Red Wings GM Holland gets positive news on Datsyuk's recovery from ankle surgery

Ken Holland likes what he hears about Pavel Datsyuk's recovery following ankle surgery.

The Detroit Red Wings general manager sent team trainer Piet Van Zant to check up on the star center, who underwent a procedure on June 26 to fix the ruptured tendons in his right ankle.

All indications are that Datsyuk is progressing well.

"Piet watched (Datsyuk) work out, told me he's in good spirits," Holland relayed to Ansar Khan of MLive. "He's had no setbacks. He's doing lots of training. He's excited. He wants to feel 100 percent. He's happy about the surgery, what he's able to do at this point."

While Datsyuk said in July he expected to be out four-to-five months - leaving him sidelined for the beginning of the regular season - Holland appears to be a bit more optimistic.

"Right now, all the news I'm getting is positive," Holland said. "I think he's on schedule. The doctor told us it was a minimum of three months to heal. Does he get the green light to skate lightly or will he be held back for a period of time?"

Datsyuk will be re-evaluated in mid-September, around the time training camp gets under way.