I'm a Bruins fan and Pavel Datsyuk was my favorite player most of his NHL career. Never seen anything like him before or since.

I don't use the word genius often, only for those who are deserving of that inexplicable label, but Datsyuk was one of those rare few. Every movement he made and every action he committed was calculated; there was a deep intelligence in everything he did on the ice. You could see him analyzing everything during the moment and foreseeing plays before they happened. Watching him play, there is a constant, perpetual inventiveness, a sweeping gaze that analyzes those around him, the direction of the puck, the flow of the play, all so he can make the perfect, right play that's premeditated in three or even four dimensions. Watching Datsyuk, you see the endless depths of the human mind, stretching outward like the horizon and down like the slope of the mountain. "Talent is hitting the target that no one else hit; genius is hitting the target that no one else can see." (Arthur Schopenhauer). There are very few players in the history of hockey to whom that applies, but Datsyuk is one of them, for he changed the way we watch and play the game. Since eras are such a significant signifier of greatness and determine the level of greatness ("Oh, Gretzky was only so good because he played in that high-scoring era!"), look at the eras and the change in hockey's style across the decades. From Gordie Howe to Conner McDavid, the proto-typical "great" hockey player has changed in its definition and perception. Hockey players come and go, and the greatness that once was is shunned for the greatness in the Now. Who were the players in the 80s and 90s who were renowned and thought to be the heralds of a new game? Who were the names of those who all fans thought would be great and the best? Who were those men fans would die by in their excessive defense of the greatness of those men? I bet many of those names are forgotten-or will be in the coming years. No one speaks nowadays about Rocket Richard or Gordie Howe, not really. Those are just "figureheads" for a rougher, less evolved form of hockey, and we are too petty to perceive them as actual titans of the sport, brushing them aside with the arrogance of the casual bandwagon fans. But there were great players before Rocket and Gordie, and what about them? What about their greatness? What about their names? The greatness diminishes in our minds, reduced in favor of the "new" greatness seen in younger, fresher players, and the cycle will never end. But to play to the limits of your era is a transcendent act, and that is why we ardently defend the names of those rarified few who played to the limits of their eras - because maybe one hockey player in an entire generation, if that, is actually capable of playing to the limits of his generation. These players actively defined their eras by revealing the limits of their eras. Gretzky is the best example of that,t and following him is Gordie. But I think Datsyuk is up there. However, I think Datsyuk actually transcends those limits, unlike the others, for his artistic influence is too immense and creative, burning too brightly, to be snuffed out - because that is genius, an imprint eternalized in the sand that Time's waves can never wash away. Gretzky is the most intelligent player to ever play, which will never change, but Datsyuk is absolutely the most creative and artistic. To watch Datsyuk in his prime, at his absolute best during a game, was worth any price - for that is what genius means. I would pay a max limit to watch any other player in his prime at his absolute best, having the game of his life - including Gretzky, Howe, Lemieux, Orr, Lidstrom, Crosby, and McDavid, and that price would probably max out at around $1,000 (I'm a cheap guy, what can I say?) - but for Datsyuk, it's different. I can't conceive a price I wouldn't pay to watch Datsyuk in his prime at his absolute best. To see that level of creativity, artistry, dedication, determination, intelligence, and proactive subtlety is priceless; to see genius work in the moment is mesmerizing. His elite influence on both ends of the ice simultaneously was unparalleled. I watch other hockey players who impact on a shift on one end of the ice, but Datsyuk was the only player I've ever seen who was the most impactful player on the ice on both ends of the ice-on the same shift, time and time again! He never took a shift off. He didn't half-ass some shifts in which he would focus on offense and then do the reverse on the next shift, alternating between his focuses. No, every shift was played with critical attention paid to both ends of the ice, and I've never seen that with another player, specifically at his level. Yes, Patrice Bergeron is an excellent two-player, but he noticeably lacks that intrinsic spark-the genius-that Datsyuk so obviously, brilliantly possesses. You always notice Datsyuk on the ice; you always have one eye glued to him, anticipating the moment you watch a creative act that robs you of your breath and stirs your heart with its artistry. He is like a magnet, attracting your gaze, attention, respect, and awe, for he has that "it" factor that no other hockey player has had in such spades - to my amateur eye, of course. But it is priceless all the same, for you never see that. It takes an exceptional player to do that, and Datsyuk transcends the limits of time and space. Nowadays, people deride Gretzky and Lemieux in favor of Crosby and Ovechkin (or, for a more modern-modern example, McDavid and Matthews), but even fifty years from now, no one can deride a player in favor of Datsyuk for his influence trascendends petty subjectivism. His creativity and artistry are eternal forces that those blessed of us who watched him play live will remember forever and praise until the days we die. There will be another Lemieux (and arguably has been with Lindros and Malkin, albeit not with the long-term impact); there will be another Crosby (and many argue that there already is another Crosby in either MacKinnon or McDavid); there will be another Ovechkin (not in terms of longevity for scoring but the elite impact in the moment, absolutely); and there will be another McDavid. But like Gretzky, there will never be another Datsyuk, not the quantified, conceived whole of him who was exceptional and profound at all levels of the game, lacking any weak area.

