Pavel Datsyuk Undergoes Ankle Surgery; Will Be Re-Evaluated In 3 Months
DETROIT( AP) -- Pavel Datsyuk had surgery on his right ankle and is expected to be re-evaluated in three months.
The Detroit Red Wings confirmed Datsyuk's operation Friday, saying it was to repair ruptured tendons in the ankle.
Red Wings official beat writer Bill Roose said that Datsyuk suffered the injury late last season when he blocked a shot that ruptured tendons in his ankle.
Datsyuk, who turns 37 next month, had 26 goals and 39 assists in 63 games last season. He hasn't played 80 games in a season since 2010.
The Red Wings still depend on Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg for veteran leadership and offensive production, but the team has added younger talent like Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar in recent years, and Detroit will have a new coach next season in Jeff Blashill, who took over after Mike Babcock left this offseason.
Also Friday, the Red Wings re-signed center Joakim Andersson to an $815,000, one-year contract.
Andersson had three goals and five assists in 68 games last season.
The three-month timetable before Datsyuk is re-evaluated would put him right up against the start of next season. The Red Wings open their preseason schedule at Chicago on Sept. 22, and their first regular-season game is Oct. 9 — at home against Babcock and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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