Three years after announcing his retirement from the NHL, Pavel Datsyuk could consider a return when his KHL contract expires, and would consider a return to Detroit.
Red Wings fans, allow me to make your day. Pavel Datsyuk may not have played his last game for the Detroit Red Wings and could play for the Red Wings again as soon as next season.
“The Magic Man” is not ready to call it quits on his spectacular career just yet, and has not yet ruled out a return to the NHL once his KHL contract expires.
“I can tell you Pavel is not ready to quit hockey in next few years,” Datsyuk’s agent since 2014, Dan Milstein, told Match TV in Russia. “So again, it’s up to him, going to America or playing in the KHL.”
Speaking with Detroit Free Press on Wednesday, Dan Milstien said that if the 40 year old Red Wings legend does decide to make a return to the NHL, Milstein adds that there is only one team he believes that Datsyik will consider.
“Three years ago, Datsyuk left Detroit on his own,” Milstein said. “The same desire can bring him back.”
Datsyuk was the 171st overall pick for the Detroit Red Wings in the 1998 NHL draft and spent his entire 14-year NHL career with the Red Wings, finishing seventh on the Red Wings in the all-time points list with 918 points (314 goals, 604 assists).
He also helped lead the organization to Stanley Cups in 2002 and 2008. He’s also won three Frank J. Selke awards as the best defensive forward in the NHL and four Lady Byng Memorial trophies for sportsmanship.
Needless to say, he was beloved across the league for his unparalleled skill, making the “Datsyukian Deke” the benchmark for all slick goals scored from now to the end of time.
Datsyuk announced his retirement from the NHL on June 18, 2016, and returned to his native Russia to spend more time with his daughter, signing a two-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg in the KHL.
After renewing that contract for an additional season, his contract expires after the KHL season ends.
However, this does not mean that Datsyuk is certain to return to the NHL next season and rejoin the Red Wings to re-live the glory days. It only means that this is not his final season in professional hockey and coming back to the NHL is just one of the options still on the table.
Milstein said he has not spoken to any NHL executives about Datsyuk and won’t until “he tells me he is considering coming back to the NHL.”
“Pavel is not ready to retire,” Milstein continued. “I talk to him six, seven times a week. I have talked to him about a possible return to NHL, but that is all.”
Regardless of if Datsyuk wants to come back or not, the Red Wings have other matters to attend to this offseason as they attempt to build themselves back towards playoff contention. Would Datsyuk still even fit into the lineup?
If he does, would he even accept being placed in a more limited role in favor of the younger Red Wings like Dylan Larkin and Andreas Athanasiou?
Let’s face it, the move would be entirely for fan service, but that’s not exactly a bad thing with how bleak things have looked for the Red Wings over the past several years. If Datsyuk wants it, and they can make it work, why not give it a run?
Fans across the NHL certainly mind seeing Datsyuk adding more highlights like these to his resume.