NHL

Datsyuk returns to Wings

By wire services
Published September 27, 2005

DETROIT - Pavel Datsyuk is back with the Red Wings, spurning the chance to go home to play in Russia.

Datsyuk signed a two-year contract Monday that will pay him $3.9-million per season.

"We're obviously very happy that we got Pavel back," general manager Ken Holland said. "He's a talented young player that had a very good year for us two years ago, and we're hoping for more of the same. With the new rules, I think skilled players like Pavel are really going to be helped."

The restricted free agent, his agent and the Red Wings had been negotiating since before the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season.

The 27-year-old Russian signed a contract this month with Avangard Omsk of the Russian SuperLeague. That deal was matched by Moscow Dynamo, anotherSuperLeague team that Datsyuk played with during the lockout.

Those moves created doubts that Datsyuk would return to Detroit this season.

He had a breakthrough season in 2003-04, finishing tied for the team lead with 30 goals and totaling 68 points.

DEVILS-CAPS TRADE: Left wing Jeff Friesen was traded to Washington by New Jersey for a conditional 2006 draft pick.

The deal gives the Capitals a proven forward and allows the Devils to trim salary so they can get under the league's new $39-million cap. Friesen is set to make $2.28-million this season.

"Jeff brings speed, Stanley Cup-winning experience and leadership to our locker room," Capitals general manager George McPhee said. "We look forward to having him on our hockey club."

New Jersey went an allowed amount over the salary cap when it signed forward Alexander Mogilny last month but faced a Saturday deadline to get under the threshold.

Friesen has 208 goals and 285 assists in 10 seasons for San Jose, Anaheim and New Jersey. His best season was 1997-98 with the Sharks, when he scored 31 goals and had 63 points. He has five 20-goal seasons. In the 2003-04 season, Friesen had 17 goals and 20 assists in 81 games for the Devils. A year earlier, he helped New Jersey win the Stanley Cup.

FLYERS: Peter Forsberg and Derian Hatcher, both sidelined for most of training camp by injuries, practiced for the first time. Forsberg skated Friday but hadn't practiced since surgery to remove a bursa sack from his right ankle this month. Hatcher was sidelined with a sprained left knee, an injury sustained Sept.6 at the U.S. Olympic team orientation camp in Colorado.

Monday's preseason game

FLAMES 3, CANUCKS 2: Chuck Kobasew had a goal and an assist to lead host Calgary. Kobasew opened the scoring with a one-timer past former Lightning goalie Dan Cloutier at 2:29 of the second period.

[Last modified September 27, 2005, 02:45:31]