Pavel Datsyuk causes a buzz in the hockey world with bold future take on the Detroit Red Wings
Photo credit: NHL.COM
Pavel Datsyuk, a former Detroit Red Wings superstar, gave the team a glowing take and believes that GM Steve Yzerman has put them on the path to an Eastern Conference Finals bid against the Florida Panthers.
Pavel Datsyuk is known as the magic man in Detroit. Not only that, but he's also won two Stanley Cups during his career in Detroit. A career that is legendary, as the Hall of Famer was asked about his opinion of the team for the 2025-26 season.
The Red Wings faced opposition that they couldn't overcome on a nightly basis, as the defense was leaky. They'd score and then give up multiple goals, leading to a dismal 6th-place finish in the Atlantic.
They'd finished 39-35-8 and would fail to make the playoffs, missing a wildcard spot to the Montreal Canadiens.
The regression was heartbreaking to watch, but recently, Pavel Datsyuk was interviewed by Sergei Demidov of RG.org.
Datsyuk would share an optimistic opinion of the team's fate next season, as it will be Todd McLellan's first full year as Red Wings coach.
NHL Superstar's Prediction of The Red Wings' 2025-26 season
«Here's my prediction - Detroit will reach the conference final. As for Florida, which has won two Stanley Cups, it will be hard to win a third in a row. I think it will be very difficult for them - partly because of the short summer, and also because motivation won't be quite the same.»
The team will have to improve its penalty kill, which was statistically one of the worst in the league at 70.1%.
A rate that was good enough for last in the NHL. Something that will need significant improvement if the Red Wings are to find themselves in the playoffs once again.
In addition, Datsyuk pointed out a harrowing fact all the while: the Red Wings need to find natural leaders in the lineup.
If the team is truly going to turn it all around in one season, they'll need to plug holes in the defense and find leaders other than Dylan Larkin who give the team an edge in tough times.
For now, we wait and see whether Datsyuk's predictions come true.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 13 | 337 ANSWERS Pavel Datsyuk causes a buzz in the hockey world with bold future take on the Detroit Red Wings Do you think forward Pavel Datsyuk, a former Detroit Red Wing and HHOFer, is correct about the team's 2025-26 season? | ||
| Yes | 271 | 80.4 % |
| No | 66 | 19.6 % |
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