Pavel Datsyuk Expected Back In Detroit Red Wings Lineup on Friday

Detroit has been struggling offensively of late but the return of 37 year old Pavel Datsyuk should help. Datsyuk missed the first 15 games of the season due to rehab from a summer operation. He underwent surgery on June 26 to repair a ruptured tendon in his ankle. The initial prognosis was for a return around Thanksgiving so he’s slightly ahead of schedule–and that’s a relief for the Red Wings.

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill has decided to shuffle the lines with Datsyuk coming back. The initial plan is to put Datsyuk on a line with Henrik Zetterberg and Justin Abdelkader. Rookie Dylan Larkin had been playing on the Wings’ top line but Blashill’s thinking is that the team needs a bigger body to provide a presence in front of the net and he thinks Abdelkader fills the bill: “We’ve talked about who’s the best partner with them. We decided this morning on Abby. I thought Abby had one of his better games in a while against Washington. He’s been a good mix on that line in the past.” Larkin will move down to the second line and play between Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar.

Abdelkader is excited to get Datsyuk back in the lineup, noting that he has looked ‘unbelievable’ in practice: “Obviously in games he’s going to be huge, and each part of the game. If I’m playing with him it’s going to be a lot of fun. Obviously, I know what my job is, I’ve played with him before. But I think as a team we’re really excited to have him back and he’s gonna make us that much better.”

Riley Sheehan had been centering the Nyquist/Tatar line but he’ll now move down to the third line and back to the wing. His new line will centered by Andreas Athanasiou, with Teemu Pulkkinen on the opposite wing. Blashill likes the versatility he has with the third line: “I think we’ll start it that way. Sheahan then has the ability to take some D-zone faceoffs as well depending on how AA is doing. AA can do both, play wing or center, but he’s played more at center and we feel it might be best for his speed. But we might make that change during the game as well.”