Datsyuk (ankle) is probably 1-to-2 weeks away from returning to the lineup, according to Ansar Khan of MLive.com.

EDGE Analysis

Datsyuk continues to participate in various drills as part of his rehab from an ankle injury that required surgery this past June. The Magic Man has not played in a game since April 29, a losing effort against Tampa Bay in Game 7 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

Datsyuk (ankle) returned to practice Monday, Ansar Khan of MLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Datsyuk is still working his way back after undergoing ankle surgery in June, and he was able to participate in sprints at the beginning of practice. After being out for four months, he'll need some more practice time under his belt before being ready for game action, but at this point the club is hopeful for a mid-November return.

Datsyuk (ankle) was placed on 7-day injured reserve retroactive to Sept. 30.

EDGE Analysis

Datsyuk has made some progress of late, doing some high-intensity foot and leg exercises to continue rehabbing his ankle. He was expected to begin skating in the near future, but he isn't expected to rejoin the Red Wings until November.

Datsyuk (ankle) is doing high-intensity foot and leg exercises to rehab his ankle, but is still not expected to play before November, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Even in just 63 games last season, Datsyuk scored 26 goals and had 39 assists and posted a plus-12. When healthy, he's still one of the best players in hockey, but hasn't played 80 or more games since 2009-10.

Datsyuk (ankle) is doing high-intensity foot and leg exercises to rehab his ankle, but is still not expected to play before November, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Even in just 63 games last season, Datsyuk scored 26 goals and had 39 assists and posted a plus-12. When healthy, he's still one of the best players in hockey, but hasn't played 80 or more games since 2009-10.

On Thursday the doctor who performed Datsyuk's ankle surgery in June told the veteran forward that he can begin skating in two weeks, Ansar Khan of MLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Red Wings and Datsyuk both have to be ecstatic with Thursday's news, as the veteran forward now has been given a definitive timetable for his return to the ice. He'll need to log a number of full team practices before returning to game action, but Thursday's timetable indicates Datsyuk may only be forced to miss a few of Detroit's regular season contests.

Datsyuk said Thursday that he was feeling "awesome" while working his way back from ankle surgery, Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Datsyuk is scheduled to meet with a doctor soon to get an update on his condition, which could come with a projected timetable for his return. The Red Wings are already ruling out the star center for the start of the 2015-16 campaign, but if doctors are able to further legitimize Datsyuk's own positive outlook, it's possible that he may only have to miss a handful of regular-season contests.

Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk is expected to miss the start of the season due to an ankle injury, according to NHL.com. Datsyuk had surgery in late June to repair ruptured tendons in his ankle, and it appears he is facing a four-to-five-month rehab timetable. "I'll miss only a little bit at the beginning of the season," Datsyuk said Sunday, but other reports project he could miss as much as a month of action. The star center has struggled with a variety of injuries over the past several years, as he has not exceeded 70 games in any of the last five seasons. In addition to the ankle, the 37-year-old Russian has missed time to a concussion as well as knee, shoulder and groin ailments. However, they haven't affected his performance on the ice, as Datsyuk tallied 26 goals and 65 assists in just 63 games this past season and has exceeded a point per game in seven of his last 10 campaigns.

Datsyuk underwent ankle surgery on Friday, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports. Datsyuk had the surgery done to repair several ruptured tendons he suffered in his ankle after blocking a shot in one of the final games of the Red Wings' regular season. He will be in a cast for four to six weeks, and will have his ankle reevaluated in three months. At this point in time, it seems that Datsyuk will likely miss at least a portion of Detroit's training camp, and may not even be ready to return to action at the start of the regular season.

Datsyuk's first-period goal Tuesday ended up being the game-winner in a 3-0 Game 3 victory. Datsyuk now has three points in three games for the Red Wings, good for best on the team. He has been a force in this series and should continue at about a point-a-game pace.