The Detroit Red Wings‘ season ended Thursday after a series loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning and it very well could have been the final NHL game for Detroit forward Pavel Datsyuk.
“I can’t believe we lost,” Datsyuk said (via Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press). “Really emotional.”
Datsyuk is expected to leave the Red Wings, despite having one year remaining on his NHL contract, to play in Russia next season.
He hasn’t officially announced a decision and said Thursday that he needs some time to collect his thoughts.
“I’m not thinking about two days or how many days,” Datsyuk said. “I need a little bit cool down and emotions go out and start thinking about it more.”
Datsyuk, 37, has played with Detroit since the 2001-02 season and has racked up 918 points in 953 regular-season games while winning two Stanley Cups with the Red Wings.
“Pavel will do what Pavel wants to do,” head coach Jeff Blashill said after the 1-0 loss to the Lightning. “Pavel is one of the best competitors there will ever be in this league. He was amazing to coach this year. I hope I get a chance to coach him again next year. His work ethic is unreal.”
The Russian was held pointless against the Lightning in the five-game series and did not record a post-season point for the first time since 2002-03.