Former Red Wings legend Pavel Datsyuk to retire from hockey

One of hockey's greats has decided to hang up his skates. 

Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings legend and a future hall of famer, has decided to walk away from the game after playing in parts of four separate decades. 

The 43-year-old announced his intentions to retire on Thursday in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, appearing in a farewell charity game for former Washington Capitals forward Alexander Semin. 

Datsyuk retired from the NHL after the 2015-16 season but continued to play professionally in Russia with St. Petersburgh SKA and Yekaterinburg Automobilist until 2021. 

The Sverdlovsk, Russia native, played 14 seasons in the NHL, all with the Red Wings. 

In a career spanning over 900 games, Datsyuk won the Stanley Cup twice (2002, 2008) with the Red Wings and was a multiple-time winner of the Lady Byng (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) and Selke Trophy (2008, 2009, 2010).

Datsyuk was a sixth-round pick by the Red Wings in the 1998 NHL draft.

He ranks among the top 10 in Red Wings history in several categories including ninth in games played (953), eighth in goals (314), sixth in assists (604) and seventh in points (918). 

Internationally, Datsyuk won a gold medal with Russia at the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang and a bronze at Salt Lake City in 2002.