Datsyuk, Red Wings close to multi-year extension

FoxSportsDetroit.com has learned that Pavel Datsyuk and the Red Wings are close to agreeing to a multi-year contract extension that will keep the high-flying forward in Detroit well past next season.

Datsyuk’s agent, Gary Greenstin, is flying to Detroit today, where the two sides will put the finishing touches on the new deal.

“Everybody knows what Pavel Datsyuk means to Detroit. We're still talking. Contracts cannot be registered with the league until July 5,” Greenstin said late Monday night.  “I’m flying to Detroit tomorrow (Tuesday); we’re close.”

On Monday evening Datsyuk tweeted, “big day tomorrow…”

A source close to the team has confirmed that the Wings and Datsyuk are extremely close to a contract extension and both sides want a deal. The negotiations have been “very positive.”

Heading into next season, Datsyuk would have been in the final year of a 7-year, $46.9 million contract that he signed in April of 2007. Because he’s still under contract, any extension between Datsyuk and the Wings cannot be announced officially until July 5, the first day of free agency.

There was speculation that Datsyuk would honor the final year of his contract and head back to his native Russia to play out the remainder of his career.  That, however, will not be the case. Datsyuk will remain with the Red Wings for several more years. 

The source indicated that if the contract extension is not announced on July 5, it would be within a matter of days after that.