Could a familiar face return to the Detroit Red Wings for the 2019-2020 season?
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According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, former Red Wings’ star Pavel Datsyuk “was at least considering” a return to the Motor City.
From Sportsnet:
Prior to Steve Yzerman’s hiring in Detroit, Holland discussed a return for Pavel Datsyuk. Not sure if the odds would be very high, but Datsyuk was — at least — considering it. He is scheduled to return to Michigan in May, so we’ll see if this goes anywhere.
Back in January, Datsyuk’s agent Dan Milstein said that Datsyuk was not ruling out a return to the NHL.
In an interview with Match TV in Russia, Milstein talked about how Datsyuk, who is only under contract with the KHL until the end of this season, is not yet ready to stop playing the game he loves.
“I can tell you Pavel is not ready to quit hockey in next few years,” his agent, Dan Milstein, told Match TV in Russia. “So again, it’s up to him, going to America or playing in the KHL.”
“Pavel is getting slower with age, but his skill and vision are still there,” Milstein 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.
“He would be a center (on the) second or third line, or wing on the first or second line and play on the first power play.”
“He will have a lot of options if he decides to return to the NHL,” Milstein said. “But it’d be appropriate to return to Detroit where he spent all his North American career. Though it’s up to Datsyuk. Will he want to make this comeback?”
Datsyuk, who is now 40 years old, played in 953 games with the Red Wings over 14 seasons. During that time, he scored 314 goals and had 604 assists.
Since leaving the Red Wings following the 2015-16 season, Datsyuk has been playing for St. Petersburg SKA of the KHL. In three seasons (135 games), he scored 32 goals to go along with 79 assists.
Nation, would you like to see Datsyuk return to the Red Wings for one more season or would you prefer a younger player get the roster spot?
