Datsyuk will sign with Red Wings, GM Holland says

Pavel Datsyuk will return to the Detroit Red Wings for the upcoming season, general manager Ken Holland said yesterday. The Russian centre will sign with the team and be in Detroit by the weekend, “ unless I get a major curve thrown at me,” Holland said.

Datsyuk is a restricted free agent, who signed a contract with Avangard Omsk, which was then matched by Moscow Dynamo, the team that Datsyuk played with during the lockout in 2004- 05. Both teams are in the Russian SuperLeague.

Holland said he talked to Datsyuk’s agent, Gary Greenstin, before last night’s exhibition opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The two sides have been negotiating since before the NHL lockout began on Sept. 16, 2004.

“ He said, ‘ We have a deal,’ ” Holland said of his conversation with Greenstin.

Detroit’s last offer to Datsyuk was a two- year deal worth $ 3.8 million ( U. S.) per season.

Datsyuk, 27, had a breakthrough season in 2003- 04, his third in the NHL and with the Red Wings. He tied for the team lead in scoring with 30 goals and 38 assists for 68 points. But he hasn’t scored a goal in the playoffs since Game 7 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals against the Colorado Avalanche.

Detroit was swept by Anaheim in four games in the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs and eliminated in the second round in six games by the Calgary Flames in 2004.

“ My expectation is that Pavel will be back to play for us,’’ Holland said.