The Legend Continues: Pavel Datsyuk Signs 3-Year Extension

The Magician has a few more tricks to perform in Hockeytown.

As per MLive.com's Ansar Khan, Pavel Datsyuk has agreed to, and signed, a new 3-year contract extension that will see him don the Winged Wheel at least until the end of 2016-17.  Datsyuk had recently hinted on Twitter that a deal was close, and he later confirmed it today on his timeline, stating:

"Signed 3 yr. extension. Detroit, glad to be here for 4 more yrs.Thanks to our fans, friends and Ilitch family".

Khan detailed the specifics of Datsyuk's extra three years in his report, stating that #13 will make a cool $10 Million in the first year of the extension, followed by a drop to $7.5 and finally $5.5 Million over the last two years of the deal, coming to a grand total of $23 Million over the extension's full term.

How happy am I? Well...

That is a pretty good indicator.

The fact that we got our boy Dats back for $23 Million over three years is exceptional on both sides: management for swinging the deal, and Datsyuk for being a true Red Wing and not low-balling the team for more cash.  Yes, I know $23M is lots of money, but I could easily see some teams paying him anywhere between $8-9 Million per season, and it wouldn't be overpaying.  Pavel does so many good things on both ends of the ice, and players like him do not come around often.  He's a proven winner, class act, and part of the heart and soul of this team.  With the fresh talent coming up through the Grand Rapids Griffins, the next few years should be kind to Datsyuk, with lots of skilled players to make plays with and big bodies to do play the puck-retrieval game and give Dats room to maneuver--not that he needs much.  The next few years could present one of the most talented Detroit lineups since the 2002 campaign.  It is certainly speculation at this point, but the possibility is there.

And so is Pavel Datsyuk.