLean, when it was announced that he was leaving two years ago. MacLean never went anywhere. In addition, “Coach’s Corner” has been the spike of Hockey Night in Canada (all of CBC, for that matter) ratings for the longest time, and that is solely due to Cherry’s straightforward, no-nonsense approach to hockey analysis. Not only do hard-core hockey fans tune in, but people who change the channel to CBC just to watch Cherry’s first intermission antics. Finally, with Cherry’s status in the hockey world, it would be inevitable for another station (such as TSN and Rogers Sportsnet) to pick him up in the event that the CBC kicked him out the back door. That would essentially kill Hockey Night in Canada, the CBC’s highest rated program.

The delay in a decision had been good news for Cherry all along. Sources confirm that, if they were planning on dumping Cherry, the CBC would’ve done it right after the Stanley Cup Finals:

“You can’t keep a guy like Cherry, who has done so much for the network, waiting around unless you’re open to re-signing him.”

During his 23-year stay at the CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, Cherry, 70, has always had a cloud of controversy surrounding his roughly 7-minute tirade. Even though Ron MacLean is paid to sit in on “Coach’s Corner,” that’s about all he does. MacLean tries to direct Cherry’s thoughts, but the Coach always says what he wants and follows his agenda. Cherry usually analyzes hockey for the first five minutes of “Coach’s Corner,” saving the last couple minutes to give public thanks to Canadian troops, police, and/or fireman, and then showing a picture of himself with a kid. Amidst his hockey analysis, Cherry also intercedes with “Kids, don’t ever do that” remarks that bring the point home for viewers. I have no problem with Cherry’s aforementioned “agenda,” and it’s one of the reasons why the show is so popular. If you’re given a weekly 7-minute time slot, and you use part of it to connect to the community, it really brings Don Cherry down-to-earth.

Cherry on Bertuzzi
On March 14, I recounted the first “Coach’s Corner” segment after the Todd Bertuzzi suckerpunch. All hockey fans tuned in to see what Grapes would say about the play:

“Look kids…you should never ever do anything like this. Todd was wrong, he knows it’s wrong. If you have a beef with somebody, and you want to do something, it’s face to face, face to face, and you settle it that way. You do suckerpunch ever from behind, you got a beef, it’s face to face, that’s the Canadian way.”

Cherry came down hard on Bertuzzi, but also then Avs Coach Tony Granato, who sent Steve Moore out on the ice without Peter Worrell there to defend him. He also said that he felt sorry for Bertuzzi when the media made fun of him crying (“those weren’t crocodile tears”). Finally, he criticized the league’s $250,000 fine of the Canucks organization, because he thought that it was unfounded.

Brief Biography
Cherry was a career minor league player (16 years) whose only NHL game came in the ’55 playoffs with the Bruins. After retiring as a player, Cherry drifted away from the game and got a job as a construction worker. After the 38-year-old Cherry was layed off by foreman Whitney Smith, Cherry returned to the game as coach of the Boston Bruins three years later.

In his coaching career with the Boston Bruins, Cherry translated his tough personality to making his team tough-as-nails and one of the best teams in the latter 1970′s. It is also said that he modeled the Bruins’ playing style after his dog, Blue (the one seen in the “Coach’s Corner” theme). Cherry won the Jack Adams in 1976. The outspoken Cherry also had his faults. Coach was fired after the 1979 playoffs. This was due to his famous too-many-men-on-the-ice call in Game 7, versus the Canadiens, when the Bruins were up by a goal with less than two minutes remaining. The Canadiens tied the game on the powerplay and won in overtime. If you ever meet Don Cherry in person, do not ask him about that game. I’m sure many journalists could tell you why…

The culmination of Cherry’s controversial comments led to a seven-second delay on Coach’s Corner.” In a country that strives hard to maintain unity with French and English speaking citizens, Cherry had come out against the French too much (basically saying they are wimps and thus wear visors). The Official Languages Commissioner of the Canadian Government launched an investigation, shadowing Cherry wherever he went, and finally recommending sensitivity training for all CBC employees.

My Views
I am relieved that Don Cherry will be back in the hot seat (23 years and counting). Cherry is one of the biggest ambassadors of the game. He speaks from the heart which gets him in some trouble) and gives hockey a grassroots, homey feel. As a hockey fan, I have been blessed with being able to watch Hockey Night in Canada from the United States (Detroit area gets CBC). I can confidently say that I wouldn’t be the impassioned fan I am without segments like “Coach’s Corner.”

I feel bad for hockey fans in the United States who aren’t exposed to Hockey Night in Canada. The ESPN/ABC coverage of the NHL is much too dry and packaged. I always choose the CBC and Don Cherry over ESPN/ABC and Barry Melrose, and it’s because of the passion that comes from Cherry and Hockey Night in Canada. Don Cherry is a great man, and my only regret is that I didn’t see all 23 years of hockey passion. Love him or hate him, people seem to be attracted to the Archie Bunker that Don Cherry brings to their living room.

Pavel Datsyuk has signed to play for Moscow Dynamo this fall, with an escape clause that allows him to return to Detroit once the NHL season begins. The deal is set to begin September 16, with the CBA expiring the day before. Agent Gary Greenstein explains the deal:

“It’s something to protect Pavel in case there is a lockout. Pavel wants to play hockey somewhere. Dynamo has good coaches, good trainers, it’s going to be a very good team.”

Datsyuk is a restricted free agent, and it is likely that he will file for salary arbitration by tonight at midnight. He earned $1.5 million last season, finishing with 30 goals and 38 assists. After his breakout season, Datsyuk is looking for a significant raise. General Manager Ken Holland remains hopeful:

“We had some exploratory talks in June and nothing came out of them. Obviously, we’re trying again.”

Other than Datsyuk no other Wing eligible to file for arbitration is expected to do so (Mathieu Dandenault, Jiri Fischer, and Jason Williams).

So, despite this news that Datsyuk will likely play in Russia this fall, as the owners and players hash out a new CBA, I remain confident that Pavel will be in a Winged-Wheel again. Says Greenstein:

“He loves Detroit, he loves playing for the Red Wings, and doesn’t want to play anywhere else.”

Datsyuk turns 26 on Tuesday.

Bykov Update

Greenstein also represents former Wings defenseman Dmitri Bykov, and has said that Bykov will remain in Russia next season. This honors the final year of a contract with Ak Bars Kazan. He plans to return to the NHL for the 2005-2006 season, and the Wings retain his rights and have expressed an interest in having him back. Last summer, Bykov signed a two-year, tax-free contract worth $2 million with Ak Bars Kazan. He had previously made $605,000 with the Wings.