It’s hard to get reliable news out of Russia these days, hockey stuff included, but the rumors have been circulating that one Pavel Datsyuk is going to retire from professional hockey later this summer.
Buffalo Hockey Beat’s Bill Hoppe ended up getting a scoop as to the former Red Wings forward’s next career move while Hoppe spoke with Buffalo Sabres director of amateur scouting Jerry Forton regarding Sabres prospect and 74th overall draft pick Viktor Neuchev.
Neuchev played for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, Datsyuk’s hometown KHL team, this past season:
Forton said Neuchev’s organization also appealed to the Sabres. He said Detroit Red Wings legend Pavel Datsyuk, who retired in June after ending his career in Russia, will be taking over as Yekaterinburg’s head of development.
“(He) has already had his hands on some of these players, so that’s very appealing to us,” Forton said. “We think he’s in a very good development spot right now.”
Continued; Datsyuk has always enjoyed coaching kids, so this career move would make a lot of sense for him.
Pavel needs to take Buchelnikov under his wing!