Red Wings breakdown day is breakup day for Datsyuk, Howard

The Detroit Red Wings were eliminated rather hastily by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.

Some assumed simply getting to the playoffs and extending their streak to 25 seasons would be satisfactory. But the Wings aren’t satisfied. One might say some of them are very, very dissatisfied.

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A few of the news bits from Red Wings breakdown day:

- Pavel Datsyuk said he’ll make a decision on his NHL future after playing in the 2016 IIHF Corld Championships in Russia, but Henrik Zetterberg thinks Pavel has “made up his mind” and GM Ken Holland’s best guess is that he’s not coming back. Reports have been rampant that Datsyuk has played his last NHL game, and will be in the KHL next season.

- This might just be the posturing talking, but Holland said that the Red Wings would consider eating $7.5 million in dead cap space if trading a departed Datsyuk’s space meant departing with a draft pick or a top prospect.

- Goalie Jimmy Howard, who has a $5.292 million cap hit through 2019 and a modified no-trade clause, would be OK with being traded, telling Helene St. James that “it's part of the business.” Petr Mrazek can have Vezina-worthy stretches when he’s on; Howard, not so much. Moving Howard makes sense given they have to pay RFA Mrazek, but who’s taking on that contract for an average goalie?

- From the “be careful what you wish for” department, Tomas Tatar went from championing the coaching change after Mike Babcock left for Toronto to complaining about his usage and line combinations after coach Jeff Blashill’s first season.

- Darren Helm, a free agent after this season, said the Red Wings haven’t had any contract talks with him after he was injured this season. According to Brad Galli, he wasn’t happy with his ice time or usage, either.

- Finally, Holland said the Red Wings aren’t in a rebuild, that he will explore trades at the draft, that he recognizes the team needs more size and that nothing on the UFA market is a “franchise-changing” player.

(Um, does that include a certain center with the Tampa Lightning? Because either Holland is being coy about possible interest in Steven Stamkos or he falls into the “no quick fixes” category.)

There’s been more and more outcry from Red Wings fans about Holland and his future, despite having found a way to get this team into the postseason for the last 25 seasons. But the team is saddled with some hefty contracts, beyond the Datsyuk situation, and confidence that he can get this team back to glory is low.

Well, amongst the fans, anyway: Bob Wojnowski reports that Holland has the backing of the Ilitch family.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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