A wizard of a hockey country

July 20, Pavel Datsyuka turns 45 years old

Who is Datsyuk - it is clear without loud epithets. Foreign press and fans put the anniversary on a par with Michael Jordan, Ronaldinho and Ayrton Sennaya - athletes who have become symbols. And the Yekaterinburg master deserved such a status. He played under the thirteenth number, but was almost the best in his cool ice business.

Vysotsky has such lines in the song “Professionals”: ​​“And our guys for the same salary are already five times ahead ...” It was created almost 10 years before Paul's birth. However, whenever I hear her, the association comes to mind not only with Firsov and Starshinov, Vikulov and Mayorov, Almetov and Alexandrov, but also with Datsyuk too. Why? Firstly, the Ural boy born in 1978, before leaving for the NHL, played for about the same money as our Soviet stars. And secondly, in terms of hard work and love of hockey, he is very similar to his famous predecessors. And in the ability to create a platform on a flooded platform, perhaps, and surpassed them.

We will not load various numbers, but Pavel Valerievich, for a minute, is one of the main assistants in the history of the Olympic Games. On his account 21 is the program. The same is only among Kharlamov and Fetisov. Yes, Datsyuk spent a little more matches at the winter games than Vyacheslav Aleksandrovich and Valery Borisovich, but the fact speaks of something. At the same time, Datsyuk could finally finish with hockey, in fact, without starting to play in an adult way. By the way,

In a young striker, who did not have physical strength and supersonic speed, almost no one saw a potential resident of the overseas league. In the Russian championship, he was quoted below his link partners at Dynamo-Energy.

Many experts believed that the yurki and frisky maxim Kraev and Alexei Simakov have a chance to break through much more than that of a probe -footed low -cost, who first tried the puck in the yard on the old sorting (he slid there, by the way, on white curly skates, causing the laughter of the neighbors).

And when the 20-year-old Paul will receive the most severe injury in Yaroslavl in the knee ... Moreover, a courageous striker half a math will roll off with torn ligaments and only in the locker room will surrender to the doctors. The operation in a regular hospital (there was no funds for a specialized clinic of Dynamo-Energy) will make it so unsuccessful that the leg in a month will almost stop bending. But Vladimir Krikunov, who trained Datsyuk in Yekaterinburg, will persuade the leadership of the Kazan club to buy a lame dribler after his transition to Ak Bars. And in Tatarstan he will be returned to sports life and saved for serious ice battles. Although the doctors themselves, who were involved with Paul, claimed that they played only an auxiliary role, and Datsyuk got out - thanks to the perseverance, willpower and a fantastic character.

“I had a choice: to stay disabled or try to be on the site again,” he said later.

It is noteworthy that it is Krikunov that will convince Alexander Yakushev, the then steering national squad, to invite Datsyuk to the collection before the Finnish stage of the Eurotour. Alexander Sergeevich first almost send Vladimir Vasilievich, who tried to impose some Datsyuk to him. But after Pasha made his debut at the Karian Cup, the mentor of the country's main team and the great hockey player will say: “I was mistaken. Datsyuk is the smartest center forward. " However, in a modest playmaker they often did not believe at first sight. And in his only Akbars season, he, what a sin to hide, was not too remembered to the public, although he knocked out the “targets” regularly.

Detroit will choose Paul in the NHL draft in the 6th round under a common 171st number. For a heap, just in case. But Scotti Baumen nevertheless made out an outstanding talent in him and gave a chance to a newcomer to prove himself in exhibition meetings. Datsyuk showed and registered in the team of Larionov and Aizuzman without an additional business trip to the lower league. But the fans of the “red wings” will not be imbued with them immediately. The 23-year-old Russian will score the first score for the effective program only in the 8th match, and will be marked with a goal in the 11th. But then the thing will go: and in the end in 70 matches on his account there will be 35 points (11+24) according to the Gol+PAS system. And in the playoffs he will score three more goals and will assist his partners three times. And on the move, the Stanley Cup will raise the Cup.

