Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk Out Once Again

Red Wings’ Pavel Datsyuk Out Once Again

Nov 16, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk (13) takes a shot on Montreal Canadiens goalie Dustin Tokarski (35) defended by defenseman Sergei Gonchar (55) in the third period at Joe Louis Arena. Montreal won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Detroit Red Wings cannot keep veteran Pavel Datsyuk healthy this year

The Detroit Red Wings have played in seventeen contests so far this year; they will play number eighteen Tuesday night, as they face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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Veteran Pavel Datsyuk, though, cannot make the same claim.

The forward missed the first five games of the season (along with most of the pre-season) due to a separated shoulder; he returned for seven games, but then went down with a groin injury.

After missing two additional games for the groin issue, Datsyuk returned to the lineup — but it looks like the same issue is keeping him out of the game again tonight, although there is no word as to whether or not the injury will prevent him from playing on Thursday. Veteran forward Dan Cleary is filling in for Datsyuk for the time being.

Datsyuk, who turned 36 this summer, is entering his first year of a three year, $22.5 million contract extension with the franchise he has played for since 2001. His overall performance hasn’t declined in recent years, but injuries have kept him from skating out with the team since last season — he recorded nearly forty points in 45 games, but it’s hard to ignore that he missed nearly half the season.

It’s too early to presume that the Russian forward will continue to see a decline in his health, but this is a possibility that the Red Wings cannot ignore. With a hefty $7.5 cap hit each of the next three years, minimal game play like Datsyuk has seen this season could mean problems for the franchise in the long run.

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