Page 21 - Aruba Today

SPORTS A21
Monday 11 April 2016

Red Wings’ Datsyuk plans to retire from NHL after playoffs

By LARRY LAGE owners Mike and Marian when they finished third in from 2008-10. stick, and to take the puck
AP Hockey Writer Ilitch. the Atlantic Division. They Datsyuk is known as the away from opponents,
DETROIT (AP) -- Detroit ‘’It’s not over until it’s over, will face the Tampa Bay Magic Man for his ability with breathtaking skills he
Red Wings center Pavel but it is Pavel’s desire to go Lightning in the first round to dangle the puck on his learned as a kid.q
Datsyuk is expected to back to Russia,’’ Milstein of the playoffs.
retire from the NHL after said. Holland said in a text Datsyuk had 16 goals and

n this April 25, 2015, file photo, Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk, of Russia, celebrates his
goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL Stan-
ley Cup hockey playoff series in Tampa, Fla.

Associated Press

the playoffs. Dan Milstein, message that he’d have 33 assists this season, and
his agent, confirmed Dat- no comment until after the his 49 points were one
syuk’s decision. Datsyuk season. shy of Henrik Zetterberg’s
discussed his plans for the The 37-year-old Datsyuk team-leading total. In the
first time in an interview has one season left on his regular season, he has 314
with the Detroit Free Press three-year, $22.5 million goals and 918 points in
published Sunday. ‘’I’m contract. his career. In 152 playoff
thinking I go home after He will count $7.5 million games, he has 113 points.
this season,’’ he told the against Detroit’s salary Detroit drafted Datsyuk in
newspaper. ‘’I may not be cap next season even if he the sixth round, 171st over-
done with hockey, but - it leaves, a big hit for a team all, in 1998. He made his
is hard to say - I think I am that barely earned a spot NHL debut during the 2001-
done playing in NHL.’’ in the playoffs. 02 season and showed
Datsyuk wants to return to ‘’I feel very bad about it,’’ right away he was a steal.
Russia to reunite with his Datsyuk told the paper. He helped the Red Wings
teenage daughter and Milstein said Datsyuk plans win the Stanley Cup in 2002
to play in the Kontinental to express his apprecia- as a rookie and was one of
Hockey League for at least tion to his fans in the Detroit the franchise’s stars when
one season. area by hosting a hockey it won the Cup again in
Milstein said Datsyuk’s plans camp for kids in late June 2008. As one of the game’s
will not be final, though, as he has for the past 10 all-time great defensive
until after the postseason years in Russia. forwards, Datsyuk won the
when he meets with Red Datsyuk helped the Red Selke Trophy three straight
Wings general manager Wings extend their postsea- times - one fewer than Bob
Ken Holland along with son streak to 25 this season, Gainey’s record total -