DETROIT (WXYZ) -- The Red Wings confirmed Friday that Pavel Datsyuk will make an announcement Saturday regarding his future.
According to several media reports, Datsyuk is expected to announce he will not be returning to the Red Wings next season and will instead return to Russia to finish his career.
Datsyuk is scheduled to make the announcement Saturday at Noon during his youth hockey camp at Orchard Lake St. Mary's Ice Arena.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Detroit Red Wings and Pavel Datsyuk are expected to make an announcement on Saturday, according to TSN's Aaron Ward and Darren Dreger.
According to Ward, the team will confirm that Datsyuk, 37, will not return to the team next season and will instead play in his home country of Russia.
According to Dreger, the Red Wings will also push to move the final year of Datsyuk's three-year contract, which will leave Detroit with a $7.5 million hit against the salary cap. Dreger reports that the team might also add someone like Tomas Jurco or Teemu Pulkkinen as a second person to trade with the contract.
Dreger said free agent Steven Stamkos is a big target for the Red Wings.
In May, a Free Press report said Dastyuk had received an offer from the KHL's SKA St. Petersberg.
Helele St. James of the Free Press reports that Datsyuk will be meeting with Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland on Friday night.
