Looking back at Hall-of-Fame winger Pavel Datsyuk's best moments as a Red Wing for his 47th birthday.
On July 20, 2025, hockey fans around the world will celebrate the 47th birthday of Pavel Datsyuk, one of the greatest players in Detroit Red Wings history and one known for his brilliance with puck control, giving him the nickname the "Magic Man."
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2024, Datsyuk left behind a legacy of two Stanley Cups (2002 and 2008), Selke Trophies for best defensive forward (2008–10), and four consecutive Lady Byng Trophies for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct (2006–09). For the birthday of the Detroit legend, we take a look back at some of his best moments with the Winged Wheel and remember some of the plays that made Datsyuk one of the best players in NHL history.
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First NHL Goal
From the moment he debuted, Datsyuk’s puck magic was undeniable, starting with his first NHL goal that set the tone for a career defined by highlight reel moves. The goal that started it all saw him leaving defenders baffled as he evades oncoming defenders and angles himself around the crowded net front, finishing with a quick backhand shot.
Signature Datsyuk Deke
Breezing past stellar goaltenders like Marty Turco in-game or Tomas Vokoun in shootouts, Datsyuk made elite goaltenders look like they had never played the position before. In an all-time NHL moment, he danced around Turco with a reverse forehand-backhand-toedrag that stunned the crowd and sparked endless replay conversations about the replay.
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Behind The Back Puck Pickup for Clutch Playoff Goal
One gem that stands out in particular stands out and showcases Datsyuk's unbelievable ability to control the puck is Game 1 of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs against Boston. While not fully recovered from a knee injury, Datsyuk reached behind his back and through two defenders for the puck and comes out with it.
The move even surprised the games broadcasters but the move would be synonymous when Datsyuk would fire the puck between Dougie Hamilton’s legs past Tuukka Rask to score the lone goal and the game-winner. It showed that not at 100 per cent that Datsyuk was still better than almost any player at controlling the puck and did it in a clutch moment. That goal remains one of his finest and cemented his status as a clutch performer even when not at full strength.
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Basketball Crossover On Sharks' Logan Couture
There's highlights from the NBA in which a player will make so many quick moves that the defender can't keep up and will fall onto the ground, leaving the ball handler wide-open. No one thought this kind of move would ever be seen in hockey but the "Magic Man" always had a way of doing the impossible. While picking up the puck near the bottom of the offensive zone, Datsyuk had Sharks captain Logan Couture on him looking to take away the puck.
What Couture didn't expect was Datsyuk would make a quick move, appearing to go by him but then cut back last minute, causing Couture to lose an edge and fall down. The move has never been seen before in the history of the sport and likely will never happen again.
No-Look Assists to Henrik Zetterberg
The chemistry between Datsyuk and former Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg was dominant as the pair would come together for highlight reel goals that other teams would struggle to stop. There's several examples of it but one play in particular saw Red Wings forward Dan Cleary work the puck down the boards for Datsyuk in a game versus the Arizona Coyotes.
Datsyuk without skipping a beat would dish the puck into the high slot without looking to Zetterberg for an easy finish the go-ahead goal in a 3-2 game. This was just one of the many times that their chemistry was the difference between winning and losing some games.
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