Pavel Datsyuk needs to 'cool down' before decision on NHL future

Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk was mum about his future in the NHL after the Tampa Bay Lightning eliminated his team from the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 1-0 Game 5 victory.

Datsyuk said he needs time to consider whether to return to Russia or stay with the Red Wings for one more season.

"I'm not thinking about two days or how many days," Datsyuk told reporters. "I need a little bit cool down and emotions go out and start thinking about it more."

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Added Datsyuk, "Don't put me in a scary question. I put this question out many times and I don't start thinking this way. It's not happy thinking about these questions."

Said Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill, "Pavel will do what Pavel wants to do. ... Pavel is one of the best competitors there will ever be in this league. He was amazing to coach this year. I hope I get a chance to coach him again next year. His work ethic is unreal."

MLive spoke with Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall, a longtime Datsyuk teammate, who was hopeful the NHL hadn’t seen the last of Datsyuk.

"Let's hope it's not.  I just hope it's not," Kronwall said. "Right now it's a completely empty feeling. Let's just hope for everyone's sake, for the hockey fan and for us and for Detroit, that it's not."

Added Datsyuk, "I'm proud to play every time with 20,000 people around. Every city we play we have our fans. It's something special. Real emotional."

Before the end of the regular season, Datsyuk told Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press that he would return to Russia for family reasons. After the story came out it was reported Datsyuk backtracked on the finality of his decision.

If Datsyuk does return to Russia his $7.5 million salary cap hit will still count against the Red Wings, since he has one season left on a three-year extension signed in 2013.

That money could help the Red Wings in re-signing RFA’s Teemu Pulkkinen, Riley Sheahan, Danny DeKeyser and Petr Mrazek, along with other players on their roster.

The 37-year-old Datsyuk has continued to be effective even as he’s aged. He had 49 points in 66 games this past season and had 65 points in 63 games the year before. If he stays he’d still likely play a top line role on the Red Wings next season.

Datsyuk is one of the best players in recent Red Wings history. He was picked in the sixth-round of the 1998 NHL Draft by Detroit and blossomed into a star. In 953 games, he notched 918 points and won two Stanley Cups. He’s won four Lady Byng trophies and three Selke trophies.

After the report on Datsyuk’s leaving came out, his agent Dan Milstein told ESPN.com that a final decision would be reached after the season.

"He's going to have a meeting with (Red Wings GM Ken) Holland and (owners) Mr. and Mrs. Ilitch at the conclusion of the season ... certainly he has tremendous respect for the Ilitches and their organization," Milstein said. "It's not over until it's over. This chapter is not closed right now."

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper