Updated at 7:26 PM: Red Wings legend Pavel Datsyuk has joined the Red Wings prospects on the ice for Detroit’s Summer Development Camp, but MLive’s Ansar Khan reports that we shouldn’t hold our breath about the newly-minted Hockey Hall of Fame member joining Detroit’s developmental arm any time soon:
He said he’s here to get a feel of what it’s like in player development, a job he is assuming in Russia three years after retiring as a player from the KHL.
“I hope I help the kids to love hockey,” Datsyuk said. “I can give (much) advice. It’s your favorite job, you choose this job, you need to fall in love with this job. Be good, come every day and enjoy.”
He added, “Hard work and trust yourself and be professional — how you sleep, how you eat, how you prepare.”
Coaching isn’t in his future, however.
“I want to stay with my family, spend more time at home,” Datsyuk said. “I know how hard it is to be coach or development coach. Need lots of patience.”
Continued; it’s my understanding that Datsyuk will be working with his hometown team, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, to help youth hockey in Russia.
If you missed it, the Red Wings posted a video of Datsyuk speaking with the media this afternoon:
Update: Here’s a bit more from the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan:
The best advice Datsyuk said that he can give is to continue loving the game.
“It’s your favorite job. You choose this job; you need to fall in love with (this) job,” he said. “Come to practice every day and enjoy. Hard work and trust yourself. Be professional — how you sleep, how you eat, how you prepare.”
Datsyuk can provide insight and tips but don’t expect him to become a coach.
“I want to stay with my family, spend more time at home,” he said. “I know how hard it is to be a coach or development coach. Lot of time on the road.”
Datsyuk, 45, played in Russia’s KHL for five years after leaving the Wings. He won an Olympic gold medal and KHL championship while playing in his native country.
“No fire in my heart,” Datsyuk said of his choosing to retire when he did.
