Pavel Datsyuk is one of the greatest players in Detroit Red Wings history. He was drafted 171st overall by Detroit in the 1998 NHL Draft, and went on to orchestrate an illustrious 14-year career before leaving for the KHL after the 2015-16 season. But what if Datsyuk never left? What if he stayed in Hockeytown a bit longer?
The Red Wings playoff streak gets extended and challenges the all-time record
The Red Wings famously made the postseason for 25 straight seasons from 1991 to 2016. The remarkable run included four Stanley Cup championships in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008.
Datsyuk made his NHL debut in the 2001-02 season, and played an integral role on the 2002 and 2008 Stanley Cup teams. He made the playoffs in all 14 of his seasons in Detroit.
On June 18, 2016, the "Magic Man" announced that he would be leaving Detroit and headed to Russia to play in the KHL. He left the Red Wings with 918 points (314 goals, 604 assists) in 953 games, and was the last remaining member of Detroit's 2002 Stanley Cup-winning team.
In addition to a pair of rings, Datsyuk won three consecutive Selke Trophies from 2008-2010. He also won four straight Lady Byng Trophies from 2006-2009. Known for his elite 200-foot game and sensational puck-handling ability, Datsyuk's absence was immediately felt.
Detroit's historic playoff streak ended in Datsyuk's first season away from the Red Wings. In 2016-17, the Red Wings posted a record of 33-36-13, and their 79 points placed them in seventh of the Atlantic Division and on the outside looking in for the postseason.
It was a steep drop-off from the 93 points Detroit put up in Datsyuk's final season. Thus, Detroit's 25-year playoff run ended as the third-longest postseason streak in NHL history.
The Boston Bruins own the record for most consecutive postseason appearances with 29, with their streak lasting from 1967-68 to 1995-96. They won two Stanley Cups in that stretch (1970 and 1972). The Chicago Blackhawks made the postseason for 28 straight seasons from 1969-70 to 1996-97.
The St. Louis Blues are tied with the Red Wings' record, as the Blues qualified for the postseason in 25 consecutive seasons from 1979-80 to 2003-04. Neither the Blackhawks or Blues won Stanley Cups during their streaks.
Had Datsyuk stuck around in Detroit for another season (or two or three), Detroit could have extended its streak and pushed for the all-time record. However, it was clear Detroit was headed towards a rebuild, and Datsyuk could have seen the writing on the wall.
In the three seasons after his departure, the Red Wings put up 79, 73, and 74 points, and never finished higher than fifth in the Atlantic Division. The rebuild got longer and tougher from there, and Detroit still has not been back to the postseason since Datsyuk's last season in 2015-16.
Datsyuk went on to play three seasons for the KHL's SKA Saint Petersburg, totaling 111 points (32 goals, 79 assists) in 135 games. He then played two more seasons in the KHL for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, playing in 94 games and collecting 57 points (17 goals, 40 assists). He officially retired at the end of the 2021 season.
Datsyuk could have also padded his Hall of Fame resume
Datsyuk was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2024. His numbers and impact on the game were already good enough to get the Hall of Fame nod, but it's fun imagining what more he could have done in the NHL. In addition to having a significant impact on the Red Wings as a team, Datsyuk could have padded his already elite resume with more time in the NHL with Detroit.
From a statistical standpoint, Datsyuk would have most likely eclipsed the 1,000-game mark in his NHL career. He ended his tenure in Detroit with 953 games played, and would have been the eighth Red Wing to play 1,000 or more games with the historic franchise.
The seven skaters to do so while donning the Winged Wheel are Gordie Howe (1,687), Nicklas Lidstrom (1,564), Alex Delvecchio (1,556), Steve Yzerman (1,514), Kris Draper (1,137), Henrik Zetterberg (1,082), and Tomas Holmstrom (1,026).
Datsyuk currently sits seventh in Red Wings history with 918 career points. He ended his final season with 49 points in 66 games, which is good for an average of 0.74 points per game. At that pace, he would have most likely needed 2-3 more seasons to reach the 1,000-point mark in the NHL.
Datsyuk remains one of the most beloved figures in Red Wings history. Detroit fans remember him as a human highlight reel, and on any given game night at Little Caesars Arena, you are sure to see plenty of No. 13 jerseys throughout the seats.
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