Pavel Datsyuk

At 45 years old, Pavel Datsyuk has this physical status:

Pavel Valerievich Datsyuk (born 20 July 1978) is a Russian professional ice hockey player for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Datsyuk was nicknamed "The Magic Man" for his outstanding stickhandling and ingenuity.

He competed for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League from 2001 to 2016 (NHL).

Datsyuk was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in 2017 and was the youngest active player outside of the league at the time of reporting, and SKA Saint Petersburg hosted the Gagarin Cup in 2017.

He was a member of the Russia national ice hockey team at the Olympic Games in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2018 as team captain.

Datsyuk completed the Triple Gold Club in 2018 with a gold medal victory at the London Olympics. Datsyuk was the NHL's top defensive forward in the 2007–08, 2008–2009 NHL seasons.

He has also been recognized for his achievements and sportsmanship from 2006 to 2009 in four consecutive Lady Byng Memorial Trophies.

Following the 2008–09 season, he was nominated for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player.

Datsyuk is best known for his elite defensive play and game-changing offensive abilities.

Early years

Datsyuk was born in Sverdlovsk, Ukraine's then-Soviet Union. Since an early age, his parents have referred to him by the short name "Pasha." His childhood had more than its fair share of challenges, particularly at the age of 16, when his mother died. Although Datsyuk had above-average hockey skills, scouts were often ignored due to his smaller stature. In the mid-1990s, he began playing for Dynamo Yekaterinburg's farm club, but he didn't seem to be heading for an undistinguished career until Olympic trainer Vladimir Krikunov began coaching the team.

Krikunov's eye was caught on the boy with the twitchy walk," but not on the ice. Rather, Datsyuk excelled on the soccer field, where his passion, vision, and intelligence were more apparent. Datsyuk transformed into a highly skilled two-way player under Krikunov, and Russian hockey fans began to pay more attention to him. Despite his early successes, however, he went undrafted in the 1996 and 1997 NHL drafts.

Personal life

In Sverdlovsk, Datsyuk met his future wife Svetlana at the age of 18. They married three years ago and had a daughter named Elizabeth in 2004. In 2010, they divorced. Datsyuk married Maria for the second time in 2012; his new wife is named Maria. Vasilisa, a daughter born on April 23, 2014, gave birth to her second child, Vasilisa. Pavel Jr., his third son, was born in February 2017.

He is a Russian Orthodox Christian.

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Playing career

H. Kan Andersson, the Detroit Red Wings Director of European Scouting, first noticed Datsyuk in the summer of 1997–98. Andersson was in Moscow to scout defenseman Dmitri Kalinin, but Datsyuk captured his attention as "this little guy on the other team." Andersson made another trip to Datsyuk and thought it would be his third time on the trip, but it was cancelled due to a storm. As a result of the tornado Andersson, a Calgary scout, was supposed to fly on the plane, and As a result of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, the Red Wings drafted him 171st overall.

Datsyuk's NHL career began with the Red Wings' Igor Larionov and Sergei Fedorov, as well as Detroit captain Steve Yzerman. He was put on a line with Brett Hull and Boyd Devereaux, and had a modestly fruitful first year. Due to the length and difficulty of the NHL season, he had to miss a number of games at the end of the year in preparation for the Stanley Cup playoffs. He had three goals and three assists in the Red Wings' 2002 Stanley Cup campaign.

Especially with the addition of Henrik Zetterberg, another highly awaited prospect to the team, hopes were high for Datsyuk's second season. Boyd Devereaux was replaced on the Datsyuk-Hull line by Zetterberg, and the "Two Kids and an Old Goat Line" was introduced. Due to a knee injury, he missed only 64 games this season, but he did finish with 51 points on the season. His playoff results were disappointing, but not as poor as the entire Red Wings team; Detroit was swept by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the first round; Datsyuk was held pointless.

Sergei Fedorov's departure in the 2003 offseason gave Datsyuk a chance to play on the Red Wings. He took full advantage of his increased ice time, where his playmaking skills earned him a spot in the 2004 NHL All-Star Game. He had no goals and six assists through 12 games in the 2004 playoffs before being disqualified by the Calgary Flames in the second round.

During the 2004-2005 offseason, Datsyuk became a restricted free agent, but the Red Wings were unable to reach an agreement, despite repeated assertions by his agent Gary Greenstin, who indicated his desire to stay in Detroit. During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, he refused to bring the salary dispute to arbitration and instead played with Dynamo Moscow. Datsyuk signed a one-year deal with Avangard Omsk of the Russian Superleague on September 4, 2005, where Dynamo Moscow met the request two days later, keeping the player intact.

Datsyuk signed a two-year contract with the Red Wings on September 19, 2005, the day the RSL's arbitration committee was set to determine which club had Datsyuk's interests.

The Lady Byng Trophy, the first of four consecutive awards, was awarded to Datsyuk's high level of play during the 2005–06 season, as well as his sportsmanship (just 22 penalty minutes for the entire season). Datsyuk has also earned a spot on the Russian national team for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Datsyuk debuted the 9KO during the 2006–07 season, with holes bored into the shaft to make it more aerodynamic. He finished the season with 87 points, matching his previous season's total of 87 points. Datsyuk signed a seven-year, US$46.9 million contract extension with the Red Wings before the start of the playoffs. He then helped Detroit reach the Western Conference Finals against the Anaheim Ducks, the eventual Stanley Cup champions, who gained 16 points in 18 games.

