Pavel Datsyuk Comments on Future with Detroit Red Wings

Pavel Datsyuk shed light on his future following the Detroit Red Wings' final regular-season game Saturday amid rumors he would play in Russia next season.

"I’m thinking I go home after this season," he said, per Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press. "I may not be done with hockey, but—it is hard to say—I think I am done playing in NHL." He continued:

"

“I will go back to my hometown,” he said when asked his summer plans, adding that his current wife and their young daughter will go with him. “It is proper time.”

I asked if he wished he had gone last year. He thought about it for a moment.

“I am happy this year,” he finally said, “but was like my heart pulled over both sides.”

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Datsyuk, 37, has registered 16 goals and 33 assists in 66 games played this season. He's again been a crucial offensive playmaker for the Red Wings, who were able to secure a playoff spot in the crowded Eastern Conference.

Datsyuk was initially coy about his future when speaking after practice on April 4, per Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: "I have one more year contract, and we have three games left this year," he said at the time. "This is more focus for me now. I'm not looking at next year."

General manager Ken Holland had expected Datsyuk to return next season, however, as he told St. James on April 2:

"

Pav has a year to go. I hear lots of rumors. There were rumors last summer, there were rumors the summer before. There was rumors about Nick Lidstrom for about three years. It's all rumors.

He's got a year to go on his contract. I'm going to sit down with all our players at the end of the year, one by one, and talk to them all. Obviously, I'll sit down with Pav.

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Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman first broke the rumors that Datsyuk may return to Russia after this season, noting (via St. James): "There is a legitimate chance, according to sources, that might be after this season. If it does occur, it would be for family reasons."

That would be a major blow for the Red Wings on multiple levels. Along with losing a productive player, they would still be on the hook for his $7.5 million salary since he signed his current contract after the age of 35.

"I feel very bad about it," said Datsyuk, per Albom. "Looking back, I wish I had done a year-by-year contract, not a three-year contract. I stayed (last year) in respect for Ilitch family. I don’t want to leave team in disaster. But if I have to do over again, I would sign a different deal. I didn’t realize it at the time."

That would be a huge cap hit to absorb for a player who is not even on the roster. Perhaps the Red Wings will try to make a concerted effort to convince Datsyuk to play out the final year of his contract before he ends his playing career in Russia.

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