Detroit Red Wings: Why Pavel Datsyuk is the Best Player in the NHL Playoffs

Pavel Datsyuk is hands down the best player in the 2011 playoffs.

This shouldn't be a surprise, as he is the best player on a Red Wings team that is the envy of the other 29 franchises for their consistent postseason success.

Over his nine NHL seasons, Datsyuk has played an astounding 114 playoff games (and counting). During that span, he picked up Stanley Cup rings in 2002 and 2008, as well as making the finals again in 2009.

This spring, Datsyuk has led his Red Wings to a first-round sweep of the Phoenix Coyotes, despite significant injury problems. Johan Franzen missed a game, and more significantly, Henrik Zetterberg didn't even dress for a single game.

These injuries didn't faze Datsyuk, who put up two goals and four assists in the short four-game series, making him the most productive player in the 2011 playoff on a points per game basis.

But he isn't just a one-dimensional scorer. Datsyuk is the consummate two-way player.

As is befitting the reigning Selke winner, Datsyuk leads the NHL with 10 takeaways. No other Red Wing has more than three takeaways. Add his plus-6 rating, and you can see that Datsyuk is still perfectly capable of shutting down his opponents.

Datsyuk's performance should be inspiration for Jonathan Toews and Ryan Kesler, proof that you can be a Selke worthy shutdown centre AND score goals in the playoffs.

Datsyuk's contributions also include winning 56.6 percent of his faceoffs while leading the Red Wings forwards in ice time.

And despite playing all that ice time, Datsyuk has yet to take a penalty in the playoffs. But maybe that shouldn't be surprising, as he has won the Lady Byng trophy four of the five years since the lockout.

All in all, Datsyuk is the most complete forward in the playoffs, and a major reason why you never bet against the Red Wings in the playoffs.