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Former Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill exposes hilarious side of Pavel Datsyuk

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Jack Sutherland
February 5, 2025  (7:52 PM)
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Former Detroit Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill is revealing a hilarious side of Pavel Datsyuk's comedic personality dating back to their time together in Hockeytown.

There were not many fans who would have imagined that a shy and fresh-faced 23 year old rookie from Russia who initially didn't speak a word of English and was just getting started on a team stacked with Hall of Famers would have the career that he did.

Pavel Datsyuk began his NHL career as a rookie on the legendary 2001-02 Detroit Red Wings squad that featured 9 future Hall of Fame players and were led by Scotty Bowman, arguably the greatest head coach in hockey history.

Thanks to Datsyuk's career accomplishments, he became the 10th Hall of Fame player from that team, having been inducted earlier this year.

Former Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill joined the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast and told a story about Datsyuk's comedic personality, even amidst tough contract negotiations.

He was tough, he knew what he wanted in negotiations, he was tough. He held out a little bit in one of the training camps, and he came in later after we finally got him signed.

It was a battle, but he had to get his medical done. As our team doctor put the stethoscope on his heart to listen to it. Pavel says, 'What do you hear, Doc?'

The doc said, 'Well, it's beating pretty good.' Pavel said, 'No, no. You hear ching-ching! Ching ching!'

Nill's story drew immediate laughter from both Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Whitney.

That's Pavel's sense of humour, that's Pavel Datsyuk. He had one of the best senses of humour, and he still does. And just a good man, but that's who he was, he had the best one-liners going.

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Former Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill exposes hilarious side of Pavel Datsyuk

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