Datsyuk is the most recent on a legendary list of seemingly premature Detroit departures. Frustratingly we can only accept their decisions.
Pavel Datsyuk's retirement has solicited a fine powered mix of positive and negative weighing in on his character and how the manner of his retirement effects his legacy.
While I don't believe Datsyuk and former Detroit Lions great Barry Sanders are exactly comparable in legend, still any debate about retirement determining a player's character takes me back to 1999.
I was an overfed 12 year old inexplicably listening to 1130 WDFN "The Fan" around 10pm on the garage radio one balmy summer's break evening.