The magic may be over on this side of the pond.
Pavel Datsyuk met Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland on Friday evening to discuss his playing future, though early speculation suggests the sit-down was merely a formality.
TSN's Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger endorsed a report from Aaron Ward on Friday afternoon stating the two sides will announce Saturday at a joint press conference that Datsyuk will not return to Detroit for the final season on his contract.
Instead, Datsyuk's expected to return to Russia to continue his playing career close to home, likely with KHL outfit SKA St. Petersburg.
Datsyuk's agent, Dan Milstein, said his client will address the media Saturday at noon, according to MLive.com's Ansar Khan.
"I don't have any information that I can share," Milstein said earlier Friday.
Because Datsyuk signed his lucrative multi-year contract beyond age 35, his impending departure will see the Red Wings on the hook for his entire $7.5-million salary. The two sides are expected to explore avenues to have his contract dealt, and hidden on a payroll elsewhere.
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