Pavel Datsyuk signs extension to stay in Detroit through 2016-17

Pavel Datsyuk has signed a three-year extension which will keep him with the Detroit Red Wings through 2016-17, as reported by the Detroit News. This news officially ends any speculation that Datsyuk may shift over to the KHL to finish out his career after the 2013-14 campaign. Datsuk will earn $23 million during his three-year extension and will carry an average cap hit of just over $7.6 million a year. 

Datsyuk's extension closes the door on a series of reports which first indicated that he wanted to play in Russia after his old contract expired following 2013-14. This sent Detroit fans into panic mode, but then a report surfaced indicating Datsyuk wanted to stay in Detroit for at least a few more seasons. As the calendar flipped over to summer it became more and more apparent that a new extension for the team's prized forward was on the horizon. 

Datsyuk has spent his entire NHL career with the Red Wings. He has skated in 779 games, scoring 255 goals and 512 assists. While the numbers do a nice job of describing just how lethal Datsyuk is on the ice, we'll let a couple of videos do the talking. 

Like this one…

Or this one…

Be warned – Once you start diving into the world of Datsyuk deke videos on YouTube it can be pretty hard to stop. 

Can you see why it was so important for the Red Wings and the NHL to keep Datsyuk from departing for a competing league? It's huge to retain such a major talent especially when the competing option is the player's native country. 

Get ready, Eastern Conference. The magician known as Datsyuk will be infiltrating your arenas through 2016-17. 

About David Rogers

Editor for The Comeback and Contributing Editor for Awful Announcing. Lover of hockey, soccer and all things pop culture.

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