Since leaving the NHL after the 2015-16 season with close to 1000 games played, "Magic Man" Pavel Datsyuk has been playing hockey in his home country of Russia in the KHL. However, at 42 years of age, many are wondering if Datsyuk is finally ready to hand up the skates and call it a career. Datsyuk himself has released a statement through the KHL addressing what his future holds.
"I really want to continue to help my home team [Yekaterinburg] Automobilist as a player. But, at the same time, I ask myself 'will I be ready to play another full season? Will my body let me to do it?'"
"Together with the coaching staff, we have made a decision about my individual preparation plan for the 2021-22 season. At the end of August, I will understand if I can continue my career and again go out on the ice in the red jersey of Automobilist in front of hometown fans."
Datsyuk scored 314 goals and 918 points in 953 regular season games in the NHL, all with the Detroit Red Wings. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, a four-time Lady Byng winner, a three-time Selke winner and was named an NHL All-Star four times. Since leaving for the KHL, he has won the Gagarin Cup twice, been named a KHL All-Star twice and won the Sergey Gimayev Prize in 2021 as the league's top veteran player.
Should he decide to retire, it will be the end of an era for Datsyuk and the KHL. In total, he has played 260 games in the league, recording 60 goals and 204 points.
