After 14 NHL seasons, all spent in a Detroit Red Wings sweater, future Hockey Hall of Famer Pavel Datsyuk is finally nearing that point of his professional career where "the next step" has become the main topic of conversation. Datsyuk, 37, is in the second year of a three-year extension he signed with the Wings in 2013. He's got one year left at a $7.5 million cap hit.
Despite his contract status, rumors have begun to swirl this season that Datysuk may be headed to Russia after the 2015-16 Red Wings season comes to a close. But from the sounds of a recent report, it seems Datsyuk will likely be returning to Detroit for one more season.
Per the report, "intel" out of the Red Wings building suggests that Datsyuk will stick it out with the only NHL franchise he's ever known for the duration of his current contract. Red Wings GM Ken Holland and the rest of the Red Wings front office apparently haven't been pressuring Datsyuk to make a decision, but they "hope and believe" that he'll be back for 2017.
Datysuk has said in the past that it's a "dream" of his to play in Russia, where he has played during the last two NHL lockouts and where his family resides. Datsyuk also hasn't completely dismissed the possibility when asked by reporters, which likely added fuel to the fire.
While he's certainly not the player he once was, Datsyuk remains one of the most talented guys in the NHL. Were he to make the jump to Russia, he'd almost certainly be the most impressive player on the ice on any given night.
If the issue really is family, as some have suggested, there's probably not much Holland and the Wings can offer to try and sweeten the deal in the U.S.
As for the Wings, Holland said that he hadn't spoken to Datysuk regarding his potential move to Russia, though he did seem to admit he'd heard the rumors.
"I haven't talked to Pavel," Holland said. "He has a year to go (on his contract). Are the rumors news to me? I hear a lot of rumors. He has a year to go on his contract. I'll sit down with all of our players at the end of the year, one by one, and talk to them all."
Playing the role of grizzled veteran and mentor to many of the Wings' young pieces like Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha this season, Datsyuk has still managed to collect 16 goals and 48 points. It's a little off a point-per-game pace, but it really wasn't long ago that he was landing on the score sheet nearly every night.
In the end, it seems likeliest the Wings enjoy Datsyuk's considerable services for one more season, which should sit well with the Detroit fans chanting "One more year!" at Datsyuk as the Wings crushed the Flyers on Wednesday night.
