Pavel Datsyuk facts for kids

In this article, the patronymic is Valerievich and the family name is Datsyuk.

Quick facts for kids Pavel Datsyuk
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2024
Datsyuk with the Detroit Red Wings in March 2015
Born	(1978-07-20) 20 July 1978 (age 46) Sverdlovsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Spartak Yekaterinburg Ak Bars Kazan Detroit Red Wings Dynamo Moscow CSKA Moscow SKA Saint Petersburg Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
National team	Russia
NHL Draft	171st overall, 1998 Detroit Red Wings
Playing career	1996–2021

Pavel Valeryevich Datsyuk (born July 20, 1978) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player. People called him the "Magic Man" because of his amazing stickhandling and creative plays with the puck. He played for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2001 to 2016. In 2017, Datsyuk was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" ever. He was the only active player not in the NHL at that time to receive this honor.

Pavel Datsyuk won the Stanley Cup twice with the Red Wings, in 2002 and 2008. He also won the Gagarin Cup in 2017 with SKA Saint Petersburg in Russia. He played for the Russia men's national ice hockey team in many Olympic Games. He was the team captain in 2014 and 2018. When he won a gold medal at the 2018 Olympics, Datsyuk joined the exclusive Triple Gold Club. This club is for players who have won the Stanley Cup, an Olympic gold medal, and a World Championship gold medal.

Datsyuk won the Frank J. Selke Trophy three times in a row (2008, 2009, 2010) as the NHL's best defensive forward. He also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy four times in a row (2006 to 2009). This award is for players who show great sportsmanship and skill. He was also nominated for the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2009, which is given to the NHL's most valuable player. Datsyuk was famous for his excellent defensive play and his ability to change games with his offensive skills. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2024.

Pavel Datsyuk's Early Life

Pavel Datsyuk was born in Sverdlovsk, which was part of the Soviet Union back then. His family called him "Pasha" when he was little. He faced some tough times growing up, especially when his mother passed away when he was 16.

Even though Datsyuk had great hockey skills, many scouts didn't notice him because he was smaller than other players. He started playing for a junior team in Dynamo Yekaterinburg in the mid-1990s. His career didn't seem to be going anywhere special until a famous Olympic coach, Vladimir Krikunov, started coaching his team.

Krikunov noticed Datsyuk not just on the ice, but also when he played soccer. He saw Pavel's quick thinking, vision, and smart plays. Under Krikunov's coaching, Datsyuk became a very effective two-way player, meaning he was good at both offense and defense. He started getting more attention from Russian hockey fans. Even with his early success, he was not picked in the 1996 or 1997 NHL drafts.

Pavel Datsyuk's Hockey Career

Starting in Russia

Detroit Red Wings scout Håkan Andersson first saw Datsyuk in the summer of 1997. Andersson was in Moscow to watch another player, but Datsyuk, described as "this little guy on the other team," caught his eye. Andersson made another trip to see Datsyuk play. He believes he was the only NHL scout who saw Datsyuk before the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. The Red Wings then drafted Datsyuk as the 171st overall pick.

Playing for the Detroit Red Wings (2001–2016)

First Stanley Cup Win

When Datsyuk started his NHL career with the Red Wings, older Russian stars like Igor Larionov and Sergei Fedorov, along with captain Steve Yzerman, helped him learn the ropes. He played on a line with Brett Hull and Boyd Devereaux and had a good first year. The long NHL season was tough, so he rested for some games before the 2002 playoffs. The Red Wings won the Presidents' Trophy for being the best team in the regular season. Datsyuk helped them win the 2002 Stanley Cup by scoring three goals and three assists.

People had high hopes for Datsyuk's second season. Another talented player, Henrik Zetterberg, joined the team. Zetterberg replaced Boyd Devereaux on Datsyuk's line, creating the famous "Two Kids and an Old Goat Line." Datsyuk played only 64 games because of a knee injury but still got 51 points. However, his playoff performance was not as good, and the Red Wings lost quickly in the first round of the 2003 playoffs.

