Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Notebook

No deal seems in sight for Datsyuk

If Wings, forward can't agree, he would lace up his skates for the Moscow Dynamo.

By Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News

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DETROIT -- The Red Wings don't appear to be getting any closer in negotiations with forward Pavel Datsyuk.

Gary Greenstin, Datsyuk's agent, said Monday the sides continue to talk but an agreement isn't in sight.

"It's up to Ken Holland (Wings general manager) and myself to work on this and come to some sort of an agreement," Greenstin said. "It's a slow process. We're going to continue to work. As we've said, Pavel's first priority is to remain with the Wings."

Holland was in a charity golf tournament Monday and unavailable for comment.

Datsyuk is working out with the Moscow Dynamo team for which he played last season during the NHL lockout.

He scored for Dynamo in a tournament game in Finland last weekend.

"A beautiful, highlight goal from what people told me," Greenstin said.

Dynamo needs a commitment from Datsyuk by Sept. 1, Greenstin said, the date for all European contracts to be registered.

Greenstin said he has told Dynamo that Datsyuk prefers to play with the Wings. But if an agreement isn't reached, he would return to Dynamo.

"I expect we're going to need to decide something next week," Greenstin said.

He also said he expects to travel to Moscow this week to discuss options with Datsyuk.

Datsyuk is one of three unsigned restricted free agents the Wings are trying to sign. The others are forward Henrik Zetterberg and defenseman Niklas Kronwall.

The Wings have 18 players signed for roughly $31 million. The NHL salary cap is $39 million.

Besides the three unsigned players, the Wings would like to add one, preferably a defenseman.

Golf for a good cause

Goalie Manny Legace will hold a charity golf outing Monday at Meadowbrook Country Club in Northville. All proceeds will go toward finding a cure for breast cancer, a disease that has touched the Legace family.

Legace's mother and a close family friend have fought breast cancer.

"This (the golf outing) is something that I've wanted to do for some time," Legace said, "and everything has worked out."

Kirk Maltby, Chris Osgood, Jason Williams and Darryl Bootland are among the Wings scheduled to participate.

Legace said fans are welcome to attend. There will be autograph opportunities, and donations will be accepted.

Ice chips

The Wings signed forward Valtteri Filppula to a three-year contract over the weekend. He was their third-round pick in 2002. Last season, he tied for fourth in Finnish League scoring with 30 points (10 goals) in 55 games.

Filpulla is likely to start the season at Grand Rapids.

...The Wings are still negotiating with goalie Jimmy Howard, their second-round pick out of Maine in 2003.

... Wings rookies and minor-leaguers begin prospects camp in Traverse City on Sept. 5 with a noon practice.