His 14-year career with the Detroit Red Wings showed not only his offensive skills with 314 goals and 918 points in 953 games, but also his ability to be a top-tier, two-way player on both sides of the ice. Datsyuk's ability to strip opponents of the puck earned him three consecutive Selke Trophies and his gentleman conduct on the ice gave him a total of four Lady Byng Trophies. His achievements include two Stanley Cup wins with the Red Wings (2002, 2008) and a membership in the exclusive Triple Gold Club.
These trophies combined with his role in Detroit's consistent playoff appearances shows his importance to the team's success in the 2000s. Alongside other Hall of Famers like Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom and under the guidance of legendary coach Scotty Bowman, Datsyuk helped creating a dynasty era for the Red Wings in the 2000s year.
With a much decorated career as an NHLer, Pavel Datsyuk is expected to be a first-ballot inductee into the hockey Hall of Fame. His impact on the game, both nationally and internationally, his individual trophies and his contributions to team success makes him a great contender to be a first ballot HOF.
