Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk announced his retirement from the NHL on Saturday.
In a press conference during his youth hockey camp, Datsyuk said he will return home to play in Russia in the Kontinental Hockey League.
Datsyuk, 37, has spent over a decade with the Red Wings, and was a key contributor during his time here.
In 2013, he signed a 3-year contract extension, and there is still one year left on his contract.
He had a $2 million bonus for his last year, but when it became clear he was likely going to return to Russia, Datsyuk did not collect the bonus.
His contract will still give Detroit a $7.5 million hit against he salary cap next season, but the Red Wings can trade his contract to another team
Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland said he is not confident that the team will be able to trade his contract, and said there is no way they trade one of the top young talents along with the contract.
Also, Holland said he is happy that Datsyuk stayed through the 2015-16 season, as that was part of the deal. If Datsyuk stayed, the team would not enforce the final year of his contract.
