Red Wings Trade Pavel Datsyuk's Contract, 1st Round Pick To Arizona
BUFFALO (CBS Detroit/AP) -- The Detroit Red Wings have traded Pavel Datsyuk and their 2016 first round draft pick (No. 16) to the Arizona Coyotes.
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— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 25, 2016
UPDATE: The #RedWings trade 16th pick & Pavel Datsyuk to ARZ for 20th, 53rd, and Joe Vitale
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 25, 2016
Pavel Datsyuk traded to Coyotes. He ranks 6th all-time in points in Red Wings history behind Howe, Yzerman, Delvecchio, Lidstrom & Fedorov
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 25, 2016
In return, Detroit received veteran center Joe Vitale, the 20th pick in the first round and the 53rd overall pick. Vitale, 30, spent the past two seasons with the Coyotes after beginning his NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Vitale played in only one game last season due to a concussion and is questionable to begin 2016 healthy.
Datsyuk announced last week that he would be leaving the team to play in his home country of Russia.
He had one year and a $7.5 million cap hit remaining on a three-year contract signed in 2013.
With Datsyuk's contract off the books, the Wings have about $18 million of open cap space heading into free agency. There are still some players Holland figures to resign, but the extra $7.5 million of wiggle room allows the team to pursue prized free agents like Steven Stamkos, should he hit the open market.
Datsyuk said his final decision came when he was on vacation with his family recently. A native of Sverdlovsk, Russia, Datsyuk says he intends to play in the KHL, although he didn't say for how much longer.
The 37-year-old Datsyuk has had a dazzling career. Detroit drafted him in the sixth round in 1998, and he helped the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup in 2002 as a rookie. He was one of the franchise's stars when it won another title in 2008.
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