Pavel Datsyuk in talks to leave Red Wings for SKA St. Petersburg

The 37-year-old Pavel Datsyuk is reportedly already in negotiations with KHL team SKA St. Petersburg.

Longtime Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk has entered into contract talks with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), according to a report from Russian newspaper Sport-Express.

SKA president Gennady Timchenko reportedly told Sport-Express that he believes the team has a “good chance to sign (Datsyuk).”

However, Datsyuk’s agent, Dan Milstein, told The Detroit News that an earlier report about a two-year deal already being reached with SKA St. Petersburg was “inaccurate.”

Datsyuk reportedly came to a decision to retire from the NHL at the conclusion of the Red Wings’ 2015-16. Detroit was ousted by Tampa Bay in five games in the first round.

The Detroit Free Press first reported Datsyuk’s decision back in April. Datsyuk cited family as his main motivation to return home to Russia.

"“I’m thinking I go home after this season,” Datsyuk told the Free Press. “I may not be done with hockey, but — it is hard to say — I think I am done playing in NHL.”"

The move to join the KHL would bring Datsyuk’s long NHL career to a close. He spent all 14 seasons with the Red Wings, helping the team win Stanley Cups in 2002 and 2008. He’s a three-time Selke Trophy winner as the NHL’s top defensive forward, and he also won four straight Lady Byng Trophies for sportsmanship from 2006-09. Datsyuk was a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player in the 2008-09 season.

His 314 career goals rank seventh on the Red Wings’ all-time list, while his 604 assists and 918 points rank fifth and sixth, respectively.

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