I firmly believe Datsyuk is one of the most skilled players ever. He didn't have the crazy numbers so he gets overlooked sometimes, but my god, his deception, vision and wizardry were second to none.

Pavel Datsyuk is THE best stick handler to ever play the game. Hands down.

This is exactly how I feel about Datsyuk. Born and raised in Montreal, needless to say, I grew up playing hockey from age 3. I’ve never seen a player like this. I’m 50 now.

Brett Hull summed it up when he said where does a guy learn to do this stuff my dad is Bobby Hull and I have never seen moves like he does regularly

I love your remark, " only player to be amazing EVERY shift"" i agree 1000%

Agree with this video. The most dynamic player EVER! I truly Miss Datsyuk.

It is hard to add anything new after so many well-deserved praises, but my amateur feeling of Datsyuk's game is one of something extremely relaxed and flowing. I honestly doubt one can acquire that. He is a natural unique talent, an artist rather than an athlete.

most skilled player ever! most complete player ive ever seen in my life! Pavel Datsyuk

1.51 This trick with the collision with the players of Dalas is only in your video, the same moment with the players of the San Jose Sharks has been seen by everyone. For three months now I have been watching everything that You Tube offers about Datsyuk. Special thanks for this rare shot.

This is spot on. There will never be another Datsyuk. He was so unique and is definitely one of the best players in history. He’s my favorite for sure. I watched every single one of his games and he would just pull of the most ridiculous and insane shit I’ve ever seen. His style was so unique.

Datsyuk - No 1 in hockey

Datsyuk is without question the greatest hockey player to ever put on skates!!! Everything you said in the video is well stated and we will never witness another player like Pav. He had no weaknesses and unfortunately he doesn’t get the credit he deserves from main stream media as he didn’t put up the points he could’ve. Datsyuk could’ve easily put up 130-150 points a season but played both ways and being the best all around player was most important to him. That’s why he is a winner and respected amongst his peers as the best player!! I miss watching him so much!!!

As a wings fan, I always have a pang of sadness when I watch his highlights. Same as barry sanders, I know he was once in a lifetime.

The Red Wings Datsyuk games I missed I can count on 1 hand. It was incredible. There were long streaks of games where he did not make any mistakes at his position. It was insane.

I share your admiration for Dats ability to play!! He was amazing, all the time. The only reason seeing him on tv might have been better than in person is because of the replays!!; otherwise, he is the most exciting player, and in Person!?, there wasnt anything better. He is the only player, as a wings fan, that when he had the puck, i thought, "we r ok!" Lol His skill away from the puck and his knowledge and vision makes him one of the all time greatest, possibly of all time. A true TEAM playe! No one has played like him before, or since. He had a complete game! Thank you

Дацюк. Прекрасен.

Thank you for this

Favourite player all time no question. Made me fall in love with hockey. The closest play style is probably Nico Hischier. But he’s not even close.

man do I miss him in Detroit. I see all these reaction videos of him and they are great, sure. but I'm glad you highlighted some of his non-scoring moments because it really showcases how absolute genius he was on the ice. when some of the greatest hockey players of all time are saying they don't understand how he does what he does and they "marvel at his skill level" as Brett Hull said, you know this man was a legend. he absolutely needs his number in the rafters in Detroit

Got to watch Datsyuk all the time and he never stopped pulling tricks out of his bag. Even his teammates would go into saying that even in practice they would be in awe.

There have only been a handful of athletes I’ve watched in my life that gave you jaw dropping plays every game. Barry Sanders was one. Pavel Datsyuk was another. I feel bad for anyone who didn’t get a chance to see Datsyuk play. He was special.

