Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

As he talked about where he will play next, Pavel Datsyuk's reason for leaving the Detroit Red Wings became clear in a few words.

Asked if it might be the beautiful city of St. Petersburg, Datsyuk smiled and said, "all of Russia is beautiful."

Today saw Datsyuk deliver the final announcement the Detroit Red Wings dreaded - but expected.

"My family and I are grateful for our time here in Detroit," he said in a press conference during a break at his hockey camp in Orchard Lake St. Mary's ice arena. "This was not an easy decision, but it is time for us to return home."

It turns out Datsyuk has wanted to go home for two years. The Wings were able to persuade him to play through 2015-16, and now are stuck with a headache: How to shed the one year, $7.5 million salary cap hit left on his contract so the money can be used to pursue Steven Stamkos, or another high-profile player.

“I’ve talked to some teams over the last couple of days,” general manager Ken Holland said. “We’ll see if I can move the contract. I’m not overly optimistic. Teams are looking for lots of future assets.”

While Holland acknowledged disappointment, he emphasized appreciation for having had 14 years with Datsyuk.

“He was a wonderful player for a long time,” Holland said. “Pav is real honorable. Pav didn’t do this knowingly. Certainly I’m disappointed that he’s not going to honor the ‘16-17 season, but I understand his reasons.”

• Related:Watch Datsyuk's greatest goals with Red Wings

Datsyuk agonized over the decision, continuing to mull it over after the World Championship ended in late May and as he took a holiday with his family. He gave the news to Red Wings general manager Ken Holland during a meeting Friday evening.

"It's difficult," Datsyuk said. "I fight with my mind already a few years. Finally decision come during vacation with family.

“When I am in Russia, more focused on World Championship. When you are home, of course you are excited. But I make last decision when I go away on vacation and make sure I refresh my mind, and not emotional.”

Holland said he will move the contract for a reasonable price. He has anticipated this for some time, revealing fresh details about the whole situation. In summer of 2013, Datsyuk signed a three-year extension that went into effect the following season.

“In September of ’14, the first year of this contract, Pav said he wanted to meet with me,” Holland said. “Pav told me, ‘Ken, this is my last year.’

“We were a week into the contract. I just listened. My hope was Pav was going to leave that meeting, and he would get excited with the year. Then two or three months later, Pav pulls me aside and says he hasn’t told anybody about decision, but ‘I did tell Henrik Zetterberg today.’

“That’s when I knew this wasn’t going away.”

Holland also revealed Datsyuk’s agent for his last contract, Gary Greenstin, originally wanted a much longer extension.

“In 2013, Gary Greenstin wanted a five-year deal,” Holland said. “What do you think would have happened if I’d countered with one year deal? He would have been on another team.

“I don’t think Pav knew the rules. I don’t think Pav had a conversation with Gary about when he wanted to retire. I don’t think Pav made this decision knowing the rules. He signed a contract, he wanted to be here, and when he got into the start of the first year, he made a decision that he didn’t want to be in the NHL anymore. He wanted to go back home.”

It took a June 2015 meeting with team owner Mike Ilitch to convince Datsyuk to come back for the 2015-16 season, with the understanding the Wings would not fight Datsyuk leaving this summer and wanting to continue his career in Russia’s KHL.

“I don’t have any hard feelings, not towards Pav,” Holland said. “He’s a great player. He gave us 14 years of incredible hockey. He never complained. He just played hard.”

Datsyuk, 37, first made his desire to return to his motherland public in an interview with the Free Press that ran at the conclusion of the regular season. His main reason is his a desire to be closer to his teenage daughter from his first marriage. He also has been vocal about wanting to finish his hockey career playing before Russian fans, especially after playing there while the NHL was in a labor dispute in the fall of 2012.

“When I come back from lockout, my mind is thinking, I want to go home,” Datsyuk said. “But also I want to keep playing here. I go with my mind and be OK with another three years, but then it got harder and harder.

“Now I just think it’s not fair, and I have to go back home.”

Datsyuk’s departure ends a magical chapter in Wings history. He was selected deep in the 1998 draft, 171st overall. Three years later, he made an immediate impact as a rookie, playing 70 games in 2001-02 plus another 21 during a playoff run that ended with a Stanley Cup championship.

Datsyuk helped the Wings to another Stanley Cup in 2008. In 953 career games, he had 314 goals and 604 assists. Accolades include three Selke trophies (as the league’s best defensive forward), four Lady Byng trophies (sportsmanlike conduct), and four selections to the NHL All-Star Game.

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.

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