Pavel Datsyuk is going to miss a maximum of four weeks, according to a report by Helene St. James of USA Today and the Detroit Free Press. The sensational center was injured on a play that involved defenseman Rob Scuderi of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the end of the Wings’ first preseason contest.
The news appears to be devastating when you consider it impacts a player of Datsyuk’s stature and what he has meant to the Red Wings. However, you need to consider a few variables first.
This is a 36-year-old Datsyuk we are talking about and not the same player who razzled and dazzled in the late 2000s. Instead, this is a player who has had some health issues over the last few years, and for that reason, his latest injury isn’t so dire for Detroit.
Are the Wings a better team with Datsyuk in the lineup? Of course, but at this stage of his career, the Red Wings can’t reasonably expect to count on him to be “the guy.” He is one of the team’s top players, but injuries are to be expected at this point.
Last season was a prime example of that, as ...
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Article written by Tom Urtz Jr.
Pavel Datsyuk’s Injury Is Inconvenient, but Not Devastating to Detroit Red Wings
September 25th, 2014 by Tom Urtz Jr. Leave a reply »
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