There are few better than Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk. Copyright Getty Images

When one watches Pavel Datsyuk skate on the ice, it’s like watching a magician trick the opposition into submission. The 34-year old Russian dynamo has made a career out of turning players into bad actors in his human highlight reel. When he finishes off one of his brilliant rushes, it’s referred to as ‘Datsyukian.’

He can beat you so many ways. Once he has the puck, it’s impossible to take it from him. It’s amazing to think that the Red Wings selected Datsyuk in the sixth round of the ’98 NHL Draft. In a draft that produced stars such as Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards, nobody has better point production than Datsyuk. With 41 points in 41 games this season, he’s hiked his career total to 759 in 773 games. The breakdown is 253 goals and 506 assists. Most impressive is his play away from the puck where he’s posted a plus-223. It’s no fluke with Datsyuk only having one minus year over an 11-year career. His brilliant play has been rewarded with the Selke for the league’s best defensive forward.

What separates Datsyuk is his ability to play at an elite level without breaking the rules. A four-time Lady Byng winner for most gentlemanly, he has only 200 penalty minutes. He’s one of the few stars who gets it done without controversy. You’ll never see any stick work from him or any post whistle shenanigans that even the game’s best gets involved in. What’s more. Datsyuk is a proven winner who’s been an integral part of two Stanley Cups in Hockeytown. He won it as a rookie in ’01-02 on a veteran team led by legendary Red Wing captain Steve Yzerman. After Stevie Y retired, Datsyuk and another former legend Nick Lidstrom teamed with Henrik Zetterberg to win Lord Stanley again in ’07-08. He finished with 23 points (10-13-23) and went plus-13.

The Red Wings find themselves in a dogfight for the final spot in their final year out West. They’re currently tied with the Blue Jackets with each having 47 points. Detroit hasn’t missed the playoffs since ’89-90, holding the longest active streak in North American sports at 21 consecutive seasons (1991-2012). Datsyuk has done his part pacing the Original Six club in goals (13), points (41), plus/minus (+15), power play goals (7) and game-winners (6). On any other team, he’d be a regular for the Hart Trophy. However, neither he nor Zetterberg have ever won the prestigious award. In fact, the Wings have only had one MVP since Gordie Howe dominated the sport with six. Sergei Fedorov won it in ’93-94 wearing the Winged Wheel for the historic franchise’s only Hart winner since ’62-63. Howe has won six of their nine with the other two going to famed linemate Sid Abel of The Production Line and Ebbie Goodfellow.

With a year left on a contract that pays him $6.7 million, Datsyuk can turn unrestricted in the summer of 2014. He’ll be a young 35 due to not playing right away like Lecavalier or second overall pick David Legwand. Another player who came up earlier is Scott Gomez, who’s near the end. It’s hard to picture Datsyuk in another uniform even though I’d go bonkers if he ever came to Manhattan. The game’s most electrifying player is arguably the best overall with probably Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin ahead of him. Both are younger and in their primes.

If a player pulls off a highlight reel goal or beats a goalie badly in the shootout, it’s referred to as ‘Datsyukian.’ Datsyuk is the all-time career leader in the shootout. He leads active skaters with 33 goals edging former Devil Zach Parise. Datsyuk has converted 33-of-71 shootout attempts (46.5 percent) with Parise second at 46.4 (32-of-69). Ten of his 33 have decided shootouts. When he’s up, everyone stops and watches because they want to see what he’ll do next. There’s not another player like him. I’d pay just to see him skate. He’s one of the smartest players ever. A man among men who in the blink of an eye can takeaway the puck and shift from defense to offense. Before you know it, it’s in the back of your net.

Datsyuk is strong along the boards. The puck sticks to his curve like a magnet. He doesn’t shy away from physicality, often winning battles despite his 5-11, 197 frame. Need a face-off win. Just ask No.13, who’s over 55 percent in 2013 and 53.9 percent for his career. He’s the kind of caliber player who can impact the game without tallying a point. That’s how dominant he is with and without the puck. Entering tonight’s match against Calgary, it’s his 774th career game. When it’s over, he’ll be 226 shy of 1,000. At nearly a point-per-game clip, he’s 241 away from 1,000. Even if he never reaches it, in my book he’s already a future Hall Of Famer. One of the best players Russia’s ever produced.

One day, Datsyuk’s former teammate Fedorov will be recognized in Toronto. In a year where they finally elected Pavel Bure, there’s plenty of room for two of the best two-way hockey players of our generation. Fedorov should have remained a Red Wing. Hopefully, Datsyuk won’t make that same mistake. Like Yzerman and Lidstrom, he belongs in Detroit. Appreciate the brilliance as long as we can.