In the 2008 All-Star Game at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Datsyuk was voted by NHL fans, alongside colleagues Nicklas Lidström and Henrik Zetterberg. He went on to have a career year by scoring a team-high 97 points in 82 games while also leading all Red Wings forwards in blocked shots. Ted Lindsay, Gordie Howe, and Steve Yzerman were among the team's first players to do so in three seasons in a franchise. Datsyuk won Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday, advancing to a match against the Pittsburgh Penguins in their first appearance in the playoffs. Datsyuk scored two assists in Game 6 of the series for the 11th Stanley Cup championship and the team's fourth in 11 years.

Datsyuk was named the top defensive forward of the league in 2007-08, beating Mike Modano's second-best total of 86). He also won the Lady Byng Trophy with just 20 penalty minutes. Datsyuk received 537 points (43 first place votes), while the New Jersey Devils' John Madden received 447 points and Datsyuk's linemate Henrik Zetterberg received 425 points. Datsyuk received 985 points (75th place votes) in the Lady Byng election. In addition, Datsyuk became the first NHL player to win the Lady Byng three times in a row in over 70 years, after the New York Rangers' Frank Boucher claimed from 1933 to 1935. Datsyuk and Ron Francis are the only players to have been rewarded both the Selke and Lady Byng trophies during their careers.

Datsyuk was selected to his third NHL All-Star Game in 2009, but he did not participate due to a hip injury. However, Datsyuk was suspended one game and teammate Nicklas Lidström for not attending, as per a newly introduced League rule.

Datsyuk finished the 2008–09 season with 97 points (32 goals and 65 assists), his highest mark in his career. He also won the Frank J. Selke Trophy, knocking out Mike Richards of the Philadelphia Flyers and Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks, and Lady Byng for the fourth season in a row. Datsyuk was also named for the Best NHL Player Award at the ESPYs, but the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby was unable to win, but the Pittsburgh Penguins were able to defend the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Datsyuk finished with his lowest end-of-season point total since the 2009-10 season, winning 70 points in 82 games. The Red Wings struggled to find consistency as a result of early-season injuries to sniper Johan Franzén, center Valtteri Filppula, and defenceman Niklas Kronwall. However, a solid finish lifted the team from ninth place in the Western Conference in February to fifth position and another 100-point season. In Game 7 of the first round against the Phoenix Coyotes, Datsyuk scored the first two goals, including a breakaway deke on Ilya Bryzgalov, which sent the Wings to the second round for the fourth straight playoff season. The Red Wings did win in five games against the San Jose Sharks, but not in five games.

On the first night of the 2010-2011 season against the Anaheim Ducks, Datsyuk scored a goal, an assist, and a fight, which came against Corey Perry. Datsyuk was also outstanding in the 2011 playoffs, leading his team to 15 points in 11 games. As the Red Wings fell behind 3–0 to the San Jose Sharks in the second round, the team almost led his team back from the deficit to triumph; a Game 5-winning assist to Valtteri Filppula's goal, and a Game 7 late backhand goal highlighted Datsyuk's heroics in an eventual losing effort.

Datsyuk and 43 others died in the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash in the entirety of the 2011 pre-season. Datsyuk was a pre-season favorite for the Hart Memorial Trophy, which was voted to the League MVP, until the Red Wings were pushed into a slump in February due to a knee injury. The team went from first place in February to fifth at the start of the season, where they drew the Nashville Predators in the first round, losing the series of four games to none. Datsyuk played in 70 games for the regular season and was also invited to the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa.

Datsyuk followed other leading NHL players, such as Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin, in playing abroad as the NHL reached its second lockout in eight years in 2012–13; he joined CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), in September. In 31 games, Datsyuk tallied 36 points.

Datsyuk returned to the Red Wings in January 2013 after scoring 49 points in 47 games. Detroit will advance to the second round of the 2013 playoffs before being defeated by the Chicago Blackhawks, the eventual champions, in seven games due to Brent Seabrook's overtime penalty. Despite being up at one point three games to one, the Red Wings lost the series. Datsyuk signed a three-year contract extension to remain with Detroit later this year.

Datsyuk became the sixth Red Wing player to reach the 900 point milestone on February 14, 2016, and the fifth Russian player to do so. Datsyuk was named the Week's Greatest Star of the Week for the week ending February 15th. With five goals and tied for second overall with seven points in four games, he led the Red Wings to seventh out of a possible eight standings points.

Datsyuk revealed on June 18 that he was leaving Detroit to play in Russia, bringing an end to his 14-year Red Wings career. He retired the Wings after winning two Stanley Cups (2002 and 2008), four consecutive Lady Byng trophies (2006, 2007, and 2009), with 918 points. He was the last remaining member of the Wings' 2002 Stanley Cup Championship team.

The Red Wings traded Datsyuk's deal to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for the 20th overall pick, the 53rd overall pick, and Joe Vitale in order to free salary cap space for the Red Wings.

Datsyuk agreed to a two-year deal with SKA Saint Petersburg of the KHL on July 8. Datsyuk played in 44 regular season games and helped SKA Saint Petersburg defeat the Gagarin Cup in his first season back in the KHL, scoring 12 goals and 22 assists in 44 regular season games. In 37 regular season games, Datsyuk scored eight goals and 27 assists in the 2017-18 season. Datsyuk signed a one-year deal extension with SKA Saint Petersburg on April 17.

The Ministry of Sport of Russia nominated him "Male Athlete of the Year" in the nomination "Pride of Russia," leaving behind runner Sergey Shubenkov and cross-country skier Alexander Bolshunov.

Datsyuk, his third with SKA, left the club as a free agent following the conclusion of his deal. Despite rumors of a possible reunion with the Red Wings, Datsyuk decided to play in the KHL again, returning to play in his hometown with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg on a one-year deal on June 5, 2019. Datsyuk re-signed with Avtomobilist on a one-year deal on July 10, 2020.

Datsyuk announced his retirement from hockey on June 30th, 2022.

Career achievements

* did not attend

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