Something kinda scary!

[daniel1 32]

Last year both Z and Dats got off to less than blazing starts yet turned it on about a third of the way through and Z was hands down the best player in the NHL (yes, better than the Crosby-show) in the 2nd half of the season until he got injured. This year they have been racking up the points in the first half to the point where after tonight's (WSH) game they are both in the top 10 in scoring. Wouldn't it be scary if they both "turned it on" in the 2nd half?

Could we see the two of them battling it out for the scoring title come March/April?

Could they both hit the 100pt plateau in the same season? (I don't even know the last time DET had 2 100pt men in 1 year)

Could Z take the Art Ross and the Rocket Richard this year? (he's 3rd and 2nd for those right now)

Personally, I don't think Z has hit his peak yet, before he got injured last year he was a threat to score on EVERY rush into the offensive zone, he would either shoot or cycle around the net a la the Florida game and get a great chance. I think he will take it up another notch in the 2nd half and (believe it or not) INCREASE his production. Dats will remain at the same level he has been playing at over the last month and chase Z in points all the way till the end of the season.

If we find another top six player (Comrie/Feds/Prospal/Vasicek) after X-mas for the second line so Z and Dats can stay together all the time I predict Z will win the scoring title barring injury. Pavel will go on to finish 4th behind Z, Crosby and Lecavalier, but will lead the league in assists.

Oh yeah, and for good measure: Homer gets 40 this year. (If the Z-D-H line stays together and he stays healthy)

Which of these predictions do you think will come true?

[Echolalia 2,961]

Although I agree that Z still has some growing to do, I'm not sure if I would go so far to say that he will end up leading the league in scoring this year. But he really has come out flying, and I though this 'streak' would end by now, so who knows? He sure as hell has been playing like he wants that award, and I know that it isn't impossible by any means.

It will be a pretty tight race.

[irishtemper14+25 11]

those are some high hopes, but all im askin for is no injuries and for them to put up similar production they have thus far

[Noomrise22 0]

I sure hope that you are correct on this one. I for one tend to agree with you. Zetty really was gettin her going at the end of last year, then the injury comes and he never really seemed to get it back. Not saying he didn't play well in the playoffs, he just was nt as dominent. Datsyuk, well he is just plain crazy. I am so happy that we have these guys and with Homer in the mx it is just a thrill to watch them. Unfortunately when it comes to the scoring title I am not sure if eitheer will win the. However, this is for a good reason. I f you look at the other potential top scorers or point getters aroung the league you will find that more often then not the majority of them are not as invovled in the other parts of the rink. Our guys dedicate themselves to the entire game of hockey where these others guys often lack. For me I would much rather guys like Datsyuk and Zetty over the likes of jagr and lecavelier. Also not to mention are guys are a class act. I think having them compete for the title would be great and will push them to new levels. At this point i am going to have to with oh the hell with it. I give up trying to pick which one i think is better. Also, have you been paying attention to kopecky? I think that him and Fillpula both have great careers ahead of them.

Edited December 18, 2007 by Noomrise22

[Andy Pred 48 337]

Strange as it may seem, The Redwings have never had 2 players hit the 100pt regular season mark in the same season. In the 93-94 season

we had 2 50 goal scorer's in Fedorov 56 and Sheppard 52. We could have had 2 100pt guys that year if the Capt had been healthy. Feds got 120pts and Stevie had 82pts from just 58 games.

At the current rate Hank is on course for 117 pts and 60 goals!!

With Dats on for 102 pts. Of which 70 would be helpers.

Hope they keep going and hit their peak about May time.

Edited December 18, 2007 by Andy Pred 48

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Last year both Z and Dats got off to less than blazing starts yet turned it on about a third of the way through and Z was hands down the best player in the NHL (yes, better than the Crosby-show) in the 2nd half of the season until he got injured. This year they have been racking up the points in the first half to the point where after tonight's (WSH) game they are both in the top 10 in scoring. Wouldn't it be scary if they both "turned it on" in the 2nd half?

Could we see the two of them battling it out for the scoring title come March/April?

Could they both hit the 100pt plateau in the same season? (I don't even know the last time DET had 2 100pt men in 1 year)

Could Z take the Art Ross and the Rocket Richard this year? (he's 3rd and 2nd for those right now)

Personally, I don't think Z has hit his peak yet, before he got injured last year he was a threat to score on EVERY rush into the offensive zone, he would either shoot or cycle around the net a la the Florida game and get a great chance. I think he will take it up another notch in the 2nd half and (believe it or not) INCREASE his production. Dats will remain at the same level he has been playing at over the last month and chase Z in points all the way till the end of the season.