By the way, there was still one comrade with a club who immediately ate the genius of Paul. This monster was called Brett Hall. In an interview, he admits:

“Datsyuk is the most technical guy who has ever played hockey. When I saw him, I realized: I want to go out on the ice in a conjunction with this boy. What Scottty Bownean asked. Pavel made me smarter and more several times! "

Yes, whom only he did not do stronger and smarter. In 2005, during the Lokauta, Datsyuk will return to Russia. In Dynamo. Everyone was surprised: why not in Ak Bars, which was ready to pour money with a hill? But honest Paul returned, first of all, to his “godfather” - to Vladimir Krikunov. And he helped him and the blue and white squad win almost the most powerful national championship in quality. Datsyuk yelled literally all the Enhaelovites who came to us, and not only with his signature little things. In the match with the Vanguard, Pasha took the puck from Yaromir Jagra and rolled to someone else's gate. The Czech chased after him and began to put up, but it was not possible to return the advantage. And then Datsyuk slowed down, put the case to the legionnaire and held the puck in front of him on outstretched hands. Enraged Jagra himself!

But personally, I managed to reach Paul that year. True, having received an editorial task to do an interview with him, I did not particularly count on success. Going to the exit from the locker rooms after the Dynamo - Severstal match, I watched Datsyuk alternately refuse two sports media. But I still gained courage and decided to take a chance. He introduced himself, called the publication. “I know your newspaper. I’ll talk to you, ”Datsyuk simply said. We began to talk, leaning against the cold wall of the small sports arena of Luzhnikov. After 15 minutes, Paul was called into the car. “Let's continue every other day, after the guest match with CSKA,” the hockey player suggested. But Datsyuk kept his word after the game, in which he actually laid down on the shoulder blades of the army, came up to me. But it was not possible to talk exclusively in the sub -tribune room (lovers of autographs were pestering). Then Pavel apologized, satisfied all the fan requests, and then put on his hat, and we went out for the fence to the Dynamo bus and talked at the light of headlights and to the accompaniment of the working motor. It was minus twenty outside. And he surprised me with judgment, modesty and kindness.

* Here are a couple of fragments from an interview with 2005:

- Personally, you opened in the NHL very quickly and in a couple of years have achieved what many have been striving for all their lives. What is the secret?

“I don't understand what I did?” Stanley Cup is not my merit. I just got into the great team. He was not afraid and did not hesitate to study with the great masters. They supported me in difficult times. And thank our guys very much. It is very difficult to remain one Russian in the American "gang". I especially felt it two years later, when none of the Russians were left. And when you come for the first time in the United States, this is generally a special conversation.

“How did you manage to bring Stanley's Cup to your homeland?”

- It was difficult ( laughs ). In America, they heard that Yekaterinburg is a mafia city. Everyone was afraid. But many went to meet me, entrusted me for me. I am madly glad that I managed to show this trophy to the Ural children.

- What is Pavel Datsyuk dreaming now? To end the locout or to win gold medals with Dynamo?

- Yes, I am honest, I dream of something else. Now I thought that everything is fine with us: we have fun, we play hockey. And there, in Asia, people die from the tsunami. I want this not to be repeated anymore.

- How do you react to the fact that you are often compared by the manner of the game with Larionov?

- I already said:

"I'm not a player, but a player." The fact that I am compared with Igor Nikolayevich is flattering. It's nice that I have something from him. But to half of what he did, I still have to grow and grow. I am very glad that I played with him. He helped me.

-You have something in common with Maltsev.

- ( very embarrassed ) Thank you. I know this is a great master. Unfortunately, I did not see his games, I did not find it. I try to be like an old guard. In general, I tried to learn from veterans of the teams where I played, while there was such an opportunity. I hope I took the best (smiles).

- Do you consider yourself a popular and wealthy person?

- Neither one nor the other. Much is still ahead of me. It is necessary not to become popular, but a high -quality hockey player. Popularity later, in 20th place.

That interview came out under the heading of Lariosik from Detroit. But after a couple of years, Datsyuk will finally turn into an exceptional wizard. The game, for example, Ovechkin and Malkin can be described. But how to outline the unique work of Paul, who knew how to literally everything?

Beat two defenders on a handkerchief? Please! Circle, slowly, the whole five of the enemy? No problem. Moreover, the speed was not a skate of Paul. Miracles emanated from plastic hands, and plans to capture other people's gates in a few seconds were born in his bright (no, in the brightest) head.

He found the shortest and optimal route to the “houses” with a net and slipped away from powerful guardians, often pushing them with his foreheads or planting them on the fifth point. He brought simplicity to the game.

