Scouting the Detroit Red Wings: Pavel Datsyuk

July 17, 1:07 PMDetroit Red Wings ExaminerMike Mouat

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Pavel Datsyuk

Today's profile: Pavel Datsyuk

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 194
Birthdate: July 20, 1978 (31 years old)
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Uniform #: 13
Contract status: Five years remaining
Salary Cap Figure: $6,700,000
Salary in 2009-10: $6,700,000
 

2008-09

Datsyuk tied career highs in goals (32) and points (97) last season, while missing just one game as the result of a league imposed suspension for not participating in the All-Star Game. He led the Red Wings in assists (65), points and plus/minus (+34). He finished fourth in the league in scoring and his play earned him nominations for the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player and the Lester B. Pearson Award presented to the most outstanding player as selected by the players. He was named a Second Team All Star, won the Lady Byng Trophy as the most gentlemanly player for the fourth consecutive season, with just 22 penalty minutes, and also won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward for the second consecutive season. 

Datsyuk is an electrifying offensive player capable of pulling you out of your seat with tremendous stickhandling skills while mesmerizing defenders. He has a strong wrist shot that he combines with great accuracy to beat goalies with from the top of the circle in on the left side, and from the faceoff dot on the right side, mostly on the powerplay. (graph on the right depicts where Datsyuk scores from most often). His stickhandling skills also make him a frequent participant of shootouts and his "Datsukyan dekes" are highlight of the night material. In addition to all the offensive skills he is the league's best defensive forward, and is capable of playing physical, especially in the playoffs. 

He is a streaky scorer and had 8 multiple-game goal scoring streaks, his longest streak was three games (five times), and on the other end of the spectrum he had a stretch of 10 games without a goal and two streaks of nine games. With the departure of Marian Hossa to the Chicago Blackhawks it is likely that Datsyuk will be reunited with Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom on the top unit.

Career Notes: Lady Byng Trophy (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), Frank J. Selke Trophy (2008, 2009). NHL Second Team All-Star (2009).

Throughout the summer I will be profiling the 2009-10 Detroit Red Wings players in comprehensive scouting reports.

Be sure to check out the slide show for some action shots of Datsyuk from last season.

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• Dan Cleary  Pavel Datsyuk  Kris Draper  Patrick Eaves  Jonathan Ericsson  Valtteri Filppula  Johan Franzen  Darren Helm  Tomas Holmstrom  Niklas Kronwall   Brett Lebda   Ville Leino  Nicklas Lidstrom  Andreas Lilja  Kirk Maltby  Derek Meech  Chris Osgood  Brian Rafalski  Brad Stuart  Jason Williams  Henrik Zetterberg