When Sergei Fedorov left in 2003, Datsyuk got more ice time and became a more important player for the Red Wings. His amazing playmaking skills earned him a spot in the 2004 NHL All-Star Game. Datsyuk finished the 2003–04 season with 30 goals and 38 assists, totaling 68 points in 75 games. The Red Wings won the Presidents' Trophy again. In the 2004 playoffs, he had no goals but six assists before the team was eliminated.

During the 2004–05 off-season, Datsyuk played for Dynamo Moscow in Russia because of an NHL lockout. On September 19, 2005, Datsyuk signed a two-year deal to return to the Red Wings. In the 2005–06 season, Datsyuk played at a very high level and showed great sportsmanship, with only 22 penalty minutes. This earned him his first Lady Byng Trophy. He also played for the Russian national team at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Becoming a Star and Winning Another Stanley Cup

In the 2006–07 season, Datsyuk matched his previous season's total of 87 points. Before the 2007 playoffs, he signed a big seven-year contract extension with the Red Wings. He helped Detroit go far in the playoffs, reaching the Western Conference Finals. He scored 16 points (eight goals and eight assists) in 18 playoff games.

Datsyuk holding the Stanley Cup in June 2008

In 2007–08, NHL fans voted Datsyuk, along with teammates Nicklas Lidström and Henrik Zetterberg, to start in the 2008 All-Star Game. He had his best year yet, scoring 97 points (31 goals, 66 assists) in all 82 games. He also led all Red Wings forwards in blocked shots. The Red Wings won the Presidents' Trophy again. In the 2008 playoffs, Datsyuk scored his first NHL hat-trick (three goals in one game) on May 12. The Red Wings reached the Finals and beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, winning their 11th Stanley Cup title. This was Datsyuk's second Stanley Cup.

Datsyuk also won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the League's best defensive forward. He led the NHL with a +41 plus-minus rating and 144 takeaways (stealing the puck from opponents). With only 20 penalty minutes, he also won the Lady Byng Trophy again. He was the first player in over 70 years to win the Lady Byng three times in a row.

Datsyuk was chosen for his third NHL All-Star Game in 2009, but he couldn't play due to a hip injury. On February 13, 2009, Datsyuk played in his 500th NHL game. He finished the 2008–09 season with 97 points, matching his career high. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy and the Lady Byng for the fourth year in a row. In the 2009 playoffs, Datsyuk and the Red Wings made it to the Stanley Cup Finals again, but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games.

In the 2009–10 season, Datsyuk scored 70 points in 80 games and won his third straight Selke Trophy. The Red Wings had a tough start but finished strong. Datsyuk scored two goals in Game 7 of the first round against the Phoenix Coyotes, helping the Wings advance. However, they lost in the next round.

Datsyuk playing for CSKA during the 2012 NHL lockout

Datsyuk had a "Gordie Howe hat trick" on the first night of the 2010–11 season (a goal, an assist, and a fight). On December 22, Datsyuk broke his wrist and missed 19 games. He finished the season with 59 points in 56 games. In the 2011 playoffs, he led his team with 15 points. The Red Wings almost came back from a 3-0 deficit against the San Jose Sharks, with Datsyuk making key plays, but they eventually lost.

For the 2011 pre-season, Datsyuk wore jersey number 24 to honor his former teammate Ruslan Salei, who died in a plane crash. He then switched back to his usual number 13 for the 2011–12 season. Datsyuk was a top candidate for the Hart Memorial Trophy (League MVP) until a knee injury in February 2012. He finished the season with 67 points in 70 games and was named to the 2012 NHL All-Star Game.

During the NHL lockout in 2012–13, Datsyuk played for CSKA Moscow in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He scored 36 points in 31 games. When the NHL season started again in January 2013, Datsyuk returned to the Red Wings. He scored 49 points in 47 games. Detroit made it to the second round of the 2013 playoffs but lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in seven games, even though they were ahead 3-1 in the series.

Final Years in Detroit

On June 18, 2013, Datsyuk signed a three-year contract extension with Detroit. In the 2013–14 campaign, he missed games due to a concussion and a knee injury. He finished the season with 37 points in 45 games. The Red Wings lost in the first round of the 2014 playoffs.

