Datsyuk won't talk about his future, focused on final week of season

The only future Pavel Datsyuk's concerned about is his immediate one.

The Detroit Red Wings superstar wouldn't confirm or deny a weekend report stating he'll likely return home to Russia after this season, according to MLive.com's Ansar Khan. The 37-year-old said he's only concerned about his team's final three games.

"It's hard to say," Datsyuk said, according to the Detroit Free Press' Helene St. James. "Never know what's going to happen."

A Saturday report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman says there's a "legitimate chance" Datsyuk foregoes the final season of his contract and finishes his career in the KHL, which the center has discussed as he's gotten older.

"I hear a lot of rumors," general manager Ken Holland said Saturday night, while Datsyuk's agent didn't tip his hand about his client's future.

What complicates matters for the Red Wings is that Datsyuk's salary will count against the team's cap should he in fact head back to Russia.

Datsyuk has 48 points in 63 games, and will need a big week to ensure Detroit continues its streak of making the playoffs. At 24 seasons, the run is in jeopardy, with the Red Wings holding the third and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division as of Monday.

On Wednesday, the Red Wings host the Philadelphia Flyers, who hold the wild-card spot, in a massive game before playing an even bigger one Thursday night in Boston. The Bruins are a point behind the Red Wings in the standings as of Monday, with 90, and a win by Boston on Tuesday will put the Bruins back into an Atlantic playoff spot, and bump Detroit back behind the wild-card holders.

It's going to an interesting week in Detroit, and the stakes are even higher now that these may be Datsyuk's final seven days in red and white.