Red Wings Take Top FA Off The Market...

[matt]

...by re-signing Pavel Datsyuk to a MASSIVE 7 year extension.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070406/UPDATE/704060452

While I'm relieved we won't be going into the summer wondering whether Datsyuk will sign elsewhere (like Fedorov four years ago), I almost would have preferred that the Wings wait to see how he performs in the playoffs. He hasn't shown much in the playoffs lately, so it is a bit puzzling that they would just hand him the longest contract in franchise history.