It appears Pavel Datsyuk is done playing in Russia. Is a return to the NHL -- and to the Red Wings -- next?
Datsyuk announced on Twitter Tuesday night that his career with St. Petersburg SKA of the KHL is complete, via Elliote Friedman. He joined the team in 2016 after leaving the Red Wings with one year left on his contract.
Datsyuk, 41, will be in Detroit in the near future for an autograph signing. However, his rights are owned by the Coyotes until July 1, which would preclude the Red Wings from meeting with him before then.
The Wings traded Datsyuk to the Coyotes before he returned to Russia to save money against the salary cap.
In his final season with Detroit, Datsyuk tallied 49 points in 66 games. Things have changed with the team in the years since.
The Red Wings are now in a full-scale rebuild, led by a wave of young forwards. How Datsyuk would fit into the picture isn't clear. And their longtime general manager, Ken Holland, was replaced by Steve Yzerman last month. Yzerman and Datsyuk, for what it's worth, were teammates for four seasons.
Datsyuk did play for current head coach Jeff Blashill in his last season with the team.
If he wants to return, the question facing the Wings is, at what cost? Not only in terms of dollars, but in opportunity reserved for Detroit's young players.
And the question facing Datsyuk is, in what role? It certainly wouldn't be the one he was accustomed to over his 14-year career.
Datysuk's agent is confident he can still be a productive player in the NHL
"Pavel is getting slower with age, but his skill and vision are still there," he said. "People would go to the stadium to see him. I think it'd be lovely and appropriate for him to return to North America. But again, he will make a decision."