If we find another top six player (Comrie/Feds/Prospal/Vasicek) after X-mas for the second line so Z and Dats can stay together all the time I predict Z will win the scoring title barring injury. Pavel will go on to finish 4th behind Z, Crosby and Lecavalier, but will lead the league in assists.

Oh yeah, and for good measure: Homer gets 40 this year. (If the Z-D-H line stays together and he stays healthy)

Which of these predictions do you think will come true?

Not to derail this thread but something I find scary is Ilya Kovalchuk. Did you know that he has over 400 career points? Did you also know that he is like 23 or 24 years old? He's going to reach 1000 career points by the time he hits 30.

That's scary.

[daniel1 32]

Imagine if Kovalchuk was on our second line with Flip and Hudler after x-mas... Too bad he's signed through 10/11.

The way he's putting the puck in the net, if ATL ever got him a top notch center he might hit 70 or 80 goals in a season. I'm sure ATL fans dream of a Dats-Kovalchuk tandem. That will be something to watch for at the next World Cup or Olympics though.

[stormboy 47]

it's possible that they could both hit a hundred this year. for dats, he's on pace for over a hundred, and that was with a somewhat slow start. if continues at the rate he is, he'll break a hundred easily. same with hank. (except the slow start.) the thing is, i have to believe that both of them, at some point, are going to go through a pretty severe cold streak, even if they don't get injured. it just seems like that happens. not only will that be pretty devastating for the wings, if they even cool down for a second, either of them could miss a hundred. on the other hand, if hank keeps rolling and dats continues with his lights-out passing, and lecavelier breaks his leg or something, zetta could have a *shot* at the title, though i doubt that's likely. even still, it's fun to think about it...

[Opie 308]

Imagine if Kovalchuk was on our second line with Flip and Hudler after x-mas... Too bad he's signed through 10/11.

The way he's putting the puck in the net, if ATL ever got him a top notch center he might hit 70 or 80 goals in a season. I'm sure ATL fans dream of a Dats-Kovalchuk tandem. That will be something to watch for at the next World Cup or Olympics though.

You mean like Marc Savard?

I think had they paid him to stay he and Kovalchuk would have been down right nasty. Dats makes some of the best passes in the game, but Savard is no slouch himself. I have seen him make blind passes out of the zone to a man streaking down the wing and put it tape to tape.

[SweWings 45]

You mean like Marc Savard?

I think had they paid him to stay he and Kovalchuk would have been down right nasty. Dats makes some of the best passes in the game, but Savard is no slouch himself. I have seen him make blind passes out of the zone to a man streaking down the wing and put it tape to tape.

That would be amazing.

And about the Dats-Kovalchuk pairing, did you forget Ovie?

[Yemack 1]

I think Z is going to pickup his intensity come playoff and be a real force for us. I have a very positive feeling that this year's playoff is going to be a breakout year for Z.

and for Dat, I think him getting rotating 'A' letter on chest was a great idea. Compared to last year, he seems to lead the play more and on some nights just dominates the games. I still think he is trying to figuring out the game a bit and in some instances thinks a 10th of second too long. But when he figures out and doesn't have to think too much anymore, wow, look out NHL.

[Mudvayneowns91 0]

I wouldn't really want to mess with ZDH line. They all thrive off eachother as last night showed.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

I don't think Datsyuk will hit 100 points, but Z will if he can stay healthy (knock on wood). As for leading the league in scoring or goals, I don't see either of those happening. There's too many pure goal scorers out there that I think will finish with more goals than him.

[Andy Pred 48 337]

if we could get an out and out goalscorer, then I would have him on the line with Hank and Dats. I would use Homer on the 2nd or 3rd line and

bring him on for the PP where he is at his most dangerous. The idea of

a Alex or Ilya on the 1st line with the euro twins is mouth watering but

it aint going to happen in this current NHL set up. A player who could do

well for us and has a decent pedigree is Miroslav Satan, not sure of his

current contract status thou. He's a natural scorer and a rightwing, good

skater and has a fair size. Think he would complement the top line. I just feel we don't score enough goals even handed, its great that the PP

is working ok but we need to find a way to score more even strength. At the moment our top line are scoring less than 1 goal a game at even

strength which is food for thought for some.

[Opie 308]

I got to say I was one of the most vocal posters for separating the ZDH line, I honestly didn't think the secondary scoring would be there.

However, Huds, flip, cleary, and others have really stepped up and allowed Babs to leave that line intact.

Oh and BTW I like my crow BBQ style!