Hank

Which is exactly what I, Snepts and the original poster have said. But some people here obviously take this as the ultimate insult towards their hero's. P.S. Lidstrom is leading the team in scoring with 10 points.

Actually Lidstrom has 10 points and is a +4, while Datsyuk has 7 points and is a +1. This while always facing the other teams top forwards and playing in every situation for over 30 minutes a game. Not one person here is asking for a hattrick every game. But 0 points in 5 games is something that he needs to address. Also, if anyone here seriously thinks that Datsyuk or Zetterberg haven't thought about their gooseggs on the road, then you're delusional as well. I'm sure they're fully aware of it and want to do something about it. In fact, I think they're probably harder on themselves than some people on these boards. Again, and I'm not sure how I can say this any clearer, we're not saying that they're playing bad or that they suck. We're only asking that they produce on the road. What's so wrong about saying that? I will say that I think Babcock is directly involved with their road slump. He needs to seperate them.

Very true. But when nobody's producing, who's the first person you look too? Your top offensive players (especially if they're your top paid players). Look at the Dallas Mavericks. They were having problems scoring and who gets blamed? Dirk Nowitski. Why? Because he's their top player. It's no different here.

Again, show me where I've bashed Datsyuk in this thread? Have I said that he's garbage? Have I stated that he's overrated, or not working hard enough? Have I said that he sucks or has no heart? No. The only things I've said is that he needs to produce on the road. Oh no! I must be crucified for my sacriledge! How dare anyone say one negative thing regarding Datsyuk. Now who's being irrational?

I still don't see your reasoning behind attacking my 'hockey knowledge'. I also find it hilarious that you question my knowledge when you post one of the most juvenile statments I've ever read: Are you a 10 year old? Do you seriously think Datsyuk would say "I no longer want to work hard because fans at LGW don't support me"? If you do, I think you need a few more years of watching hockey. Datsyuk and Zetts are working hard. I know this and I've already stated that. But your best players need to find ways to produce. Not scoring 1 goal or point in a couple of road games isn't that big of a deal. But they're 0-for in 5 road games now. Datsyuk still has a tendancy to stay on the outside too much. He needs to drive to the middle more often. Again, there's nothing wrong with someone asking our top offensive and highest paid player to score a point or two on the road. And both have 0 and 0 on the road. Do you think this team has a chance to win the Cup if our top 2 players don't score on the road?

I forgot that players are only responsible for winning 1 game in the postseason. My bad. Like Snepts said, it's not an unreasonable request by any means to expect your highest paid player, and best offensive player, to score on the road. Datsyuk fans need to be less sensitive and more realistic about what's being said here.

Maltby and Draper were not signed to lead this team in scoring. They were signed to be defensively responible, kill penalties, wear down the opposition and keep pressure in the offensive zone. They've done all of this and more. Datsyuk and Zetts were signed to produce goals to help win games. Sure, I think both players are working hard and trying their best. That's great. But they have to find ways to produce. The best players in the world have all done this. Dats is getting paid like one of the best, so he needs to produce like one of the best. I think Sharks fans are probably saying the same things about Marleau.

What an educated comeback! Try not to let the Datsyuk coloured glasses tint your point of view. And if you read all of my posts you'll see that I'm not really attacking Datsyuk but he does need to start producing more. He's paid handsomely to do it and he hasn't on the road.

That's why I said that both play different styles. But it doesn't excuse Datsyuk from not producing. Steve Yzerman was smaller and had one leg and he produced more in his last years than Datsyuk. I'm not asking the guy to run guys through the boards, but he's paid to produce goals, not chances. He needs to start putting points on the board.

I want more from them. Other players in Wings history have done it and found another gear. Lidstrom? Doesn't he lead this team in scoring? Draper and Maltby? Are you kidding me? Their line has been the most consistant and hard working out of all 4. They're also not paid over $7M a year to score goals. Datsyuk is. Schneider has played pretty well and he has almost as many points as Dats despite playing the PK and PP and being a dman. Bertuzzi? He's still not 100% but I do agree that he deserves criticism. And if you look around on these boards, he's gotten it.

I thought both of them generated some good chances in last nights game, but at the same time it's hard to argue what you've written. There have been many games since Game 2 of the opening round where I haven't noticed either of them. And both, especially Datsyuk, still seem to like playing from the far outside more than go into the middle of the ice. Like you said, we're going to need both of these guys to step up if we even want to sniff the Cup. I still think splitting them up and letting Zetts centre the 2nd line is the best way to go. EDIT: The one thing that bothers me is watching how Thornton is playing compared to Datsyuk. Dats wanted Thornton money but he sure isn't playing like him. I know they play different styles but this team needs either him or Zetts to step up and carry the offensive load. All the contending teams have a player like that. The Wings need their $50M man to show them he's worth the investment.