Datsyuk missed the first five games of the 2014–15 regular season because of a shoulder injury. He finished the season with 65 points in 63 games. He was a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for the sixth time.

On February 14, 2016, Datsyuk reached his 900th point in a game against the Boston Bruins. He became the sixth Red Wing player and fifth Russian player in NHL history to reach this milestone. He finished the 2015–16 season with 49 points in 66 games. The Red Wings lost in the first round of the 2016 playoffs.

On June 18, 2016, Datsyuk announced he was leaving Detroit to play in Russia, ending his 14-year career with the Red Wings. He had won two Stanley Cups, four Lady Byng trophies, and played 953 games with 918 points. He was the last player remaining from the Red Wings' 2002 Stanley Cup team.

On June 24, 2016, the Red Wings traded Datsyuk's contract to the Arizona Coyotes. This trade helped the Red Wings clear up space under the salary cap.

Returning to Russia (2016–2021)

Playing for SKA Saint Petersburg

On July 8, 2016, Datsyuk signed a two-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg, a strong team in the KHL. In the 2016–17 season, Datsyuk scored 34 points in 44 games. He helped SKA Saint Petersburg win the Gagarin Cup in his first season back in the KHL. He continued to play well in the 2017–18 season. In April 2018, Datsyuk signed another one-year contract with the team.

He was named "Male Athlete of the Year" in Russia by the Ministry of Sport of Russia.

Playing for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg

After three seasons with SKA, Datsyuk left the club. On June 5, 2019, he chose to continue playing in the KHL. He returned to his hometown team, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, on a one-year contract. He extended his contract for another year in July 2020. Pavel Datsyuk officially retired from playing hockey in 2021.

Pavel Datsyuk's Playing Style

Throughout his NHL career, Datsyuk was known as a top "two-way forward." This means he was excellent at both offense and defense. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy three times in a row (2008, 2009, 2010) as the league's best defensive forward. He was also a finalist for the award six times.

Besides his defensive skills, Datsyuk was famous for his backhand shot and his incredible ability to deke and move around opposing players while stickhandling. This move was even called "The Datsyukian," and Datsyuk himself earned the nickname "The Magic Man."

Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick once said about Datsyuk: "I'd call Datsyuk a master chess player. As a goalie, your nightmare is when the puck carrier has multiple options. Datsyuk has a knack for seeing the entire ice and holding onto the puck until space opens up and he has a couple different plays he can make. He kind of stretches you and forces you to get caught in the middle of taking away the shot or taking away the pass. You have to commit to one or you're toast. It's a 50-50 gamble sometimes with him."

Pavel Datsyuk's Family Life

Pavel Datsyuk met his first wife, Svetlana, when he was 18. They got married three years later and had a daughter named Elizabeth in 2004. They divorced in 2010. Datsyuk married his second wife, Maria, in 2012. Their daughter, Vasilisa, was born in April 2014. His third child, a son named Pavel Jr., was born in February 2017.

He is a Russian Orthodox Christian.

Pavel Datsyuk's Career Achievements

International Awards

Medal record
Datsyuk warming up during a 2012 World Championship game
Men's ice hockey
Representing Olympic Athletes from Russia
Olympic Games
Gold	2018 Pyeongchang
Representing Russia
Olympic Games
Bronze	2002 Salt Lake City
World Championships
Gold	2012 Finland/Sweden
Silver	2010 Germany
Bronze	2005 Austria
Bronze	2016 Russia

Olympic gold medal – 2018
World Championship gold medal – 2012
World Championship best forward – 2010
World Championship All-Star team – 2010
Named captain of the Russia men's national ice hockey team for the 2014 Winter Olympics
Named captain of the Olympic Athletes from Russia men's ice hockey team for the 2018 Winter Olympics
Olympic All-Star team – 2018

