Pavel Datsyuk will announces his plans for next season on Saturday, according to a variety of outlets and his own agent. At the moment, it sure sounds like we’ve seen the last of the magical forward’s days in the NHL.
Datsyuk met with Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland on Friday after postponing the discussion for a week.
Reports and gut reactions indicate that the most likely scenario is that Datsyuk will share the news that he’ll stay in Russia instead of returning to the Red Wings in 2016-17.
Here’s a selection of well-connected reports:
If Pavel Datsyuk is indeed leaving the Red Wings with a year left in his contract, it will be up to him to announce and explain himself.
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) June 17, 2016
Pavel Datsyuk's meeting with #RedWings Ken Holland has concluded. Datsyuk will address media tomorrow at noon, agent Dan Milstein said.
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) June 17, 2016
ok, so the Datsyuk presser is at noon and then the Wings are having another presser that evening?
— Winging It In Motown (@wingingitmotown) June 17, 2016
Yeah I think this one is foregone.
Sources in Russia insist Datsyuk will be playing for SKA next year. Not counting out a last-minute change of heart, but it would be a shock.
— Slava Malamud 🇺🇦 (@SlavaMalamud) June 17, 2016
Pavel Datsyuk will discuss his future with the Red Wings Saturday around noon, several reports saying retirement likely
— Tom Eschen (@TomEschenJr) June 17, 2016
As a refresher, Datsyuk has a year and $7.5 million cap hit remaining on his contract with the Red Wings. General Fanager lists his actual 2015-16 salary as $5.5 million, so Detroit would be wise to direct its aggressive trade pitches toward teams hoping to hit the cap floor.
If Pavel Datsyuk says he's leaving Detroit, might be wise to wait for everything to play out before passing judgment on contract situation.
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) June 17, 2016