Detroit — Pavel Datsyuk is the latest Red Wings player headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Datsyuk, in his first year on the ballot, gained enshrinement Tuesday when the Hall unveiled its latest class.
A player needs 75%, or 14 of the 18 votes of the HHOF committee, to gain enshrinement.
Joining Datsyuk are defenseman Shea Weber, forward Jeremy Roenick, women’s players Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl, and in the builder category Colin Campbell and David Poile.
As a player, Campbell played two seasons for the Wings from 1982-84. Datsyuk and Campbell become the 59th and 60th Red Wings’ player in the Hall of Fame.
“I am pumped,” said Datsyuk in a teleconference after the Hall revealed the new inductees. “It’s exciting. (I was) a little bit nervous before; now I’m a happy boy.”
Datsyuk made a point of recognizing all the coaches and teammates who helped him throughout his career.
“(All the) people around me, who helped me to make it right here,” Datsyuk said. “Every hour (they spent) what is going on with me. Good people, and not just hockey, but good people around me who were nice to me.”
Datsyuk is the 10th player off the star-studded, legendary 2002 Stanley Cup-winning team now in the Hall. Others are Chris Chelios, Sergei Fedorov, Dominik Hasek, Brett Hull, Igor Larionov, Nicklas Lidstrom, Luc Robitaille, Brendan Shanahan and Steve Yzerman, while owner Mike Ilitch, vice president Jimmy Devellano, general manager Ken Holland and coach Scotty Bowman have been enshrined in the builders’ category.
“It’s a good memory,” said Datsyuk, a rookie that season of playing on the legendary team. “I didn’t know who (to go to) and try and show me around. I was so nervous. But they started talking me and I feel better. They helped me on and off the ice and helped me grow.”
That particular Wings team was “scary,” and Datsyuk was partly the reason.
“Playing against Pavel Datsyuk was probably one of the most frustrating things for any player, whether a forward, defenseman or goaltender,” Roenick said. “Not many people had the brains and talent and creativity of Pavel Datsyuk. You looked like you could catch him and next thing you know, you’re embarrassed seeing him go right by you. It’s pretty cool to be going in (the same Hall class). He’s one of my idols.
“I was probably five seconds away from signing a contract with Detroit in 2001 and instead I signed with Philly. I never won a Stanley Cup and the year I was going to go to Detroit, they win a Stanley Cup so I guess it’s…
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