Pavel Datsyuk The Greatest Thief In NHL History

First plz pin

One of the best pure hockey players ever. Intelligence, positioning, hands, strength for his size, deceptiveness, 2 way game. God I miss watching him

The NHL should create a special prize in his name

Love how this video is 13 minutes & 13 seconds lol

Not only is he likely the most naturally gifted player of the last 40 years, but he was/is also universally loved league-wide. That makes him the greatest ever, IMHO.

I don't think you're a thief when you own the puck. Gretzky is the Great One. Datsyuk is the Greatest One in my opinion. No one like him before or since. I remember leaving the Stanley Cup Parade in 2008 and went to further celebrate in Royal Oak with friends. I happened to literally run into Pavel and Jiri Hudler stumbling out of a bar, they were so hammered there wasn't a word of English spoken but loved it. I needed a ride home but my phone was dead and didn't want to ask them to use theirs. What a humble legend. ❤ From Detroit

"The Magic Man" in the Nhl Hall of Fame!

A 13 minute video of someone taking the puck away. Tells you everything you need to know. The Magic Man was unreal

I don't think there's ever been a better blend of overall hockey sense, playmaking, quick shifty skating, impeccable defensive stickwork, and silky smooth hands and finishing touch. Aside from Foppa, he's my favorite player. An absolute legend

The Magic Man, one of the most respected guys in the whole Sport, let alone League. Coming from an Av's fan, I always loved watching Pavel.

What I think is really cool about Datsyuk is on almost all his takeaways he does two moves: he does a little pressure on one side with usually a smack of the players blade or a stick lift, then he attacks where he knows they will try to protect the puck. Like magic it works almost every time, it’s amazing. As a master dangler and puck protector the guy just knew exactly what his opponents would do to keep the puck from him. Then on the other hand if he saw a player wasn’t looking around he would read where the pass option was and just wait because he knew they didn’t know he was there, so he would pick off the pass. It’s crazy what awareness he had. Just amazing.

I am three minutes in and this is one of the most insane highlight packs I have seen. This guy changed the nhl for the better, he raised it up for everyone. But so silky smooth. So deceptively brilliant

Can’t remember giggling so often while watching hockey highlights

I remember I met Pavel back when I was just a kid playing house hockey. He signed all my gear and was such a nice guy. I even met Gordie Howe as well at a dinner auction when I was a kid too. Such down to earth and nice people.

Dude flat out embarrassed professionals in the highest tier of hockey, made them look silly. Was modest and humble too. Stamkos, Hull, Kane all agreed that Datsyuk had the best hands they've ever seen in the game.

I feel like Datsyuk is the actual perfect hockey player

Even though he was a forward, Pavel Datsyuk is absolutely a player that young defensemen could model their game after. Awareness, anticipation, agility, positioning, and sticks in the right places, all great skills that would benefit any NHL defender.

The one where he kicks the puck after losimg his stick was such a brilliant play

His 2007-2008 season is arguably the best two way season in history. 144 takeaways is absurd. And unlike a lot of other players best two way seasons, he continued it throughout the playoffs, capping it off by basically erasing Evgeni Malkin from the SCF

11:35 “Datsyk knocked it out of the air…what else is new”😂