Datsyuk: I won't be ready for start of Red Wings' season

Pavel Datsyuk says he'll be with the Detroit Red Wings when they begin the regular season Oct. 9.

But whether he's on the ice is a different story.

Datsyuk, recovering from a June 26 surgery to repair ruptured ankle tendons, indicated to SVT.se's Marie Lehmann today in Yekaterinburg, Russia, that he won't be ready for the start of the NHL season.

"They say 4-5 months," Datsyuk said of his recovery time. "We'll see how this goes. ... I'll be there, but they not start me. I hope I miss (only) a little bit, the beginning of the season."

This isn't a surprise. In late June, Datsyuk's then-agent, Gary Greenstin, told the Free Press that Datsyuk would be ready for October, but the Red Wings aren't expecting Datsyuk back before November.

Despite that, Datsyuk didn't seem worried, telling Lehmann that the rest of the Wings should step up in his absence.

Datsyuk is in Yekaterinburg, his hometown, for his hockey school.

The Wings, under first-year coach Jeff Blashill, begin the season Oct. 9 against former coach Mike Babcock and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Joe Louis Arena.

Contact Brian Manzullo: bmanzullo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrianManzullo.