Pavel Datsyuk’s camp was quick to deny reports in the Russian media that the Detroit Red Wings center had signed a two-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League.
“I know for a fact that Pavel has not discussed a contract while playing for the national team in Russia,… said Dan Milstein, Datsyuk’s Michigan-based agent.
Datsyuk is currently in St. Petersburg with the Russian national team, preparing to face Finland in the world championship semi-finals.
“I spoke with him to confirm this again,… Milstein said. “For a fact we don’t have a contract with anybody (in Russia) right now.…
That doesn’t mean it won’t happen and in fact a Russian hockey source confirmed that if Datsyuk does decide to remain in his homeland and not honor the final year of his Detroit contract, as he’s been hinting at since late in the NHL regular season, the team he would play for would be St. Petersburg.
Milstein, though, was adamant that no decision has been reached by Datsyuk, nor will it be prior to his scheduled meeting next month with Detroit general manager Ken Holland.
“He’s coming back to the U.S. the first or second week of June,… Milstein said. “We plan on meeting with Ken Holland not later than (June 16) because Pavel will be in town for his (youth hockey) camp from (June 17-21).…
At the same time, Milstein did acknowledge that Datsyuk’s home in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. is up for sale, but pointed out that it’s been on the market for over a year and Datsyuk was planning to sell it regardless of his plans for next season.
The list price is $5.3 million.
Even if he does opt to return to Russia, Datsyuk intends to purchase another house in the Detroit area and always maintain a home there.
“He wasn’t going to keep a $5.3 million house for three people,… Milstein explained. “It’s part of the financial plan.…
Fast To Go Faster Being the fastest skater in the NHL apparently has only served to whet the appetite of Dylan Larkin’s need for speed.
Red Wings rookie forward Larkin, who set a new time standard of 13.172 seconds in winning the fastest skater event during the skills competition at the 2016 NHL All-Star Game was announced Friday as the grand marshal for the first of two back-to-back Verizon IndyCar Series races June 4 at the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.
Larkin will be handing the honor of issuing the command of ‘drivers start your engines’ and will also ride in the pace car during the beginning of the race.
“I like to go fast on the ice but not as fast as those guys go on the race course,… said Larkin, 19, currently in Russia with Team USA preparing for the semi-finals of the world hockey championship against Canada. “It’s going to be fun to visit Belle Isle, meet some of the drivers and get a chance to ride in the pace car.…
Grand Prix chairman Bud Denker described Michigander Larkin as a “hometown hero… and “one of Detroit’s top young sports stars.…
“We can’t think of a better representative to help us celebrate the start of the summer in the Motor City and bring some added excitement to the Grand Prix,… Denker said.
Nyquist Ready Nyquist, the Kentucky Derby champion named after Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist and owned by Wings fan Paul Reddam of Windsor, Ont., is ready to go after the second jewel of thoroughbred horse racing’s Triple Crown, Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Baltimore’s Pimlico Racecourse.
Reddam believes that the hockey link has brought more support to his corner.
Even the Daily Racing Form, horse racing’s information bible, nodded to the hockey world. Friday’s DRF cover featured an octopus holding a Red Wings banner and the Kentucky Derby trophy, each of its eight tentacles citing one of Nyquist’s career wins, with the headline “Nyquist’s tight grip.…
“It’s interesting how the hockey connection has really created quite a buzz among a certain section of the population, even people in Detroit who would be a casual racing fan at best,… Reddam said. “It seems like it’s got a lot of attention in the Detroit area, which is great.…
Reddam still hopes to get Gustav Nyquist to see his namesake race in person and regardless of what happens Saturday or in the third leg, the June 11 Belmont Stakes, don’t be surprised if the Red Wings don’t set up some sort of event to recognize Nyquist at a game next season.
“You know what would be kind of cool, assuming the rest of the racing season goes well – to go to the Joe with the Derby trophy and have Nyquist the hockey player kind of hold it up in the air,… Reddam said. “A little photo session at centre ice there.…
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