Take that a couple ways.

1. That it's natural speculation considering Datsyuk's age, his love for Russia, his injuries over the last few years, the Wings' decline and maybe even some family stuff that can be assumed based on divorce and the inevitable challenges associated with it.

2. That the speculation was just that and not worthy of comment from journalists. It could be assumed of any player over 35 that the end is near. We dealt with it for years with Lidstrom, Chelios, Yzerman, etc.

But it's been out there. People have been talking for months, according to Pierre.

So, why now?

By my count, Friedman had approximately 180 chances to bring this up: every week in his '30 Thoughts' column.

He never saw the need until Saturday night, on a Hockey Night in Canada, with the irrelevant Leafs on the docket and an audience ripe for a big splash. If McGuire heard these rumors in October, you know Friedman's heard them just as long. But all of a sudden his sources strengthened on a Saturday in April when the cameras were on? Noted.

I don't doubt 13's thinking of going home. I do doubt, just to clarify, that he would leave the Wings in a position to have to eat 7.5 of Cap space in his absence. It's not about him taking more money. It's about him not shafting the Wings, which I don't think he'll do.

Not buying it. Not buying the strength of the rumor and not buying Friedman's venue or timing to unleash it. Naturally, the sources were unnamed.

Funny stuff happens when all six favorite teams are planning vacations for mid-April.