NHL Awards

2-time Stanley Cup champion – 2002, 2008
NHL Second All-Star team – 2009
Selected to the NHL All-Star Game – 2004, 2008, 2009*, 2012
Played in the NHL YoungStars Game – 2002
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Frank J. Selke Trophy – 2008, 2009, 2010
NHL Plus-Minus Award – 2008
NHL Offensive Player of the Month – December 2003
Carhartt "Hardest Working" Player of the Month – December 2007
2010–11 NHL Players Poll: Hardest to Take the Puck Off of; Cleanest Player.
2011–12 NHL Players Poll: Smartest Player; Most Difficult to Play Against; Hardest to Take the Puck From; Most Difficult to Stop; Cleanest Player; Toughest Forward to Play Against.
Kharlamov Trophy – 2011, 2013: Voted Best Russian NHL Player by Russian NHL Players
Selected as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players (2017)

* did not attend

Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame - 2024

KHL Awards

Gagarin Cup champion – 2017
2-time KHL All-Star – 2013, 2017
Sergey Gimayev Prize (top veteran player) – 2021

Pavel Datsyuk's Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoff Games

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1994–95	SKA Avtomobilist–2 Yekaterinburg	RUS.2	8	0	1	1	4	—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	SKA Avtomobilist–2 Yekaterinburg	RUS.2	44	8	9	17	8	—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Spartak Yekaterinburg	RSL	18	2	2	4	4	—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	SKA Yekaterinburg	RUS.3	7	3	3	6	2	—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Dinamo–Energija Yekaterinburg	RSL	24	3	4	7	4	—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Dinamo–Energija Yekaterinburg	RUS.2	13	9	8	17	2	—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Dinamo–Energija–2 Yekaterinburg	RUS.3	10	14	14	28	4	—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	Dinamo–Energija Yekaterinburg	RSL	15	1	3	4	4	—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Ak Bars Kazan	RSL	42	9	19	28	12	4	0	1	1	2
2001–02	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	70	11	24	35	4	21	3	3	6	2
2002–03	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	64	12	39	51	16	4	0	0	0	0
2003–04	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	75	30	38	68	35	12	0	6	6	2
2004–05	Dynamo Moscow	RSL	47	15	17	32	16	10	6	3	9	4
2005–06	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	75	28	59	87	22	5	0	3	3	0
2006–07	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	79	27	60	87	20	18	8	8	16	8
2007–08	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	82	31	66	97	20	22	10	13	23	6
2008–09	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	81	32	65	97	22	16	1	8	9	5
2009–10	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	80	27	43	70	18	12	6	7	13	8
2010–11	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	56	23	36	59	15	11	4	11	15	8
2011–12	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	70	19	48	67	14	5	1	2	3	2
2012–13	CSKA Moscow	KHL	31	11	25	36	4	—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	47	15	34	49	14	14	3	6	9	4
2013–14	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	45	17	20	37	6	5	3	2	5	0
2014–15	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	63	26	39	65	8	7	3	2	5	2
2015–16	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	66	16	33	49	14	5	0	0	0	4
2016–17	SKA Saint Petersburg	KHL	44	12	22	34	14	7	3	5	8	27
2017–18	SKA Saint Petersburg	KHL	37	8	27	35	8	15	4	3	7	0
2018–19	SKA Saint Petersburg	KHL	54	12	30	42	6	12	1	6	7	4
2019–20	Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg	KHL	43	5	17	22	10	4	2	2	4	2
2020–21	Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg	KHL	51	12	23	35	10	5	1	2	3	0
RSL totals			146	30	45	75	40	14	6	4	10	6
NHL totals			953	314	604	918	228	157	42	71	113	55
KHL totals			260	60	144	204	52	43	11	18	29	33

International Games

Year	Team	Event	Result	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2001	Russia	WC	6th	7	0	4	4	0
2002	Russia	OG		6	1	2	3	0
2003	Russia	WC	7th	7	1	4	5	0
2004	Russia	WCH	5th	4	1	0	1	0
2005	Russia	WC		9	3	4	7	0
2006	Russia	OG	4th	8	1	7	8	10
2010	Russia	OG	6th	4	1	2	3	2
2010	Russia	WC		6	6	1	7	0
2012	Russia	WC		10	3	4	7	2
2014	Russia	OG	5th	5	2	4	6	0
2016	Russia	WC		10	1	10	11	0
2016	Russia	WCH	4th	2	0	2	2	0
2018	OAR	OG		6	0	6	6	0
2018	Russia	WC	6th	8	2	8	10	2
Senior totals				92	22	58	80	16