Pavel Datysuk: one of the biggest topics surrounding retirement from the end of the 2015-2016 season. While everyone is caught up on his retirement, does anyone even know how Datsyuk started his long career, spanning back to 1996-1997 in the Russian Superleague? The guess is that no one does, considering he went undrafted in the 1996 and 1997 NHL Entry Drafts, and was appeared to be only scouted by one person in 1998, the year he was drafted.
The Russian Superleague
Datsyuk’s great career started way back in 1996 in the Russian Superleague. At a mere 18 years old, Datsyuk started playing with the Spartak Yekaterinburg, who was going for an “undistinguished career.” At that age, people knew him more as a soccer player, than a hockey player – until olympic trainer Vladimir Krikunov started working with him. He eventually evolved into a two-way forward. He went undrafted in the 1996 and 1997 drafts in spite of extreme success in Russia.
This all changed in 1998, when Detroit Red Wings scout Håkan Andersson found him while scouting Dmitri Kalinin in Moscow. Andersson claims he was the only scout to see Datsyuk perform before the entry draft of 1998, where he was drafted with the 171 pick (Round 6, Pick 26) by the Red Wings. For the record, Kalinin was drafted 18 overall, but is now playing in the KHL.
Welcome to America, Pavel
However, after the draft, he remained in the RSL until the 2000-2001 season with Ak Bars Kazan. He came to America with the Red Wings during the 2001-2002 season.
Datsyuk couldn’t complain about his teammates during that season. He was playing with players such as Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov and Brett Hull. He contributed a total of 35 points (11 G, 24 A) during his rookie year. He was behind Dany Heatley (26 G, 41 A – 67 P) who won the Calder Trophy. Datsyuk contributed six points (3 G, 3 A) towards the Red Wings’ 2002 Stanley Cup Championship against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The next season, with the addition of a young, fresh Henrik Zetterberg from Timrå IK in the Swedish Hockey League, expectations were high. However, due to a knee injury, he only played 64 games with 51 points (12 G, 39 A) and had no points in the playoffs.
Datsyuk played 75 games the next season (30 G, 38 A – 68 P) for a career season-high total.
During the 2004-2005 season, the NHL Lockout came around and Datsyuk became a restricted free agent, and had no agreement on contract terms with Detroit – so, as any “normal” Russian would do, he returned to the RSL and played for Dynamo Moscow.
In September of 2005, while the RSL was deciding which team had rights to Datsyuk, he signed a new contract with Detroit which kept him around for at least two more years.
In his first year back, he won the Lady Byng trophy, which would mark his first of four consecutive years of winning the trophy for sportsmanship.
Pavel also showed off his skills in multiple NHL All-Star Games in 2004, 2008, and 2012. He was voted in during 2009, but did not attend the game due to a hip injury. He also won the Stanley Cup again in 2008 with Detroit, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He also had a career high of 97 points for the season (32 G, 65 A) during the Red Wing’s eleventh Stanley Cup winning-season.
As the years went on, Detroit was unable to find consistency due to injuries, and Datsyuk’s stats were affected majorly by that. He ended a rough streak in 2011-2012 with 67 points (19 G, 48 A), and then the lockout of 2012-2013 happened.
Back to Russia…Again
While this KHL stint didn’t last for long, he made a decent impact in Russia. He followed NHL greats, such as Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin. He signed with CSKA Moscow in 2012-2013. He played 31 games, with 36 points (11 G, 25 A) and immediately came back to the NHL with Detroit, and made it to the second round of NHL Playoffs, losing to the Chicago Blackhawks – the ultimate Stanley Cup Champions.
International Play
Besides from the NHL, and his beginning years in the KHL and RSL, Datsyuk has a great resumé between the World Cup of Hockey, the Ice Hockey World Championships, and the Olympics.
Datsyuk has been to four olympic games, including 2002 (Salt Lake City, Utah), 2006 (Turin, Italy), 2010 (Vancouver, Canada), and 2014 (Sochi, Russia). In 2002, he and the Russian hockey team came in third place, winning the bronze medal. In Sochi, he was named captain for the Russian squad.
In the Olympics, Datsyuk has a total of 20 points (5 G, 15 A), and has never seemed to break out of a shell during his olympic skating.
Datsyuk has also participated in six IIHF tournaments, including: 2001, 2003, 2005, 2010, and 2012. In 2005, Russia came in third, while Datsyuk had 7 points (3 G, 4 A). In 2010, Russia earned the silver medal, and Datsyuk contributed 7 points (6 G, 1 A). In his most recent trip, Russia received the gold medal behind 7 points again from Datsyuk (3 G, 4 A).
Datsyuk was named the best forward in the championship in 2010, and was also named to the All-Star team for the championship in that same year.
While only going to one World Cup of Hockey tournament in 2004 with Russia, they returned with an unsatisfactory fifth place, and Datsyuk provided a lone goal for only one point during the entire tournament.
Retirement for “Magic Man”
With much assumption from fans and staff of the Detroit Red Wings, Pavel Datsyuk announced his retirement from the NHL, and his return to Russia on April 10, 2016. It’s unclear if he will still play hockey, or hang up the skates for good.
On February 14, 2016, Datsyuk passed the 900 point mark for his NHL career, and finished his regular season total at 918 points. He also passed the 300 goal mark, and ended with 314 goals. Next, he passed the 600 assist mark and finished his career with 604.
In every year that he’s been with the NHL and Detroit, he’s made the playoffs – including this past season. He’s also had two Stanley Cup championships (2002, 2008).
As he packs his things, and gets ready to return to Russia, NHL fans will never forget the legacy that Pavel Datsyuk has left on the NHL, KHL, and RSL – helping him have a truly legendary international career.
