Pavel Datsyuk Bio: Carrer, Awards, Net Worth, Love Life

Pavel Datsyuk is a Russian professional ice hockey centerman for the Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

He is also known as the “Magic Man” for his tremendous ability to handle the stick and puck creativity insanely.

Besides, the star is a sound back checker who is perfect with his setup, finish, and takeaways. Hence, he makes up a completely lethal player for his opponent.

Furthermore, the left-handed shooter has also claimed the Stanley Cup two times alongside three Selke Trophies, four Lady Byng’s for most gentlemanly, and a Gagarin cup.

Not to mention, Datsyuk is one of the sport’s top stars and also one of the most electrifying players to watch.

As we sink to the pith of his footsteps, underneath are the tabled facts about Pavel Datsyuk.

Quick Facts:

Pavel Datsyuk | Early Life, Family, and Education

Pavel Datsyuk was born on 20 July 1978 to his parents Valeri Datsyuk and Galina Datsyuk. He grew up in Sverdlovsk of the then-Soviet Union alongside his sibling, Larisa Datsyuk.

In addition, his parents used to call him by his short name ‘Pasha.’ Pavel had to lose his mother at the early age of 16.

As for his educational background, he attended the Ural Federal University.

Equally important, Pavel started early on the hockey field, where he displayed above-average hockey skills.

However, he was always ignored by his coaches due to his smaller size. In the beginning, he played for the farm club of Dynamo Yekaterinburg in the mid-1990s.

Likewise, his gameplay didn’t bring any distinguished progress until Olympic trainer Vladimir Krikunov commenced coaching the team.

Nevertheless, Datsyuk was known as the “boy with the twitchy walk,” who later caught the attention of Krikunov.

Back then, Datsyuk excelled in his anticipation, vision, and intelligence, which under Krikunov got sharpened.

Thus, he evolved as an efficient two-way player who drew attraction in wilder terms. Even so, he only started his career in NHL in 1998.

How old is Pavel Datsyuk? Age, Height, and Physical Attributes

Datsyuk is a man with an athletic body and a fair complexion. He has an oval face with big eyes. Likewise, he stands at 5 ft 11 in (180 cm), weighing 198 lb (90 kg).

He has a thin layer of hair, dark brown in color, and dark brown eyes.

Pavel Datsyuk | Career

Despite having early success, Datsyuk was only noticed in the summer of 1997-98 by the Detroit Red Wings Director of European Scouting, Håkan Andersson.

Andersson spotted him in Moscow on his way to scout defenseman Dmitri Kalinin. Datsyuk was termed “the little boy on another team.”

Following it, Andersson was ready to make his second or third trip until he met Datsyuk; however, his flight got canceled due to a storm.

Andersson had believed he was the only NHL scout to have seen Datsyuk play before the 1998 NHL Entry Draft as even the Calgary Flames couldn’t fly due to the storm.

Detroit Red Wings

Pavel Datsyuk was drafted by Detroit Red Wings in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft with 171 overall.

Early Years

In Datsyuk’s beginning years, he was coached by Soviet stars Igor Larionov and Sergei Fedorov, as well as Detroit captain Steve Yzerman.

Besides, he was put up in line with Brett Hull and Boyd Devereaux, contributing to a moderately productive first year.

Pavel also partook in the 2002 Stanley Cup run, although he had to amiss a few Stanley cup playoffs. He contributed three goals and three assists to the Red Wings during the Stanley cup run.

The Year 2003

Datsyuk had a disappointing season this year as his playoff performance was also disapproving.

With the addition of another highly touted prospect to the team, Henrik Zetterberg, Boyd Devereaux was replaced by him on the Datsyuk–Hull line.

The trio now bought the “Two Kids and an Old Goat Line” history to life. Following it, Datsyuk had a knee injury; hence, he attended only 64 games with 51 points for the season.

Therefore, the Detroit Red Wings were swept by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the first round, and Datsyuk was held pointless.

The Year 2004

Right after Sergei Fedorov parted his ways in the 2003 off-season, Datsyuk increased prominence on the Red Wings.

He focused on his playmaking skill in the elevated ice time, hence earning himself a spot for the 2004 NHL All-Star Game.

Nonetheless, Detroit was eliminated by the Calgary7 Flames in the second round of the  2004 playoff season. By the end of it, Datsyuk had no goals and six assists through 12 games.

The Year 2005

Despite the repeated statements of Datsyuk’s agent, Gary Greenstin, stating the will of Datsyuk to stay in Detroit, he was made a restricted free agent in the 2004-05 off-season.

Afterward, as he could not reach a deal with the Red Wings, he decided not to take the salary dispute to arbitration and instead played with Dynamo Moscow during the 2004–05 NHL lockout.

