Detroit — Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk has a team to play for during the NHL lockout. He has signed to play with Ak Bars Kazan of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League for the duration of the lockout, according to a report in Russia’s Sports Express.
Datsyuk played for Ak Bars Kazan in 2000-01 before beginning his NHL career.
During the season-long 2004-05 lockout, Datsyuk played for Moscow Dynamo in the KHL.
Expect other Red Wings to sign with European teams in the days ahead. The NHL locked out its players at midnight Saturday after the league and Players Association failed to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement.
There are no scheduled negotiating sessions.
