Datsyuk has ankle surgery, might miss start of season

Detroit – The Red Wings could be without Pavel Datsyuk for the start of training camp and the beginning of the regular season.

Datsyuk underwent right ankle surgery Friday to repair ruptured tendons suffered last season. The surgery was performed by Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Datsyuk will wear a cast the next 4-6 weeks. He will be evaluated in three months, which would be toward the end of the exhibition season.

General manager Ken Holland wouldn't speculate as to when Datsyuk would be ready to play.

"Different people heal at a different pace," Holland said. "We'll see how Pavel responds. I know what I've been told, everything else is speculation.

"Will Pavel be ready for training camp? We don't know. We'll see where we're at in September when Dr. Anderson re-evaluates him. Nobody knows at this time."

The Red Wings open the regular season Oct. 9 against the Maple Leafs.

Holland said Datsyuk, who turns 37 next month, returned from a family vacation last weekend and reported to trainer Piet Van Zant he was feeling persistent pain and soreness around his ankle.

"Pavel called Piet Van Zant and said it wasn't getting any better," Holland said.

Team officials arranged a consult with Dr. Anderson, and the injury was diagnosed.

Datsyuk missed seven games between mid-March and April nursing an ankle injury, and then sat out eight of the final 14 regular-season games.

He played in 63 games, scoring 65 points (26 goals). Datsyuk also played in all seven games in the playoffs against the Lightning, scoring five points (three goals).