The Detroit News’s Gregg Krupa spoke with several Olympic hockey participants as part of an article mostly discussing the Michigan natives taking part in men’s and women’s hockey in PyeongChang, and it’s worth noting that Krupa snagged a couple of quotes from Pavel Datsyuk:
The Olympics will elevate Datsyuk’s august position in Russian hockey history. Only the former Red Wings defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov and Boris Mikhailov have been two-time captains of Russian or Soviet Olympic squads.
He is also, at 39, still the top player on the Russian team.
“It is a huge honor to play for your country in the Olympics,” Datsyuk said. “I am extremely honored. Life is complicated, and we cannot always control events or do everything we want to do. I always remember Detroit. It has a special place in my heart.
“I have left Detroit,” Datsyuk said. “But I never said good-bye.”
“I have left Detroit,” Datsyuk said. “But I never said good-bye.”
I still wonder if he’ll come back for one more season some day. He’s said a few things the last year to sort of leave that door open.