I only saw about 1/3 1/2 his career but so glad I got to watch the Magic Man in action. Such an amazing player. Definitely up there with the greats like Gretzky Howe and some of the other greats regardless of his lack of 100 point seasons

Best Defensive Center in NHL history

It's the evolution of the Russian Player. I remember Alexander Mogilny and Pavel Bure. Then there was Fedorov who was amazing to watch but generally considered "soft" because he didn't play the North American game of contact well. Most Russians in the 80's and 90's had that reputation of shying away from contact or outright hating it.I look at Ovechkin today and think "Fedorov" with a mean streak. I agree with everything you said on Datsyuk. The guy is in the top echelon of the Russian Players who've come over to the NHL. And he may be the best Russian to ever play in the NHL.

Detroit's my team and when they brought Russians in force it changed hockey. He was the crown jewel, initially he wanted to play pro soccer, and you look at his foot work and see it. In Russian junior hockey he'd drill with weights of a broom stick to build hand/forearm strength, and you look at his wrist shot and see it. The guy saw all the angles, pushed 6'2" 220 lb guys off pucks. He was a gift to the RedWings, miss him.

Maybe the most complete and highly skilled player all time. As others have said here, every movement he made on the ice was the optimal one and he was dominant in every facet of the game.

The "Magic Man"!!!

he was basically the roger federer of hockey. every movement was pure art and gracefulness. skill at absolute highest level.

The Magician!!! First round HOF, without a doubt.

Yes!!! You identified a trait that I've never quite understood, but it is "Disguising movement" Jordan does it in a profound way as well. Great great stuff!

Pavel was worth the price of admission alone.

I agree! top 10 ever to wear the winged wheel sweater

Genius, with high hockey IQ

One of the best to do it, he is a legend

4:00 cerebral is the word you're looking for. It wasn't just that he saw the whole rink, thought several moves in advance based on what he saw, but he also knew what everyone else was going to do too, at least it seems that way. He knew how to move to make other players do certain things that he could exploit.

There's a little bit of Pavel in a lot of young players today.

Да, Паха красавчик был всегда) ПРиятно, что его так любят во всем мире и помнят!

I'm a Crosby fan, but one of my favorite Datsyuk moments was when he made Sid lose his balance in Game 6 2009 near the end of the 1st period

Cerebral was the word you were working for I feel like, but perceptive is true too of course. You totally get it man, every shift was brilliant. Greatest hockey player for my money too. If a young player wants to be Datsyuk like you’re right it starts with the patience and the patience comes from confidence in one’s puck control ability. His hands and his skill with the puck set his mind free to be calm and poised.

the Newton of Hockey!

1st one I ever saw shoot the puck between his legs, and he did it at full speed, to change the angle. Tender made great save but it was a high quality chance. Also what is lost by many who did not see him when he was in the NHL was his play when the other Team had the puck, great 200 ft player (3X Selke winner for a reason). Very high on my favorite player of all time list. Also rag-dolled 6'3" Corry Perry when Perry instigated with the 5'11", 4X Lady Byng winner. Datsyuk-Perry, and Potvin-Hextal are two of my all time favorite non fighter, fights.

The Magic Man as he is

I am a Redwing fan forever and we were so blessed to him

To me he is the one and only...

Nobody played like him bc they simply couldn’t make the moves he did look as easy as he did. Very skilled player. IMO pound for pound the most skilled player with hands like you wouldn’t believe

Datsyuk combined skillful movements with incredible awareness of his surroundings

I live in Metro Detroit, and played High school, Collegiate, and verious Mens Leagues until i was 44.... I appreciated him SoMuch! Pavel is the One, the Only, MagicMan!

You can always watch how Datsyuk plays and always listen to how an American commentator comments on his game

1:16 Is the best play I have ever seen. The passing, the moving. Such an easy goal at the end of the day but what a play between two great Players. The Euro Twins. We were spoiled in Detroit.

The man is the highest level of seminal poetry.

A lot like Larionov, but better. A far better stickhandler than Larionov and a bit better in everything else except in the playmaking and passing which goes very even. For a long time Datsyuk was an underrated player. I think it took until around 2006-2007 before he was generally seen as a one of the best of that time.

ABSOLUTELY AGREE

What’s great is that the Red Wings also had a player named ‘The Professor’. I was definitely spoiled being born in 1990 growing up watching the Wings.

❤❤❤ My all time favorite!!

