Crucial meeting has been postponed out of respect for 'Mr. Hockey'.

There are some things that are more important than business decisions.

The Detroit Red Wings were set to meet with forward Pavel Datsyuk on Wednesday in order to discuss his future with the franchise. However, that meeting has now been postponed due to the death of hockey legend Gordie Howe.

Howe's funeral will take place on Wednesday and the team has elected to delay their meeting so that Datsyuk, his agent Dan Milsten, and general manger Ken Holland can attend and pay their respects to 'Mr. Hockey' according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.

It is widely believed that the 37-year-old is expected to sign in the KHL next season and has already received an offer from SKA St. Petersburg.

Datsyuk's representatives have maintained that no decision will be made until a meeting is had with Red Wings' brass.The 'Magic Man' still has one year remaining on his contract with the Red Wings at a cap hit of $7.5 million, a contract Holland has reportedly already begun shopping around.

Sometimes hockey matters need to take a backseat when dealing with a death of the magnitude of Howe's.

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Images Courtesy of Keystone Press