DETROIT – Pavel Datsyuk's knee feels much better now. That's good, because he's going to need some speed to keep up with Darren Helm, his new linemate.

"I not play much with him on the same line, but I sit with him for many years (in the dressing room)," Datsyuk said. "He has good speed and good power and skill. If I use the skill it will be awesome. But I need to be the same speed as him, make sure there's not two zones between us."

The Detroit Red Wings center expects to be skating much better this season. Painful knee inflammation forced him to miss 30 out of 34 games from Jan. 1 to April 2.

He said they considered surgery after the Olympics and again following the season, but opted for rest and treatment.

"Just rehab for the whole summer, more conditioning and more workouts," Datsyuk said Tuesday.

"It was much better in a few games of the Boston (playoff) series. I could push my knee, but I lost a lot of muscle. Now everything has come back. I felt better at the end of the playoffs; now it's much better and comfortable."

Is he close to 100 percent?

"At my age, oh, yeah," the 36-year-old said.

Datsyuk began skating briefly in Russia two weeks ago. He's picked up the pace since joining teammates on the ice Monday at Joe Louis Arena for informal workouts.

"I didn't skate much, but I started staking now and it feels much better," he said. "Nothing bothers me."

Coach Mike Babcock said last week that he's going to move third-line center Darren Helm to the wing on Datsyuk's line. The move enables the club to use Riley Sheahan as its third-line center and also adds speed and tenacity to Datsyuk's line.

Datsyuk said he doesn't know who'll be on the other wing. Maybe it'll be Henrik Zetterberg. It won't be Justin Abdelkader, his linemate for much of the past two seasons.

"Abby, you can tell he doesn't want to pull the piano," Datsyuk said. "He's tired."

The Red Wings return with virtually the same roster as last season, but Datsyuk believes there is much potential for improvement.

"Everybody wish we had new player but we don't have it," Datsyuk said. "Now we just stick together and play our hockey and hope we don't have many injuries. Then we'll have a good chance.

"But if we have lots of injuries it will be tough again. ... For the last three years we've been back and forth (with injuries); it kills us."

Asked how excited he is for his 13th NHL season, Datsyuk said, "Oh yeah, again it's so exciting. I don't know how long I can keep it this exciting. Same like you, it's so exciting, lots of smiles from you guys (media)."

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