Detroit Red Wings: Pavel Datsyk’s NHL return a real possibility
Pavel Datsyuk is set to become a free agent in the KHL, and there is a slim chance he makes his way back to the NHL
Pavel Datsyuk is missed, primarily by the Detroit Red Wings. Since the Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg era came to an end, the Red Wings have been looking for a new identity. They have always had success in drafting quality players and developing them well but, as the 2018-19 campaign hits the All-Star break, the Red Wings sit fourth to last in the Eastern Conference and have their sights set on the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
The Detroit Free Press reported that, despite the long shot, Datsyuk may consider a return to North America, according to his agent Dan Milstein. At the moment, the Arizona Coyotes own the rights to Datsyuk after the Red Wings tried to unload some cap space during the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. His current NHL contract expires this year, making him a free agent this coming summer.
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If Datsyuk returns to the NHL, it sounds like he will not play anywhere else but Detroit. He was a staple of the franchise and he may want to finish his hockey career in the red and white.
It would be weird to see him play anywhere else, and the Red Wings are in need of some veteran leadership anyway. They are young and inexperienced, but Datsyuk’s locker room presence alone could be great for their development, even if he does not succeed as much on the score sheet.
Ilya Kovalchuk Adds Some Food for Thought
When you consider the option of aging players making a return to the NHL, look no further than the case study of Ilya Kovalchuk.
Despite being one of the best players in the NHL for many years, he is simply not the same player today. The game is changing, and it’s not only a young man’s game, but it’s a fast one. Kovalchuk was a superstar, but now he finds himself on a lackluster Los Angeles Kings team that seem destined for the Western Conference basement.
The Kings are not getting what they hoped for out of Kovalchuk, and it’s understandable that he is not performing like his old self. A long break from the NHL is one thing, but the KHL is also a different game. European and North American hockey have always been compared, but the transition to a faster pace in the NHL is, as a result, creating a new breed of talent.
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Datsyuk is in a similar boat, and it would be hard to assume that he will excel right away if he makes his way back to the NHL. The talent and hockey IQ are one of the best, but the physical aspects of the game need to be there as well. With that said, Datsyuk is a ways away from confirming an NHL comeback, but if he does, he will have a full offseason to prepare himself.