Learning to fly: contrary to popular belief, Detroit has a youth movement, headed by promising forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg

Hockey Digest, April, 2003 by Karl Samuelson

THE DETROIT RED WINGS HAVE always been willing participants in the annual free-agent derby.

Several prominent players have found a new home in Detroit over the years, including Brad Park (1983), Harold Snepsts (1985), Borje Salming (1989), Ray Sheppard (1991), Mark Howe (1992), Mike Ramsey (1994), and Pat Verbeek (1999). The current roster includes former free agents Manny Legace (1999), Boyd Devereaux (2000), Luc Robitaille (2001), Brett Hull (2001), and Curtis Joseph (2002).

But don't be misguided into thinking that the Red Wings spend their way into contention, because that fallacy is easily dismissed when you consider that the nucleus of the defending Stanley Cup champions came to Hockeytown via the traditional route: the amateur entry draft.

Twelve players skating for the Red Wings are original draft picks. That's equivalent to four complete forward lines. Every other team in the NHL passed over Mathieu Dandenault (49th overall), Darren McCarty (46th overall), Nicklas Lidstrom (53rd overall), Sergei Fedorov (74th overall), and Tomas Holmstrom (257th overall). No team has enjoyed greater success at unearthing gems in the lowest reaches of the draft than Detroit, evidenced by the fact that two of the most exciting young players in the NHL today wear the Winged Wheel--Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.

"The credit goes to [GM] Ken Holland, [assistant GM] Jim Nill, and the scouting staff," says coach Dave Lewis. "It goes to the guys who beat the bushes and go to rinks late at night all over the world. They find these players."

Datsyuk has skills that are normally associated with a player chosen first or second overall. Yet, the superbly talented Russian was drafted by Detroit in the sixth round (171st overall) of the 1998 entry draft.

"He has the best hands I've ever seen," says Detroit's backup goaltender Legace. "Some of the things he does while stick-handling and passing just make people look silly. Pavel makes 10-year veterans look like they just walked into the league."

The crafty pivot creates openings with his anticipation and patience with the puck and has emerged as the ultimate playmaker, serving up the puck to shooting legend Hull.

"He is a real elite player offensively," says Columbus Blue Jackets assistant coach Gord Murphy. "Datsyuk is a young guy but so valuable to that team. Just consider how much they missed him when he was out of their lineup [for the month of December with a knee injury]. This is a real special player. He looks very dangerous with the puck anywhere on the rink. And he has the ability to beat people one-on-one, which is a real special talent."

Adds Calgary Flames captain Craig Conroy: "He is unbelievably patient with the puck. Datsyuk has great hands and tremendous vision on the ice. It doesn't hurt when you get to play with a guy like Hull to mentor you along. Hull is always open and in good position. I think they compliment each other very well. Datsyuk is definitely going to be an All-Star one of these days. He is a strong skater with tricky moves, and if you want to try to neutralize him you've got to take the body on him. You can't watch the puck or he will be on the other side of you and on the way to the net. And he's got a good shot with a quick release."

Quips Legace: "I just wish he'd shoot more. He's going to get a reputation of passing all the time. I can understand when you've got a 700-goal scorer on your line in Brett Hull, it's hard not to pass to him. Perhaps when Pavel gets the language down it will help."

The 24-year-old second-year player is committed to improving his English, but not at the expense of improving his game. "My English will get better. It is a goal, but right now I don't have time. I am preparing for every game and I have so much to learn. There is so much experience on this team. I watch what every guy on this team does and [try to] learn from their experience. The whole team has helped with my confidence, on the ice and outside the game. Of course, Igor Larionov has helped me a lot."

Larionov, the oldest active player in the NHL has taken a special interest in the development of his protege, sitting next to Datsyuk on the team plane, rooming with him on the road, and offering counsel both on and off the ice.

"Any questions he's got, I try to help him," says the 42-year-old Larionov. "I try to help him on the ice and off the ice in different situations. But I don't like to put pressure on young kids. He knows that if there's something bothering him he can ask me and I'll try to help him out and give him some advice. But I don't push him. If I try to push the guy by telling him to do this or do that, it will go in one ear and out the other ear. Pavel has been really willing to learn and he's a modest kid."

But there's nothing modest about his accomplishments. After winning the Stanley Cup and finishing fourth in the Calder Trophy voting for NHL rookie of the year last season, the 5'11", 185-pound pivot is stepping his game up to the next level in his sophomore campaign.