Who knows, if we get enough datsyk fans he could com back, i man he did in 2014. He is a Great player but not most people know About him.

Great video. I’m glad you didn’t only show the plays resulting in goals.

I remember even in EA NHL on PS he was amazing. I would ALWAYS trade for him !!!

This is surprising, but if it were not for the draft, Datsyuk would have remained useless in Russia as well. Nobody ever knew about him. He was not invited to the central clubs; he did not play for the national team then. And then the case and Datsyuk became a member of the Golden Club (Stanley Cup + Olympics + World Championship) and there are only 30 such players in the world today

I was a teenager n goalie late 80's and early 90's. BEST HOCKEY 🏒 PLAYERS EVER. HOCKEY WITH HEART FIRST, THEN MONEY 💰.

One of the most impressive goals he scored doesn’t show up on most highlights but I remember him scoring this goal twice. Coming down the wing with a near impossible angle he scored on a backhand n the more memorable one i remember he put it FAR SIDE corner.

The little magician could undress you with his mits in a phone booth. The Euro Twins was a fun PP to watch.

Peter Forsberg was one of my favorites to watch his vision was incredible too

I dont know if others have noticed, but his stance is consistent; 2 hands on the stick all the time, 3 point contact, all the time. It is almost rare to see him play 1 handed for more than one stride!!

He has such a great hockey sense! It was believe that had he come back to NHL He wanted to be on the Red Wings, but I believe he’s retired now.

The soul reason I loved Detroit

No question connor mcdavid is insane. But when it comes to puck handling and creativity, there will never be another datsyuky! He is the secretariat of the hockey world!

👍👍👍 Лучше всех

Mcdavid and Dri are the new modern era of these two offensively. But these two were kings in the D zone too!

He was to hockey what barry sanders was to football. Just fun to watch.

Datsyukian I believe is the word

Every game? Every shift he would do something next level. Dood was different.

His defensive stick was just as skilled as his famous goals. He didn't try to make the 1-2 move play but knew that most defense I'm the league trained for that so adding in another move or a 4th would throw off goalies and players not ready for it

Bossy, Bure and Datsyuk.. Insane

Не reminds me Ronaldinho...)

There are those that say that it took an entire tree just to make the blade of Datsyuk´s stick.

❤

PD is more of a wizard than Harry Potter.

I can’t recall another time I saw a highlight where a person entered the zone carrying the puck straddling the line. Pulls it back outside the zone and re-enters immediately on attacks. Hockey player conditioning is once past line, get puck deeper. You don’t see this move at all.

Datsyuk would do at least 1 thing per game where u would go "WTF these are nhl players he's doing this against"..... and it was always some new sorcery. One of one. Barkov is probably the closest thing to him right now in terms of his 2 way play, but nobody has played with his level of wizardry. Hard to explain to people that didn't watch him live. Miss watching him play.

You talk about Datsyuk the same way i talk about Konstantinov. Vlady may not have scored any goals; he did own his zone. As a Detroiter im proud they both wore the sweater. Side note: Living that close to Windsor..CBC hockey rules!!

Kutcherov reminds me of him

Briscoe Hockey Training Love your video, and only wish to correct one thing. You said, "it came easy to him", and that is nowhere close to actuality. While other have put much time into practice, for that was an obsession to them, as it was for Pavel...he was the result of many, many, many hours of testing, trial & error, attempting the unreal, until it became reality, and near perfection. He had another asset = being naturally gifted, and possessed a brain that could concentrate on perfecting his play, and was not involved in much, other than hockey. Gordie Howe was similar in practice, in the non-normal things he repeated in practice. Like switching wings, and drawing the goalie out the net, and from the left-circle, flip the puck so high, it looked like it would carry over the net...when it would drop behind the goalie, and in the net. He did it twice in one-game, vs Mike Palmateer/Leafs. That move, plus many more, were the result of knowledge, and experimentation, after hours on end, of extreme practice. Of course, the natural skill was also there for Howe too. If Gordie were born in this era, with the great instruction, and training, coaching, skates/equipment available, he'd have been even better than he was. The result of physical, and mental strength. He started with files tied to boots/catalogues for shin-pads. Other than that, you are spot on! There are quite a few gifted players, but Howe, Datsyuk, were among the rarest talents ever seen, and I was privileged to see both, on my Wings. [Sawchuk, Pronovost, Yzerman, Lidström, were other Wings, we were honored to see...sadly, I have to leave others off, as it would take too much space, to name all] [Jean Beliveau, Bobby's Orr & Hull, Luigi Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, have to be added, because they were also on the same level - again, there are more that could be named]

Normally I'm against all that high-tech medical stuff like - "cloning" - but, uh, in Datsyuk's case I think I'd make an exception. I'd love to see another new Pavel play the game - but I truly doubt that I ever will.

