The expected meeting between Pavel Datsyuk and Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has been moved back a week in the wake of Gordie Howe’s passing, according to a report Saturday.
A legend in Detroit and throughout the hockey world, Howe passed away Friday at the age of 88. Howe’s visitation is scheduled for Tuesday and his funeral for Wednesday (Read about those details here).
Dan Milstein, the agent for Datsyuk, told the Free Press Saturday that Datsyuk is returning to the Detroit area on Tuesday. Originally the two were to meet with Wings general manager Ken Holland on Wednesday, but that “will be pushed back to next week so Pavel, Ken and I can pay respect to Gordie and attend his funeral scheduled for Wednesday,” Milstein said in a text message.
Milstein has publicly stated Datsyuk, the skilled 37-year-old forward, would like to return to Russia. Last month, he acknowledged there had been an offer from SKA Saint Petersburg in the KHL, but nothing had been officially signed as of that time.
He still has one more year left on his contract with the Red Wings. The deal comes with a cap hit of $7.5 million, which, based on the “35-plus contract rule”, will still count towards Detroit’s salary cap if they’re unable to move it.
With the draft and free agency approaching, it’s been recently reported that the Red Wings are actively looking to move that contract.