Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

Pavel Datsyuk had a big hand in Russia winning bronze at the World Championship. Detroit Red Wings teammate Dylan Larkin left empty handed.

What happens next for Datsyuk should emerge between June 6-16, his agent tells the Detroit Free Press.

Datsyuk assisted on three goals in a 7-2 victory over Larkin and the U.S. in Moscow. Larkin finished the tournament with nine points in 10 games; Datsyuk had 11 points in 10 games. Canada claimed gold with a 2-0 victory over Finland. Teemu Pulkkinen again did not play.

Now the Wings await Datsyuk's arrival back to Detroit, and the final word regarding his future.

Datsyuk, 37, has indicated he is going to return to his native Russia for good, even as he has a year left on his contract with the Wings. Datsyuk told the Free Press last month that he needs to be closer to his teenaged daughter from his first marriage, and teammates are operating under the belief he is gone. Datsyuk delayed a final announcement until after the World Championship.

Dan Milstein, Datsyuk's agent, told the Free Press today that Datsyuk will meet with Holland early to mid-June.

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"He would like to leave, but at the same time, he wants to make sure the Wings have options," Milstein said. "He wants to help the team any way he can with the salary cap issue."

Wings general manager Ken Holland has said there are no loopholes. Because Datsyuk signed his last contract after he turned 35, his $7.5 million salary cap hit remains in tact even if Datsyuk departs. The Wings' only option is to trade his contract to a team such as Arizona or Carolina that could use the hefty cap hit in order to be above the salary cap minimum.

The Wings will hold organizational meetings in mid-June, so having a clear picture regarding Datsyuk by then will help shape planning for next season.

Milstein said neither he nor Datsyuk have entered into discussions with any KHL teams regarding Datsyuk's ending his career in Russia.

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Check out our Red Wings Xtra app on Apple and Android!