Datsyuk heads home...

According to TSN, Pavel Datsyuk has turned down a $5 million contract offer from the Red Wings to play in Russia. Datsyuk thinks he's worth in the $6 millio/season range:

"I think I am worth at least what (Dany) Heatley or (Joe) Thornton got from their deals," Datsyuk told the Russian media.

There's a couple of things wrong with his logic. First, why would he think that his NHL career total of 53 goals matches up with what Joe Thornton has done? Right, it doesn't. Also, his totals in Russia last year were less than impressive.

Secondly, I believe that Dany Heatley is slated to make $3.5 million this year. I realize that over the life of his contract, he will average around $5 million/season, but reportedly the Red Wings have already offered Datsyuk that kind of cash. So what gives with that, Pavel?

I'm so sick of the nature of the modern athlete. Datsyuk is over-estimating his value on a massive scale. There's no way that he's worth that kind of money. I'm frankly shocked that he was offered $5 million. That's a ton of cash for a guy who has really had one solid season - at 27 years old. So you know what? Let Datsyuk move to Russia. Let him leave the cozy confines of a Stanley Cup contender to go play in Siberia.