Red Wings’ Pavel Datsyuk took improbable path to Hall of Fame

It's safe to say the NHL will never see another team like the 2001-02 Detroit Red Wings. And who knows if hockey will ever produce another player as dazzling as Pavel Datsyuk.

The "Magic Man" was one of the most electrifying and entertaining players not only in Red Wings history but in all of hockey history because of his array of spectacular moves.

Datsyuk will become the 10th player on Detroit's 2002 Stanley Cup-winning club to be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame Monday during ceremonies in Toronto (8 p.m., NHL Network).

It's the culmination of an incredible journey for the native of Yekaterinburg, Russia, who was a longshot to even reach the NHL after being drafted 171st overall (sixth round) in 1998.

"Believe me, I definitely didn't have such pictures in my head," Datsyuk told media in Toronto Friday. "As child, I just liked playing hockey. When I started growing up, I just set myself specific goals - to get into one team, then another. When I was elected (to the Hall), I thought, 'Is this happening to me or am I watching movie?' "

Datsyuk, 46, gained entry his first year of eligibility after retiring in 2021 following five seasons in the KHL. His credentials include two Stanley Cup championships and three Selke Trophies as the NHL's top defensive forward. He is a member of the elusive Triple Gold Club, having won a Cup, Olympic gold medal and World Championship.

"I thought hockey was so easy when I came and won the Cup right away (as a rookie)," Datsyuk said. "But I had to wait seven years for next one. And then another seven - and not one more. I was lucky I always made it to playoffs, but that was when I finally understood how difficult it is to win Stanley Cup."

Datsyuk spent his entire 14-year NHL career in Detroit.

"I'm happy I only played for one team in NHL," Datsyuk said. "The Red Wings mean a lot to me. It's like family. I was happy to come to Detroit this summer for first time in long time (at development camp), see a lot of old friends and get on ice for the first time and be in the locker room of a new arena where I didn't get to play."

Datsyuk will join 2002 Red Wings teammates Chris Chelios, Sergei Fedorov, Dominik Hasek, Brett Hull, Igor Larionov, Nicklas Lidstrom, Luc Robitaille, Brendan Shanahan and Steve Yzerman in the Hall. The coach (Scotty Bowman), general manager (Ken Holland), vice president (Jimmy Devellano) and owner (Mike Ilitch) are in the Hall in the builders category.

Datsyuk is especially grateful to Larionov and Fedorov for being his mentors, especially during his rookie year.

"They helped me a lot, especially Igor," Datsyuk said. "It had a bad side because I never learned English well. But they showed me way to go, explained rules I had to follow. They made my path to NHL a lot easier."

Henrik Zetterberg joined the Red Wings the following season and he and Datsyuk teamed up to excel at both ends of the ice for the next 13 years.

Zetterberg likely will enter the Hall as well.

"He deserves to be in Hall of Fame," Datsyuk said. "I hope that happens. We played similar hockey and worked hard. But I also want to remember many players I played with my first season in NHL. Special thanks to them for the way they treated me, a young man, as someone just like them."