Actually, Don hardly ever admits when he's wrong. Before the 2005 season kicked off, he told the world that Cory Perry was going to be better than Crosby or Ovechkin. Why? Because Crosby played in the Q and A.O. is a Russian. And since Corry Perry played in his beloved OHL, he is obviously better than anyone that played in a Frenchy league or is a peice of Euro trash. If Crosby played for Guelph he would absolutely adore the kid. Look at the pub he gave Jordan Staal this year. Coaches Corner should have been changed to "The Jordan Staal Show". Sure, the kid was great and nearly scored 30 goals this year. But what did Crosby do as an 18 year old? He only recorded 102 points and finished 6th overall in scoring. He didn't show any Crosby highlights last year. I love Cherry, but he always thinks he's right when he's really wrong half the time. But he'll never admit to it. He goes to all the Weddings but none of the Funerals. I would like to see him admit more often when he was way off base. But I do like how he's constantly showing the do's and don't for kids playing hockey.

I'm really starting to like this kid as well. He doesn't mind getting his nose dirty and has some very good offensive potential. It's going to be fun watching him develop.

Now I don't have to guess why we don't have enough doctors and our national health coverage is in jeopardy. Thank you Canadian Parliament. It's nice to see my tax dollars are going to something worth while. And I love how some of the French politicians are so upset about this. If they're so worried about equality then how come he doesn't fine or come down on many of the French towns and cities in Quebec that refuse to put up bilingual signs. Hypocrite.

The Wings have never lacked skill. It's been grit that's kept them from holding the Cup the last few years. Bert was supposed to provide some of that. However, like you said, he's been providing it in a negative way. He should be using his big frame to overturn pucks and wear down defenders, not by taking horrible penalties. P.S. Crosby and Lecavailer are different than Datsyuk in that they play a more gritty game. Crosby and Vinny routinely drive to the net, while Datsyuk will try to set things up from the outside.

Am I the only one that finds hilarity in this? To have chances you have to at least HIT THE NET. That is something Sammy does about 2% of the time. He's brutal in any kind of offensive role. He's fine on the 4th line (a bit overpriced), but that's where he belongs.

Hudler hasn't been a liability. Bert has.

We've been saying the exact same thing about Lang for how long? Lang finally acted like a hockey player last night and it was after being benched. Maybe the same medicine will work for Bert.

I agree. It took Babcock how long to give Lang a limited role? And he still has Samuelsson on the top 2 lines and the 2nd PP unit despite amassing a whopping 3 measly assists in 15 playoff games with the Wings. If you're one of Babcock's favourites you basically have to shoot one of his family members or tell him that hunting and fishing is for fags. And even then, you're probably going to get prime icetime for the next 10 or so games. Bertuzzi's going nowhere. I personally like Bert and I think he is a great hockey player. But he's clearly not 100% and it's obvious he hasn't gelled with this team yet. It would serve the Wings better to sit him for Game 4. But at the very least, he should be on the top line with Zetts and Dats where his shortcomings aren't so blatant. Besides, that line needs size bigtime. They're getting manhandled out there.

And he got dealt because he was an impending UFA. In the end, Joe Thornton got dealt for Marco Sturm, Chuck Kobasew and Andrew Ference. That's a joke. Joe Thornton could have fetched far better players or at least 1 superstar player at the very least.

Hahahaha! I love your avatar! Ron Wilson is such a goof!

My main worry about being down 3-1 is that we are 1-3 on the road and Dats and Zetts have a combined 0 points in those games.

Yes the Wings have not looked in sync, but neither have the Sharks. Not for a full 60 minutes either. I didn't think San Jose looked like 'they were on a mission' for a full 60 yet. Neither have the Wings. Maybe it's both their styles clashing that make one team look better than the other for a period at a time? Regardless, San Jose is more than beatable. The Wings need to play like they did in Game 6 of the Flames series. Put in a full 60 minutes with all lines firing. If there's a silver lining to last nights game it's that Lang actually looked like he gave a crap. Even the TSN announcers said as much. Looks like Babcock's benching (which was WAY, WAY, WAY overdue) woke him up. But so far, I think the Wings have played just as well as the Sharks. And Nabakov does not look like a world beater. If we can put in a hard, physical effort for 60 minutes we'll win. But we need Dats and Zetts to really step up. We need them.

I'm sorry but I don't think Hasek is being outplayed in this series at all. In fact, I think he's played much better than Nabakov. Kipper was out of his mind in the first round but Hasek was very, very solid. He saved at least 2 games for us. Hasek isn't the problem. Maybe if the Wings had actually cleared a puck or won more battles for loose pucks in the 3rd, we'd be talking about going up 3 games to 1 tomorrow night.

Not to defend Sammy but this statement could be said about a lot of our forwards.