Was Pavel Datsyuk good?

Through his career with the Red Wings, Datsyuk captured two Stanley Cups, as well as three Frank J. Selke Trophies, as the NHL’s top defensive forward, and four Lady Byng Trophies, as the NHL’s most gentlemanly player. Amazingly, though, the awards and trophies aren’t what his legacy is made of.

Where does Pavel Datsyuk rank all time?

46th in
Ovechkin lead all NHL forwards with an average ice time of 23 minutes per game. Malkin was second in this category with 22:31 minutes per game. Crosby ranked third in the league with 21:56 minutes per game. Pavel Datsyuk ranked 46th in the league amongst forwards at 19:12 minutes per game.

Why did Datsyuk leave the NHL?

Datsyuk starred for 14 seasons with the Wings before leaving after the 2015-16 season to be closer to his daughter in Russia. The Wings traded Datsyuk’s rights to the Coyotes after the 2016 season to free salary-cap space.

What made Datsyuk so good?

What made Datsyuk so special, especially during his peak years, is that he was the ultimate two-way player that was equally dominant offensively and defensively. He was basically two players in one. He was a shutdown center that could eliminate your best offensive player for an entire game.

Is Pavel Datsyuk one of the best?

“He’s one of the all-time best at playing both ends of the ice.” That 200-foot talent placed him in the debate over who was the NHL’s best player of the new millennium. Was it Datsyuk, Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin or Sydney Crosby? The other three routinely outscored him, but his coach had no doubt.

Is Datsyuk still playing?

Datsyuk announced his retirement from the NHL on June 18, 2016, after playing 953 games, to return to his native Russia. His NHL contract had one season remaining with an average annual value of $7.5 million, and he was traded to the Arizona Coyotes on June 24, 2016. He would be an unrestricted free agent in the NHL.

How many Stanley Cups did Pavel Datsyuk win?

He left the Wings having won two Stanley Cups (2002 and 2008), four consecutive Lady Byng trophies (2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009), 953 games played, and 918 points.

Did Pavel Datsyuk retire?

Pavel Datsyuk retired from the National Hockey League in 2016, opting to return home to Russia and spend his twilight years in the Kontinental Hockey League. Since then, most fans have only been able to witness his current work through the occasional highlights that appear online.