silkyjohnson13

wa, wa, wa... Lol at all these people crying. They'll be the same people who suddenly "never said Datsyuk couldn't produce" when he has his breakout postseason. Apparently Ken Holland, Steve Yzerman and company have views that differ from yours - and i'll gladly be on their side.

Well i'm glad my opinion is in good company - Steve Yzerman, Ken Holland.

Too far? Can you please explain to me what is far fetched about that, because i'm honestly missing it? Datsyuk has led this team in points for the past couple seasons, and the way his game has evolved in the past year, i have no reason not to believe that he can also lead the Wings in points in the playoffs. I am a strong believer that last seasons injury played a huge role in his limited numbers. I am also a strong believer that he was playing very good hockey during the last games of that series - and was a coupe of goal posts and missed opportunities from already having that "playoff choker" title removed. When i say evolved, not only is Datsyuk looking to create and attack more, particularly looking for his own shot, but his overall game has improved drastically. He has been showing the willingness to go to the front of the net, and the willingness to throw his weight around a little. Datsyuk is the more talented offensive player on this team, and to say that it is far fetched to believe that he could lead the Red Wings in playoff points boggles my mind. I know it's different but let me remind everyone that Datsyuk led team Russia in points in the last Olympics. If i'm wrong and he can't break his playoff woes, then i will be the first to admit it. But what's going to make me sick to my stomach is when the majority of Wings fans that have repeatedly doubted and down talked Datsyuk will suddenly be silent(as i previously stated) or all of a sudden on the band wagon and saying the words, " What? I always said that i thought Datsyuk could perform in the playoffs".

I do not understand the whole mentality that, "we better not sign Datsyuk until after the playoffs, because we don't want to be stuck with him if he doesn't perform this year." This is not Rebert Lang, Pavel Datsyuk is a very attractive player that i can guarentee other teams would be interested in aquiring - even if he doesn't perform in the playoffs. I am one who does believe he will break out this playoffs though. And what i fear, is that if he does, his price range is going to go up so high that we won't be able to afford him. If he has a great playoffs, some teams will be willing to pay $$$$$$$$$ for him.

Signed, the guy who will be silent when Datsyuk is leading the Red Wings in playoff points.

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Nash Ovechkin-Crosby-Iginla Smyth-Madden-Pahlson Avery-Neil-Tootoo Lidstrom-Pronger Neidermeyer-Redden Bouwmiester-Phaneuf Luongo

I can't speak for their year in Russia during the lockout, but during the Olympics Datsyuk and Ovechkin weren't on the same line: Kovalchuk-Datsyuk-Kovalev

Have you seen Chelios's offensive game of late? He cannot control his shot at all - he's hit more people(refs included) than anybody i know - and those people are usually nowhere near the target. I agree that i don't want Sammy out there on the point but Chelios ain't better.

I don't think CBC is a station in the south, at least not in Florida where my buddy lives.

Do any of you guys make videos for youtube or anything like that? Someone should make a Datsyuk Top 10 goals: Something along the lines of: 1) at Dallas (Turco-03-04) 2) vs Nashville in the shootout (Vokoun-05-06) 3) at Edmonton (Roloson-06-07) 4) vs Columbus (Denis-03-04) 5) at San Jose(03-04) 6) at Chicago (Khabibulin-05-06) 7) at Colorado (Budah-06-07) 8) vs Nashville (Vokoun-06-07) 9) at Washington(05-06) 10) vs Columbus in 1st shootout ever(Leclaire-05-06) Obviously there's a ton more beauties that he has scored but these are rather recent and there's a lot of available footage on the web of them. Most of the great plays he made prior to the lockout are nowhere to be found(there's some from his breaout campaign of 03-04, but not a lot).

I'm just going to find it hilarious when the same people that are talking now will be silent in a month... Either silent or all of a sudden have bad memories: "What, i never said Datsyuk couldn't succeed in the postseason - i always said he could."

On the wonderful night of March 26, 1997, Fedorov was playing on the blueline - alongside Larry Murhpy. The goal Fedorov scored(the first Wings goal in the beginning of the 2nd period), was a 2-on-1 created by Fedorov jumping up in the play and Murph hitting him in stride.

I completely disagree with you. What is risky about it? No matter what happens in the playoffs, there will still be some team(s) that will be interesting in aquiring him. He's not a player that you would be stuck with if he continues to have disappointing playoffs - there will always be a team that will take a shot at him. And for those of you who don't think 1mil a year or so is a big deal... 1mil a year could be the difference from picking up a player like Calder at the deadline or not. In a cap world every dollar counts. You hope he signs before the playoffs, becasue that's the best possibly scenerio. Isn't that basically the case with all agents? The majority of them are scum to me and only care about how much money and repuation they can get.

