Pavel Datsyuk signs a one-day contract with Red Wings reigniting rumors surrounding the organization

NHL player agent Dan Milstein revealed today that Datsyuk signed an honorary, one-day contract with the Red Wings.

Datsyuk played in 953 career regular-season NHL games, all with the Red Wings.

He scored 314 goals and 918 points en route to a Hall of Fame Career, including two Stanley Cup championships, three Selke trophies, and 4 Lady Byngs.

After retiring from the NHL, he spent five seasons in Russia, playing in the KHL where he finally retired in 2021.

Now, with the one-day contract, he will officially retire as a member of the Red Wings.

Red Wings fans joked that they should put him in the lineup, even in a top-line role. This is a testament to how things are going in Detroit this year.

The signing does come at an intriguing time for the team. After a slow start, many fans are speculating as to how much longer head coach Derek Lalonde will last.

Could Datsyuk be in line to replace Lalonde? Is this move a step in that direction?
What happens if Detroit loses tonight?

With very little coaching experience, it would seem like a bad idea. However, one of his former teammates could be a perfect fit.

That would be none other than Sergei Fedorov. Fedorov, who played with Datsyuk from 2001 to 2003, does have head coaching experience at the NHL level. Now, he has been rumored to be in line to replace Lalonde as soon as this season.

Datsyuk has been more involved with the team recently though, acting as a development coach. Could the two Russians be reunited in Detroit once again? Stay tuned as more news comes out of Detroit in the coming weeks.