Detroit City Wire

DETROIT -- As the Detroit Red Wings prospects undergo training at the 2024 Development Camp, they are guided by a franchise legend and one of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s newest members.

Pavel Datsyuk, who spent his entire 14-year NHL career (2001-16) with Detroit and won two Stanley Cup championships (2002, 2008), is working with prospects this week at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center. The former Red Wings forward aims to help the prospects harness their passion for hockey.

“I can give (a lot of) advice,” Datsyuk said after Day 2 of Development Camp on Tuesday. “(Hockey is) your favorite job. You choose this job. You need to fall in love with this job. How can you make it farther? Be good, come every day and enjoy.”

Forward prospect Nate Danielson, Detroit’s ninth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, expressed his eagerness to learn from Datsyuk.

“He’s someone I’ve watched on YouTube,” Danielson said. “Just looking at his stickhandling and some of the things he’s done on the ice, you just think to yourself, ‘I wonder how he does it?’ It’s cool to hear some tips from him and just be around him.”

Datsyuk provided teaching points during Tuesday’s on-ice group sessions, offering insights on skills such as puck protection and stickhandling.

Forward prospect Austin Baker shared his excitement about Datsyuk's presence at the rink this week.

“I got the chance to skate with (Datsyuk) when I was younger at one of his camps,” said Baker, a Macomb, Mich., native and the Red Wings’ 203rd overall selection in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. “Seeing him out there now, he was trying to teach me something out there. That was pretty cool.”

Happy to be back in Detroit, the 45-year-old Datsyuk noted that he has enjoyed reconnecting with former teammates like Niklas Kronwall, currently the Red Wings’ Director of European Player Development.

“I’m happy to see many people who were there when I left,” Datsyuk said. “They are still working and are in good shape. I have good memories. I hope they do too.”

Originally selected in the seventh round (No. 171 overall) by the Red Wings in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Datsyuk recorded 918 points (314 goals, 604 assists) in 953 games. A four-time NHL All-Star, the Russian forward won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship four consecutive times (2005-09) and the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward three straight seasons (2007-10).

When asked about being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Datsyuk recalled receiving that special call on June 25 while he was in Florida.

“It’s hard to believe,” Datsyuk said. “Of course, I feel like I’m a lucky boy.”