Red Wings' Datsyuk jokes with Verlander about contract

MINNEAPOLIS -- Reactions to Justin Verlander's contract extension aren't limited to baseball anymore. Detroit Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk gave Verlander some ribbing on Twitter Monday.

"Congrats on the new contract! Mr. Ilitch spent all his money," Datsyuk tweeted to Verlander, referring to Tigers and Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch. "Nothing left for me."

Verlander got a laugh out of it.

"Haha. Thanks, man," Verlander tweeted back. "Dinner is on me."

Datsyuk is actually in the same contract situation Verlander faced before signing his extension. Datsyuk's deal expires after next season. Unlike Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League has a hard salary cap.