Detroit Red Wings: Is Pavel Datsyuk eyeing an NHL return?

Former Detroit Red Wings super-star forward Pavel Datsyuk may be eyeing an NHL return come July.1st, 2019.

Pavel Datsyuk‘s rights were traded to the Arizona Coyotes. The Detroit Red Wings made the move for cap relief purposes after Pav decided he wanted to continue his hockey career in the KHL. The move helped the Coyotes get above the salary cap floor. In the deal, the teams exchanged draft choices.

Coyotes took Jakob Chychrun who is now a top 4 NHL defender. The Detroit Red Wings moved from pick 16 to 20 and selected Dennis Cholowski. In the deal, the wings received an additional second round pick and took Filip Hronek with it.

For the casual fan that may not have known, not only do teams have a maximum amount of money they are allocated to spend on players for their roster, there is also a minimum amount of team salary each team needs to spend. For a low profiting franchise like they Coyotes have been over the years they needed a bigger contract on the books that helped them get over that salary minimum.

Regarding Pavel Datsyuk, a little bit of an alarming tweet Per TSN‘s Bob McKenzie:

"Heard some idle chatter that 40-year-old KHLer Pavel Datsyuk might consider a return to the NHL next season but his agent Dan Milstein says: “Every year we sit down and talk about the options but (returning to the) NHL isn’t something he has entertained.”"

More from Octopus Thrower

Not precisely a tonne to read into here but I wonder why a guy like Bob would tweet this if it didn’t have at least a little traction to it. I mean Pav must be at the very least considering it. He will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, with the ability to sign where ever he would like.

Maybe with his friend and countryman, Ilya Kovalchuk returning to the league has reconsidering things. Remember deciding to join the KHL allowed Pav to play in the Winter Olympics for the Athletes of Russia. He was able to captain the group to a gold medal, notching another career achievement. Would they have won if the NHLers were allowed to participate? We will never know, but it certainly would not have been easily accomplished.

Another thing to consider is the fact that Pav will turn 41 years old next July. Our memory of Datsyuk is a top three forward in the NHL. During the Olympics, he was still able to show his tremendous puck skills, but it was quite noticeable he has lost a step.

If Pavel indeed decides to return to the league, I would have a hard time seeing him play for another franchise. I understand it is a Ken Holland type of thought, but on this one, I can’t seem to help it. A two-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Detroit Red Wings and one of their all-time greats.

People won’t understand that thinking during a rebuild, and I understand your reasoning, why would you sign a 41-year-old? I don’t have any other explanation other than it is Pavel Datsyuk we are talking about.

I still think Pav would be an upgrade to many of the players that the Detroit Red Wings currently have dressed. I mean who would you want Vanek or Datsyuk? Stop and think what he could mean playing on the third line between Joe Veleno and Filip Zadina next season? I say the third line, but he would probably be the second line center.

I think he still has 15 goals and 40 points left as an NHL forward. In the KHL he is producing just under a point per game pace. He’s a guy who would still prove to be a threat on the power-play and serviceable on the PK. His mentoring of a rebuilding Detroit Red Wings team would be much more of an asset to the team than any points he could provide.

That being said, we really do not know what Pavel is thinking. The tweet opened some eyes, and it is something to think about and keep an eye on the remainderer of this season. Bob Mack has never been a guy to stir the pot.