But no one succeeded in reading this simplicity. Pavel showed his branded dance on the ice, which cannot be learned. He "danced" in a straight line without making a single extra movement. Its leisurely verified feints are beyond the facet of the laws of physics. It seemed that the soft maestro was about to lay on a smooth surface with a forceful technique or printed to the side. But it was not possible to neutralize the oversized and cunning Datsyuk. On the contrary, he controlled the movements of the enemy, forcing them to lose balance. And how is Spider-Man (another nickname of Paul) literally cleanly robbed the gaping “gatekeepers” in their zone?! With one inconspicuous crown movement, he knocked out a club from behind and made a puck from famous defense ministers, and then sent it to an unprotected corner past the confused goalkeeper.

The goalkeepers, of course, suffered from Datsyuk pretty much. It was unrealistic to predict the 13th number will be welcomed. They knelt down, and he technically threw from the “brushes” along the “nine”. His throw with an uncomfortable hand, perhaps the best in the world. Sometimes he rolled to one leg to the right, paused and threw the stunned sentry. At the same time, Paul, who spectacularly and effectively juggled both in the minority, and in the majority, never shot towards the gate in the calculation of good luck. Luck was always in his hands. He was her guide. Hockey Hudini created moments from just nothing. He grabbed the puck in his zone, “glued” it to the club, and after a couple of moments a red lamp lit up. The fans of all teams were not considered to be shameful to applaud Datsyuk. And according to polls of colleagues-chockelists, Pavel several times recognized the number one player, against which no one wanted to play.

Well, his performance of the bullets is just a song and a horror film for goalkeepers. Beautiful forming "mockery". The American and Canadian commentators screamed from Pashin Pashki and said that he "steals a smile at the guards for a long time."

At the same time, Datsyuk himself (which is indicative) celebrated all his masterpieces very modestly. Never provoked someone else's audience, such as Radulov. He never acted meanly and did not feel hatred of the enemy. Only two fights occurred in his Enhael career. But there it was impossible not to fight. In the battle with Scott Nidermayer, Pavel lost, but Corey Persi filled on the ice after exchanging blows. In that meeting against the Anaheim, Datsyuk issued the Hit-trick Gordy Hou-he had a fight, scored and gave the ass of the ass. Virtuoso knight. By the way, Pavel four times became the owner of the Lady Bing Trophy prize (for gentlemanly behavior and high game skills), and also took the Trophy award three times (the best forward of the defensive plan). Well, about the second Cup of Stanley, won in 2008, everyone knows so much.

Once I decided to read what overseas fans write about Pavel. And he experienced great pride:

• “You can look at three things endlessly: at fire, water and how Pavel Datsyuk plays”;

• “Jordan, Senna, Ronaldinho, Datsyuk - this is my magnificent four sports geniuses”;

• “He is outside of any ratings. Unattainable".

Moreover, the options for such thanksgiving messages are hundreds of thousands. But the most striking compliment, in my opinion, is this: "His goals saved from a hangover."

Yes, so it was. In the NHL, Paul did not have enough just a little before the grandmaster mark in 1000 matches and 1000 points. He has them - 953 and 918, respectively (314 goals and 604 programs). Just aesthetic Datsyuk, who transformed any episode into an unforgettable mini-show, has always been worried about the quality of the focus.

We are interested and pleasant, we will be honest, its other records. He will finally return to Russia in 2016 and will win from SKA Gagarin Cup. The world champion he will turn back in 2012. For a full hockey kit, he lacked only the gold of the Olympic Games. And with the fifth (!) Attempts, in Pyeongchang-2018, the dream came true. Moreover, it is very symbolic that it was Pavel Datsyuk who turned out to be the captain of that team.

* I will give one more question and answer from his interview with 2005:

- Why is Pavel Datsyuk, unlike other legionnaires, never refuses to play for the national team?

- I would not say that many refuse. It’s just that sometimes the circumstances develop so ... and as for me, I consider myself a patriot. I have grown in Russia and will forever remain a Russian. And I will always try to help Russia in the same way as it is probably to me.

And he helped. Yes, how. All four goals in the final with the Germans organized the Datsyuk link. And in just six matches, the elegant 39-year-old Pavel will make six accurate assistants.

Korean gold will allow the striker made in the USSR to the owner of a unique achievement: today he is the only hockey player in the world who won the Olympics, world championship, Stanley Cup and Gagarin Cup.

And in March of 2021, he also became the oldest author of the goal in the history of the KHL. Speaking under the curtain of his career for Avtomobilist, he abandoned the Avangard puck in the playoffs at 42 years and 7 months. And he went on a well -deserved rest.

You can write about him a dozen more paragraphs. But Pavel Datsyuk, who remained a great modest, did not want to embarrass.

I will say simply: happy birthday, wizard. And thank you very much.