Datsyuk drama finallyover
RED WINGS CLINCH DEAL
DETROIT • The Red Wings finally got their man.
After an extended game of hide-and-seek with unrestricted free agent Pavel Datsyuk, Wings general manager Ken Holland announced yesterday he has a done deal with the 27-year-old centre, who is expected to be in Detroit between Saturday and Monday.
“It’s like winning the lottery,” Holland said. “ It’s all set, he’s coming to Detroit.
“We were able to bring back a player who is coming into the prime of his career. He’s a skilled player; the rules should work in his favour.
“He’s excited about coming to Detroit. He said he misses his teammates.”
Datsyuk will sign his two-year, US$7.6-million contract once he arrives in Detroit.
After getting a few practices under his belt, Datsyuk is expected to play in the Wings’ last two exhibition games, both of them against Toronto, on Sept. 30 at Joe Louis Arena and on Oct. 1 at the Air Canada Centre.
“ He’s been skating for at least a month, recently two-a-day practices [with Omsk of the Russian league],” Holland said. “He might be in better shape than our guys.”
Though some players quietly grumbled about the Datsyuk soap opera, they realize the Wings’ fortunes this season are largely entangled in the Datsyuk affair.
“ That’s just made this team a whole lot better,” centre Kris Draper said.
“He’s a special player. It’s no secret he’s one of the most talented players in the league.”
Coach Mike Babcock said his coaching IQ has jumped a few points now that Datsyuk is returning.
“I’m glad the highlight reel is going to be of my team, not against my team,” Babcock said. “ Ken Holland has done a phenomenal job of just allowing things to happen. He was patient and worked the phones to make things happen.”
Having experienced what the new NHL is going to look like in Monday’s exhibition game versus Tampa Bay, goalie Manny Legace expects a career year from Datsyuk.
“ The game’s much faster with these rules,” Legace said. “ He [ Datsyuk] is one guy that’s going to benefit. ... Little guys, before you could just muscle them out. You can’t do that anymore. They can just straight out fly now.
“Hearing he’s coming back put a smile on my face all day.”
Datsyuk is listed as 5’ 11” and 185 pounds. His scoring has increased during each of his three years as a Wing, from 11 goals, 24 assists and 35 points in 2001-02 to 12- 39- 51 in 2002-03 and 30- 38-68 in 2003-04.
CanWest News Service