{"id":88909,"date":"2025-08-17T06:04:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T06:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/88909\/"},"modified":"2025-08-17T06:04:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T06:04:09","slug":"awestruck-datsyuk-recalls-01-02-red-wings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/88909\/","title":{"rendered":"Awestruck Datsyuk Recalls 01-02 Red Wings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Looking back on his rookie season with the Detroit<\/a> Red Wings, it all seems so surreal \u2013 to both Pavel Datsyuk<\/a> and to fans of the team.<\/p>\n

The 2001-02 Red Wings were among the greatest collections of NHL talent ever assembled. Though his legend would grow to a status where he stood alongside these all-time greats, amid them for the first time, the Magic Man was just another wide-eyed rookie.<\/p>\n

The 2001-02 Red Wings had NINE players in the NHL\u2019s Top 100 pic.twitter.com\/3c9iNPwO3H<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Brad Galli (@BradGalli) June 14, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n

Two of those legends, Datsyuk and Igor Larionov, were recently discussing the experience on Larionov\u2019s podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole time it seemed like I didn\u2019t close my mouth,\u201d Datsyuk explained. \u201cI ended up on some crazy planet, where another world opened up to me, a hockey world. I could attend a training session, where each training session was like a lesson for me. One day I could watch one player, another day another.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was such a wonderful time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red Wings Loaded With Hall of Famers<\/p>\n

Detroit\u2019s roster that season included 10 future Hall of Fame players \u2013 Larionov, Dominik Hasek, Nicklas Lidstrom<\/a>, Brett Hull, Brendan Shanahan, Luc Robitaille, Steve Yzerman<\/a>, Sergei Fedorov, and Chris Chelios. And of course, Datsyuk, who would go on to a spectacular career of his own.<\/p>\n

In honour of Pavel Datsyuk\u2019s 47th birthday, here\u2019s a minute of him making NHL players look absolutely silly.<\/p>\n

(via @DetroitRedWings<\/a>)pic.twitter.com\/aegnEUNgOT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 BarDown (@BarDown) July 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cYou joined the team and still became an outstanding personality,\u201d Larionov said to Datsyuk. \u201cThis is something to strive for, understanding that this is a lot of work that you have to go through. And you did it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I am glad that I was able to play with you on the same team for a couple of years.\u201d<\/p>\n

That first season, Datsyuk was another spoke in the wheel of a Stanley Cup championship squad. Every day at practice, he was a sponge. His objective was to absorb all the hockey lessons he could from these legends of the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ended up with NHL stars on a team where I could learn,\u201d Datysuk said. \u201cI ended up with the guys we were watching.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I was a little shy talking to them, but I was there the whole time, watching, listening, getting advice.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Datsyuk would go on to show during his own Hall of Fame career, they were lessons well learned.<\/p>\n

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