The Detroit Red Wings in the early 2000s were something different. Arguably the best team in NHL history, their roster during those years was flooded with future Hall of Famers and Stanley Cup winners. But that didn’t mean everything always went smoothly out on the ice—like that time a young Pavel Datsyuk didn’t pass the puck to Brett Hull during a power play.
Brendan Shanahan, Sergei Fedorov, Nicklas Lidström, Luc Robitaille, Steve Yzerman, Chris Chelios, Dominik Hasek, Brett Hull, and a young Pavel Datsyuk. It’s fair to say that the Detroit Red Wings were packed with star power during the early 2000s. The Red Wings won four Stanley Cups in twelve years, and almost no team could beat them.
First time meeting Pavel Datsyuk
Brett Hull was traded to the Red Wings ahead of the Stanley Cup-winning 2001–2002 season, having already won the Cup in 1999 with the Dallas Stars. But on the team was also a young, very talented Russian: Pavel Datsyuk. Coming over from Ak Bars Kazan in the Russian league that same year, Hull and Datsyuk quickly developed chemistry—except for that one time on the power play.
Brett Hull’s hilarious answer
Pavel Datsyuk told NHL reporter Andy Strickland about a time when the Red Wings had a power play. After their shift, Brett Hull approached Datsyuk and told him that he had been open and wanted the puck. But, relying on his sixth hockey sense, Datsyuk told Hull that, as he saw it, Hull was covered and he couldn’t pass him the puck. Brett Hull just turned to his young teammate and replied:
“I’ve scored over 400 goals covered!”
What a response—it says everything you need to know about Brett Hull!
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