Pavel Datsyuk’s Last Stanley Cup Run With The Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings will open the playoffs on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. This will be the last Stanley Cup run for Red Wings’ Center Pavel Datsyuk who plans to retire from the NHL. Datsyuk is 37 years old, from Russia and might play in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) next season. According to yahoosports.com Datsyuk said, I’m thinking I go home after this season. I may not be done with hockey, but – it is hard to say – I think I am done playing in NHL.”

Pavel Datsyuk was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 6th round of the 1998 draft.   Datsyuk wouldn’t appear in the NHL until the 2001-2002 season. That year he scored 11 goals and added 24 assists for a total of 35 points. This was just a taste of what he could do in the NHL. His best season was in 2009 when he lit the lamp 32 times and added 65 assists for 97 points. In his career Datsyuk has 314 goals and 604 points for a total of 918 points.

In the postseason Datsyuk was a skater opponents had to keep an eye on. He was one of Detroit’s fastest skaters and could always set up his teammates. Going into this postseason he has 42 goals, 71 assists for a total of 113 points.

Datsyuk has done everything that an NHL player wants to accomplish. He was selected to the NHL All-Star Game three times. Datsyuk won two Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings. There was nothing left for him to prove in the NHL.

Datsyuk retiring from the NHL is a surprise because he can still play at a high level. He has one year left on his three year, $22.5 million contract. This will hurt the Red Wings because his cap hit is $7.5 million for next season. For Datsyuk, he is going out on his own terms. He could cap his career with another Stanley Cup run.

What do you think of Pavel Datsyuk retiring from the Red Wings after this season?

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*