I agree there isn't a player like him for sure. Aleksander Barkov is probably the only modern day equivalent showing flashes of that skill. He's also not the fastest but so deceptive with movements, creativity, skill and always finding that space and time and finding players with amazing passes.

His hands and skates might not have moved at 100mph but his brain was moving at the speed of light. As for wanting to play like him? Don't. You either have it or you don't and if you don't you'll get knocked on your butt every time. There are lots of hockey skills that can be learnt and taught and picked up, but pulling the kind of moves he could requires something beyond that.

Gen Zer says: Datsyuk couldn't even play in today's NHL because today's players are so advanced.

Draisaitl is similar to Datsyuk in some ways. Slow, patient. Unbelievably skilled but not in the way of a McDavid, Mackinnon, Hughes, etc where they blow down the ice at max speed. They make NHL players look like children at an outdoor pond with the way they subtly slip the puck into areas where it can't be reached, protect the puck unreasonably well, lift a stick and take the puck away with ease. If you loved Datsyuk watch some Draisaitl film.

This is what is called "soft power". He was as good at it as a cat.

You would have loved to witness Mario, no need for "in his prime", because he was the greatest every second of his career.

I would have loved to be an editor for the "script" of this video. I've lived my entire life in southeast Michigan, and having been born 2 weeks before Darren McCarty blew the roof off the Joe to break a 42 year cup drought I like to say I was born a Red Wings fan; #13 has always been a clear favorite player of mine. It is my contention that there not only *will* never be another player like Datsyuk, but there *can* be no other player like Datsyuk in modern hockey. Datsyuk's deception (a word I feel like you were looking for often) and the way he exploited the weakness of defensive coverage was second to none and his success changed the way defensive theory was taught. Skating techniques and positioning that favor flexible reactive movement over pure man to man tracking, keeping tight control over the body of the attacker (see Moritz Seider's defensive plays 1 on 1 against McDavid) and the pure speed of the game all evolved more or less as answers to the uncheckable style of hockey that Datsyuk brought with him every night. It was a strict honor to not only witness him play in real time, but in person as well. Thank you for this tribute, it's always a treat to see the appreciation for this Red Wings legend continue to propagate through time. On a side note, I got to play a game of pickup floor hockey with him during one of the Hockeyfests the Joe used to host. He came walking up with his 3-4 security detail in tow to get in line for the next 10 minute game and it just so happened my brother and I were next in line among several other kids. Before he gets in I picked up the nearest sharpie I could find, ran over to him, and I don't even remember saying a single word to him as I stick out the marker, drop the marker in front of my hockey hero (top 3 embarrassing moment of my life btw), and then watch in stupefied awe as he reaches down to grab the marker and sign the back of my winter classic #13 Datsyuk jersey before his guards tell everyone that he wasn't there to sign autographs. I ended up being on the team he chose and acted as his left defensive partner while the younger kids chased the ball to score. My brother got to be on the other team and at a few points was hip to hip with him fighting for the ball along the boards. I'll never forget, the ball came up in the air right to Datsyuk, so he reached out to grab the ball and pretended to throw it down the rink, directing everybody's attention to the other end only for him to drop the ball and start stickhandling away from traffic. He had all of us fooled! Pavel Datsyuk is an incredible, unparalleled icon to the sport of hockey as a collective whole and is directly responsible for some of my most fondly held memories. I have neither the time nor lexical ammunition to say all the great things there is to say about #13.

Question time: is #13 worthy of being in the rafters of Little Caesars Arena?

I think all the greats had ice vision Mario Wayne McDOOGLE Crosby and others

Lol why upload this audio? I lost count of how many times you said “I don’t know what to say” lol 🤪

DATSYUKIAN DEKE!!!!!!!!!!!

Did Peter forsberg have similar awareness as Datsyuk 🤔

Nope Datysuk was a magician. Ask Siri who is the magic man. Not sure it still works but it did

CONNER McDOOGLE

Datsyuk Kucherov Kovalev.