With Datsyuk out, Red Wings unlikely to buy out Weiss

Off-season surgery for Pavel Datsyuk renders it further unlikely the Red Wings will buy out Stephen Weiss.

The window to do so closes Tuesday. Weiss hasn't performed as expected since joining the Wings on a five-year, $24.5-million deal in 2013, but the reasons to give him one more season expanded with weekend news that Datsyuk is doubtful for the start of the upcoming season.

He underwent an operation for ruptured ankle tendons Friday, and while his agent, Gary Greenstin, told the Free Press that Datsyuk will be ready for October, the Wings aren't expecting Datsyuk back before November. The doctor wants to evaluate Datsyuk after three months, which would be the end of September. The Wings open the season Oct. 9 against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Joe Louis Arena.

His doubtfulness leaves an opening at center. No one else on the team has Datsyuk's skills, but Henrik Zetterberg fluidly moves between wing and center, so he's likely to be the No. 1 guy in the middle. There's also Riley Sheahan. Darren Helm has played a lot of center, but if Zetterberg is in the middle, Helm could slot as a top-six winger because of his speed. Recent first-round draft pick Dylan Larkin will be given a chance to make the team, and the third or fourth middle spot would be ideal for a youngster (Larkin turns 19 on July 30) because he wouldn't face an opponent's best defenders.

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Weiss should make a serviceable third- or fourth-line center, pushing Joakim Andersson to wing, if in the lineup. Weiss isn't suited to playing wing, as he did under former coach Mike Babcock.

The Wings would have to put Weiss on waivers today to facilitate a buyout. Buying out Weiss now would mean six years of dead money against the salary cap at respective rates of approximately $1 million, $1 million, $2.5 million, and then three successive years of $1.67 million.

It makes more sense, especially with Datsyuk and Johan Franzen (multiple head injuries) doubtful for the start of the season, to give Weiss another shot under new coach Jeff Blashill.

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.