"It is hard to always be on top because that's where everyone wants to be."

Guess who said that? Here's more, "At the mentioning of Vancouver I don't remember anything."

That was Pavel Datsyuk. Here are some excerpts from his interview to Alexander Rogulev of Sport-Express.

Last season happened to be not the best for you. For the first time in a while you did not win a single trophy. Was it because of the injury?
Of course, now I can say, "Yes, that's the way it was." But in reality it is not true. It's just because there's a lot of competition in the NHL. Kesler had a wonderful season and that's why I was not able to win the Selke Trophy. Each year we compete with him and this season he won, he well-deserved it.

You know, it is hard to always be on top, because that's where everyone wants to be. I took a step back, but now there is motivation to take two steps forward. It will not be easy, but this is why we set goals.

You were injured on a road, in Vancouver. Some bad luck follows you in this Canadian city, at first you lost at the Olympics, then a broke an arm...
There are no such things for me as a "lucky" or "unlucky" city. If I will think that way, then I need to move from professionals to the amateurs. At the mentioning of Vancouver I don't remember anything. Neither Olympics, nor the injury. I try to remember only positive emotions.

This spring you were expected at the World Championship in Slovakia. Was it your decision not to participate at the tournament?
We dropped out of the Stanley Cup run, in fact, it was the day when the national team played in Bratislava for a chance to play in the final stage. Injuries have greatly influenced my decision if you can call it like that. I apologized because we talked with the coaches and they were hoping I would play. I don't know if I could help the team in such condition. And what is the point to come, just for the sake of being noted? Now, I'd like to use this opportunity and apologize to the fans. I really wanted to play because with the national team I still haven't won anything.

What are the news from your hockey clinic camp? They say, some journalists and experts from North America came to look at it.
Yes, we were pampered with attention of one correspondent from a good magazine (The Hockey News -- SE). Well, good thing that Playboy is not interested so far (smiles). There were a bit more kids than a year ago. But I repeat, for us quality, not quantity is important. We have all worked it out in detail. There are kids who have come for several years in row, and there are a lot of positive comments. However I hope we will still continue to improve.

Some time ago the famous tough guy Derek Boogaard came to your camp...
God rest his soul. Boogaard very much liked his time in Russia, and even wanted to come again last year. But you see, it happened that he will never come... He was a very humble great big young man who always worked. I was shocked how shy Derek was. That what really impressed me in him.

How he ended up in your camp?
He came to us with one of the fitness coaches. They asked me if I wanted to see Derek Boogaard in our camp and I was just glad about such a possibility. Kids had a chance to see not only skillful players, but also a tough guy too, who showed an example of how to work hard, even when you do something that is not easy for you.

Do you know that Boogaard in America had a children's clinic for fighters?
Seriously? I did not know that. Thank God, I was not invited.

Maybe he gave you some advices? Last season in one of the games you wrestled Perry on the ice.
Not without it. In any case if there is such a person near you, you see him with peripheral vision and actually learn something. You don't think it is, but something gets sinked in somehow. When you find yourself in a certain situation, the reflexes take over.



By the way why Corey Perry angered you that much?
He did not anger me, I was just defending myself in that moment. The fight was entirely Perry's initiative and I simply had no choice. He tried to prove that his team was superior to ours, and I defended myself. And I lost Lady Byng Trophy after that fight.

Do you think it was only the fight to blame?
Basically it was it. But with that I managed to score a Gordie Howe hat trick. I do not know why, but it was my dream when I was a kid. I am very glad that it finally became a reality. They say that Howe himself scored his own hat-trick only once, so I caught up with him now. I hope I will not overtake it.

Now there's a certain fad among NHL players to open a personal twitter account. I think with your sense of humor you could quickly become a leader in followers. Do you have a desire to start your own blog?
Maybe I have a desire, but you need to write there. If somebody could taught me to write, then maybe I would have my blog. So far it's hard for me even to read, and you're asking me to write.

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