Following it, on September 5, Datsyuk signed a year contract with the Avangard Omsk of the Russian Superleague (RSL).

Right after it, on September 19, the day the arbitration committee of the RSL was set to determine which club had Datsyuk’s rights, he went to sign a two-year deal with the Red Wings for a total of US$7.8 million.

Stairway to Stardom

The Year 2005

Datsyuk improved so much and had a high level of gameplay with just 22 penalty minutes for the entire season; thus, he claimed his first Lady Byng Trophy.

He also made a spot for himself on the Russian national team for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

The Year 2006

Datsyuk commenced the year 2007 with his endorsement for the Reebok’s hockey stick with holes bored into the shaft to make it more aerodynamic, dubbed the 9KO.

Besides, he also accomplished his previous campaign’s total of 87 points.

Prior to April 6, he signed a further seven-year US$46.9 million contract extension with Detroit. Right after it, Datsyuk helped Detroit advance to the Western Conference Finals.

They faced the former Stanley Cup champions, the Anaheim Ducks, where Datsyuk contributed 16 points in 18 games.

The Year 2007

His teammates selected Datsyuk, including Nicklas Lidström and Henrik Zetterberg, to commence for the Western Conference in the 2008 All-Star Game at Philips Arena in Atlanta.

He bagged team-high 97 points in 82 games, which also led Red Wings forwards in blocked shots.

Not to mention, he even stood with his teammates (Ted Lindsay, Gordie Howe, and Steve Yzerman) as the only players in franchise history to have three consecutive seasons.

Furthermore, during the playoffs of May 12 against the Dallas Stars, he scored his first hat-trick with a win of 5-2.

This marked Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, which faced the Finals with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Year 2008

Equally important, Datsyuk claimed the Stanley Cup for Detroit with two assists in a 3–2 win. In the meantime, he was also awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the League’s best defensive forward.

He had a plus-minus of +41 and 144 takeaways, which were more than Mike Modano’s second-best total of 86, and claimed the Lady Byng Trophy.

Following it, in Selke’s vote, Datsyuk received  537 points (43 first-place votes), followed by  John Madden of the New Jersey Devils and Datsyuk’s linemate Henrik Zetterberg.

Similarly, for the Lady Byng trophy, Datsyuk also led the vote with 985 points (75 first-place votes).

Hence, Datsyuk became the one to win the Lady Byng Trophy three times. Therefore, Pavel and Ron Francis became the only ones to win both Selke and Lady Byng trophies during their careers.

Pavel faced a hip injury prior to the NHL game in 2009. Datsyuk was suspended from a game before abiding by the new rules of registering injury only after a game miss.

Thereafter, Pavel closed the year’s chapter with 97 points (32 goals and 65 assists) and a Frank J. Selke Trophy.

He even surpassed the Philadelphia Flyers’ Mike Richards and the Vancouver Canucks’ Ryan Kesler again, claiming the Lady Byng Trophy for the fourth time.

Besides, He was also nominated for the Best NHL Player Award at the ESPYs.

The Year 2009

He had the lowest scoring points of 70 in 82 games for the year due to his injury.  However, Detroit escalated from ninth place in the Western Conference in February to fifth place.

Datsyuk scored the first two goals in Game 7 but lost five games to the San Jose Sharks.

Final Years of Detroit

The Year 2010

Pavel opened the year with a Gordie Howe hat trick against the Anaheim Ducks with a goal, an assist, and a fight against Corey Perry.

The Year 2011

In the 2011 pre-season, Pavel wore jersey number 24 as a tribute to former teammate Ruslan Salei (death on September 7 in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash).

Besides, he was also an early-season candidate for the Hart Memorial Trophy (awarded to the League MVP) until a knee injury in February forced the Red Wings into a slump.

Until the end of February, the team had dropped to fifth, when against Nashville Predators, they lost the series four games to one.

Consequently, Datsyuk was impressive during the play-off as he had 15 points in 11 games. However, as the last year, the Red Wings fell behind San Jose by 3-0.

Nonetheless, he closed the chapter with 67 points in 70 games for the regular season and was named to the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa.

The Year 2012

Datsyuk played the NHL’s second lockout away overseas, following other players such as Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin.

He signed with CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in September and had 36 points in 31 games.

The Year 2013

After it, Pavel returned to the Red Wings in January and scored 49 points in 47 games.

Following it in the 2013 playoff, Detroit was defeated by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round via an overtime goal by Brent Seabrook.

Consequently, Datsyuk added a three-year extension to his contract with Detroit.

The Year 2016

On February 14, Pavel reached the milestone of 900 points, and a day later, he has titled the First Star of the Week.

He led the league with five goals and stood second with seven points in four games. Subsequently, Pavel ended his 14-year-long journey with Detroit on 18 June to play for Russia.

