Pavel Datsyuk has been an integral part of the Detroit Red Wings machine for many years, not only just for goal scoring but also from his magical passing (he is the Magic Man, after all) and being one of the most creative forwards in hockey. He has made his desire to end his career in Russia closer to his family clear, and now it appears that is becoming a reality next season.
Expect Detroit Red Wings to make announcement tomorrow along with Pavel Datsyuk confirming he will not be returning next year.
— Aaron Ward (@NHL_AaronWard) June 17, 2016
Datsyuk has scored 314 goals and has 918 points in his NHL career which started all the way back in the 2001-02 season, and though he’s not the player he once was, there are still some glimpses of that magic. He will play in the NHL and NHLPA sponsored World Cup of Hockey this September, and that could be the last time hockey fans on these shores can watch Datsyuk play.
The biggest question facing the Red Wings now is the last year of Datsyuk’s NHL contract, which carries a cap hit of $7.5 million. It cannot be bought out and the cap hit would stay on the Red Wings’ books even if the player himself goes to Russia. There will be no actual money paid to Datsyuk, but trading the cap hit might be difficult, as the Blackhawks and Panthers found out recently by trading dead contracts to other teams (along with talented players) for salary cap relief. The cap is projected to not increase that much, so moving this contract is critical.
But that discussion is for another day, because the Magic Man heading back to Russia makes me, and all other hockey fans sad.