The lineup i expect: Pav-Z-Homer Calder-Lang-Bert Franzen-Drapes-Maltby Filppula-Cleary-Sammy/Hudler(i'd have no problem with Hudler over Sammy, but i expect Sammy to start) The lineup i find intriguing: Pav-Z-Bertuzzi Calder-Lang-Hudler Franzen-Drapes-Maltby Filppula-Cleary-Homer

If Cleary's healthy there's no chance he's not playing. He was one of our best forwards last playoffs - and that was before he showed the ability to put the puck in the net. The two forwards that will be fighting for the last spot will be Sammy and Hudler. That's it. Of course assuming full health. We didn't trade to get Bertuzzi for next season. He's here for the playoffs. The only way he doesn't play is if he is physically incapable of doing so. Bert was not brought here to be a checker. He was brought here to bring tough offensive production and he will be on one of the top 2 scoring lines.

This is where i question his agent. Datsyuk just recently made a comment about his agent - saying how he sounds like a movie preview, saying "coming soon... coming soon" - when Datsyuk asks him about the contract.

I would agree with you - but after seeing what happened last year with Datsyuk, i find it very hard to look at this thing positive.

And as you can see i said i have no problem with playing Hudler over Sammy. What i do have a problem with though is breaking up Zetterberg and Datsyuk to keep Hudler/Lang/Calder together. You want to treat it like we have 3 equal scoring lines. That's not how it works. Yes, you want all of your lines to be able to contribute, but you aren't going to treat them as equal. Hudler isn't going to sniff nearly the ice time that Zetterberg, for example is going to see - and i'm just talking even strength. 2 good/great scoring lines + 1 checking line + 1 energy line > 3 average/good scoring lines + 1 checking line By the way, Filppula and Cleary will both be in the lineup easily before Hudler - no matter how nice of a scoring streak he is currently on.

That'd be stupid. I personally don't see it coming. That line was the most productive line in the entire NHL, and it's not like we're lacking for a 2nd scoring line now - not only because of the addition of Bertuzzi but the strong play of Calder and stronger play of Lang. It's great to see the 2nd line finally producing, but if you have to break up one line(either the 1st or 2nd), you break up the 2nd. The 2nd line is hot right now but still ain't even close in terms of what the 1st line was doing. There were stretches of games where the 1st line amounted for 100% of this team's goals scored. Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Homer Calder-Lang-Bertuzzi Franzen-Draper-Maltby Filppula-Cleary-Sammy(and i personally have no problem with Hudler in his place) That's how i start the playoffs if health allows us too, and that's fully what i expect.

Babs said Flip took a shot to the foot... Said they don't think it's broken, just very sore so he shouldn't be out long. And yes, if Hudler takes anyones spot it would have to be Samuelson.

Good to hear Barry say that... I just wish he wouldn't have called him Nicky like 5 times. 1 time would have been fine, but he repeated it like 5 times in a span of 20 seconds. Also good to hear Turco mention Zetterberg.

I understand where you're coming from, but i still think he can help this team. The one thing that i do HATE though, is when he is put on Datsyuk's line.

I'm right with Kovatsyuk, in that Kovalev and Datsyuk are the best stickhandlers that i've ever seen.

I'm going to completely disagree with you here. Datsyuk's pure talent and offensive skill is on a completely different level than Zetterberg's. Datsyuk's pure talent and offensive skill is among the best in the league, and to be totally honest, among the best that i've ever seen. The problem is: he is not big, he is not strong, and he is not a fast skater(don't confuse fast with quick, because he's without question one of the quickest but that only takes you so far)... If you aren't big and/or strong, you better be a fast skater - Datsyuk's not. What he does have is some of the most ridiculous God-given talent that i've ever seen though - among the best hands i've ever seen, among the best stickhandlers i've ever seen, among the most creative players i have seen, among the quickest(laterall movement/first step/stick), and he is blessed with vision that only a a handful of players in this league possess. But the fact still remains that he is small, slow, and weak - so he can only do so much. He will never be as good an overall player as Zetterberg - Zetterberg's skating ability is on another level than Pavel's. If Pavel was blessed with good/great speed and some better size, i can't even imagine how good he could be. The sky would literally be the limit. But it's not. So i totally appreciate him for simply being as successful as he is given his limitations. He's still one of the top playmakers in this league.

I agree, i really think this will be the year he shuts all you haters up about his playoff production. I also noticed that Pavel is actually starting to show some emotion now too. For the last couple months we're starting to see a little fist pump after he scores - that never happened prior. I think this could be a good thing because when it comes to the playoffs, you need to be able to play with some emotion.