Hence, on June 28, the Red Wings traded Datsyuk’s contract to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Joe Vitale.

Back to Russia

SKA Saint Petersburg (2016-2019)

As Pavel returned to Russia, he signed a two-year contract with the SKA Saint Petersburg of KHL on July 8, 2016.

As he commenced in the season 2016-17, he recorded 12 goals and 22 assists in 44 regular-season games. This led him to get the Gagarin Cup for Saint Petersburg.

Likewise, he had eight goals and 27 assists in 37 games for the 2017-18 season.

Therewith, extending his contract for another year, he signed a contract with them on 17 April 2018. During his tenure, he claimed the title of  “Male Athlete of the Year.”

It was the nomination for the “Pride of Russia” by the Ministry of Sport of Russia, where he surpassed  Sergey Shubenkov and cross-country skier Alexander Bolshunov.

Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg  (2019–present)

In the end, as he concluded the contract with Saint Petersburg, he left the club as a free agent. Although he had a fair chance of getting back with the Red Wings, he continued for the KHL.

On June 5, 2019, he returned to his hometown to play for the Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg on a year contract. Similarly, on July 10, 2020, he re-signed a year contract with them.

Pavel Datsyuk | Awards and Achievements

National Hockey League (NHL)

•  Stanley Cup champion – 2002 & 2008
• NHL Second All-Star Team – 2009
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy – 2206, 2007, 2008 & 2009
• NHL Plus-Minus Award – 2008
• NHL Offensive Player of the Month – December 2003
• Carhartt “Hardest Working” Player of the Month – December 2007
• 2010–11 NHL Players Poll: Hardest to Take the Puck Off of; Cleanest Player
• 2011–12 NHL Players Poll: Smartest Player; Most Difficult to Play Against; Hardest to Take the Puck From; Most Difficult to Stop; Cleanest Player; Toughest Forward to Play Against.
• Kharlamov Trophy – 2011 & 2013: Voted Best Russian NHL Player by Russian NHL Players

International

• World Championship Gold Medal – 2012
• Olympic All-Star Team – 2018
• World Championship All-Star Team – 2010
• World Championship Best Forward – 2010

Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)

• Gagarin Cup Champion – 2017
• 2-time KHL All-Star – 2013 & 2017

Pavel Datsyuk | Highlights

Datsyuk played as a number 13 player for the Russian National Hockey League. He has had 787 games tallying 259 goals during his NHL tenure and 518 assists for 777 points.

Currently, Datsyuk is with the Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg as a centreman of number 13.

How much is Pavel Datsyuk worth? Net Worth & Earnings

Pavel earns a good amount from his NHL career and is also one of the highest-paid players of his time.

As per the source, the player’s current net worth is estimated to be above $50 million. His total career earnings are around $77 million.

Aside from his career earnings, he reportedly owns luxurious cars and houses. At present, he resides in his Bloomfield Hills luxurious mansion, which is worth millions of dollars.

Not to mention his car collection of expensive brands. Altogether, he also has many other houses, but the information is enclosed. Datsyuk even owns his own clothing brand.

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Net Worth of Pavel Datsyuk in Different Currencies 

Also, have a look at Pavel Datsyuk’s net worth in different currencies.

Is Pavel Datsyuk married? Personal Life & wife

Datsyuk met his wife, Svetlana, at the age of 18 in Sverdlovsk. Three years later, in 2004, the high school sweethearts got married and had a beautiful daughter Elizabeth.

After nearly a decade together, they got divorced in 2010, and the reasons are still disclosed.

Since 2012, the player is married to his second wife, Maria. They have two children, a daughter Vasilisa (born on 23 April 2014), and a son named Pavel Jr. (born in 2017).

Social Media Presence:

Although Pavel is not an active social media user, he never fails to update his fans about his life steps. His social media accounts are;

Some FAQs:

Does Pavel Datsyuk have the credentials for the Hall of Fame?

Although Pavel Datsyuk has several years to be eligible for the Hall of Fame, he has been locked sure to be a part of it.

As he is dazzling with the puck and has won several awards marking his name in the field.

Why did Pavel Datsyuk leave NHL?

Pavel Datsyuk always had the intention to leave NHL; however, being in Detroit was hard for him. Later, he left NHL to be closer to his daughter.

How much is Pavel Datsyuk SKA St. Petersburg KHL contract worth?

Pavel Datsyuk KHL contract is worth $250 million. He signed a two-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in 2016.

Did Pavel Datsyuk retire from NHL?

Pavel announced his retirement from the NHL on June 18, 2016, at a press conference. He retired from NHL to return back to his home in Russia and spend his remaining years in the Kontinental Hockey League.

Who does Pavel Datsyuk play for?

Pavel Datsyuk currently plays for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg of the Kontinental Hockey League(KHL).