The agent representing Pavel Datsyuk says reports from Russian “sports portal” Sportfakt.ru -- ones claiming Datsyuk will sign in the KHL after playing in the world hockey championships -- are false, adding that his client still intends to meet with Red Wings management following the tournament.
Datsyuk's agent Dan Milstein says report is inaccurate...Datsyuk hasn't spoken to any team or anybody or any media...
— Ted Kulfan (@tkulfan) May 20, 2016
Milstein expecting Datsyuk and Red Wings to meet/talk second week of June, after Datsyuk returns from world championship in Russia
— Ted Kulfan (@tkulfan) May 20, 2016
The Sportfakt report claimed Datsyuk had agreed in principle to a two-year deal with SKA Saint Petersburg. It was believed the club wanted to get Datsyuk’s deal done now, amid rumblings that two of its top scorers -- Vadim Shipachyov and Evgeny Dadonov -- were asking to be released from their contracts, in order to secure new deals elsewhere.
(Shipachyov, currently tearing it up at the worlds for Russia, is receiving a ton of NHL interest, per Eilliotte Friedman.)
Earlier this month, we passed along news that Datsyuk would, as his agent said, return to Detroit following the worlds and discuss his playing future with Wings GM Ken Holland.
Based on today’s development, that plan still appears intact.