Datsyuk a Hart candidate?

[lets go pavel 2]

well, we've already debated pavel's chances for selke and lady byng, what about the hart?

this is from buccigross' mailbag on espn.com, he's responding to letters regarding lidstrom, malkin, and ovechkin's worthiness for the hart when he drops this line:

Don't sleep on Pavel Datsyuk's career year in Detroit either, people.

link

a little vague, but it sounds like he thinks pavel might get a look ... what do you think?

[arnoldbuck 0]

Dont get me wrong, all props to Dats. I liked him before, and after his performance last spring he went up in my books. And he has been remarkable. But ... Lids is hands down this teams MVP, even with out the flash.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

Yeah, if he was nominated I would be surprised. He is underrated by most of the media.

As far as the Hart, it's AO unless Malkin gets like 20 goals in the next few games.

My nominees:

Ovechkin

Lidstrom

Malkin

but will probably be

Ovechkin

Malkin

Luongo

[BeeRYCE 2]

It's going to be...

Ovechkin

Malkin

Brodeur

Them three, Thornton, Lidstrom, Luongo, or Iginla would win before Datsyuk, IMO.

Edited March 18, 2008 by BeeRYCE

[lets go pavel 2]

yeah, i agree too, i think there are too many higher-profile players who are having great seasons, but i was pleasantly surprised to hear someone recognizing the season he's had ...

[cirov19 1]

It's going to be...

Ovechkin

Malkin

Brodeur

Them three, Thornton, Lidstrom, Luongo, or Iginla would win before Datsyuk, IMO.

That says it all..

Pav is playing amazing right now (as always..) but seriously, he's not making the team for us. Sure he is saving our asses but like BeeRYCE said he is not the best guy for the Hart right now.

Although, I don't doubt that Dats will get the Hart one year. In fact, I will be shocked if he doesn't. He is clearly one of the best players in the league, but right now he is much more likely to end up with the Byng or the Selke.

[BeeRYCE 2]

I can't see Datsyuk ever really winning Hart. No one knows if he has really hit his peak, but he is in his prime years which will last maybe another 5-7 years. During that time guys like Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, etc. will only get better.

Maybe even Stamkos, Tavares... Hall?

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

If Washington is able to get in the playoffs, Oveckin is my candidate.

[eva unit zero 271]

Datsyuk will not win a Hart until after Lidstrom retires, and even then for it to occur it would have to be a year when he is among the league leaders in scoring and Henrik Zetterberg is not. Most people consider either Zetterberg better or the two players to be equal, so it would be difficult for Dats to get enough votes if Hank is posting similar numbers. The same, of course, can be said of Zetterberg...except that Zetterberg is two years younger so likely will rise higher than Datsyuk.

The Hart typically goes to the superstar on a weak team that makes the playoffs, or the top scorer in the league who makes the playoffs if nobody fitting the first category can be found. Rarely, it will go to a guy who is not the top scorer among playoff teams, and is on a strong team. This takes cases like 1994, when Sergei Fedorov scored 56 goals and was second in scoring with 120 points, but also won the Selke.

[Kira 451]

Wishful thinking, John...wishful thinking. The majority of people here can't even wrap their brains around the thought of him maybe being considered for the Selkie, much less the Hart Trophy.

[Guest paveldatsukthenextsavard]

Datsyuk will not win a Hart until after Lidstrom retires, and even then for it to occur it would have to be a year when he is among the league leaders in scoring and Henrik Zetterberg is not. Most people consider either Zetterberg better or the two players to be equal, so it would be difficult for Dats to get enough votes if Hank is posting similar numbers. The same, of course, can be said of Zetterberg...except that Zetterberg is two years younger so likely will rise higher than Datsyuk.

The Hart typically goes to the superstar on a weak team that makes the playoffs, or the top scorer in the league who makes the playoffs if nobody fitting the first category can be found. Rarely, it will go to a guy who is not the top scorer among playoff teams, and is on a strong team. This takes cases like 1994, when Sergei Fedorov scored 56 goals and was second in scoring with 120 points, but also won the Selke.

all he really needs is a scoring spree to get to number 3 and washington to not make the playoffs, that would put him number 1 in scoring and +/- on playoff teams, i think those two stats alone would get him consideration.

[puckloo39 5,686]

I completely support and love Pavel Datsyuk... he's an amazing player and integral to this team's success, not to mention (I hope) a Red Wing for life. But I doubt he will win the Hart. While Pav is very valuable to this team, he's not the reason this team is excelling. There are too many others who contribute to the well-oiled machine in Detroit.

Ovechkin would get my vote this season. He's simply got another gear, or something, and makes Washington look almost like a contender on a given night. Miraculous, pretty much, that. Sid is cool, but Ovie rules.

[eva unit zero 271]

all he really needs is a scoring spree to get to number 3 and washington to not make the playoffs, that would put him number 1 in scoring and +/- on playoff teams, i think those two stats alone would get him consideration.

This season, Datsyuk has been great.

That said, he's probably been at best the second or third most important player on the team. So a Hart nomination is pretty much out of the question for him this year.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I'm not sure what Buccigross meant by that exactly. I think the people in Detroit are the only ones not sleeping on Datsyuk's career year. In general he doesn't get enough attention around the league.

As for Hart, Nick is the one on the team most deserving, and he probably won't even get mentioned for it.

And now because I don't think Datsyuk will win the Hart, I'm an evil bastard and hate Datsyuk. right?

Edited March 19, 2008 by haroldsnepsts

[Kira 451]

Nah, you're just part of the majority. Join the crowd.

[Doggy 130]

Nah, you're just part of the majority. Join the crowd.

The majority watch games that Detroit don't play in as well as those that they do.

The majority watch players other than just Pavel Datsyuk on the ice.

The majority recognize that Nicklas Lidstrom is far and away the best and most important player Detroit has.

The majority don't have some blind love for Datsyuk that completely clouds their judgment of anything that is related to him.

So come on sane people - join us while Kira stands in the corner pouting, claiming that everyone else in the world is crazy, not her.

[Nev 1,085]

This is the first time that I have seen Dats's name mentioned in relation to the Hart. No-one has been pimping his name in the media since October, which is what you need if you are to win the Hart, Norris and Selke.

[Opie 308]

My criteria for my logic here is a little flawed only because Dats didn't get hurt.

To me there is no way after seeing what happened to this team when Lids was out that any one on this team can be any more valuable than Lids.

Don't get me wrong, I am defending Dats in the Selke thread, because to me there is an outside chance he could win that one. But I got to say that Lids has definitely been the most important player for the wings.

When Z was out they still won, Homer out, they still won, secondary scoring went flat right, they were still winning, Lids went down, losing streak. Now I know technically the streak started before he went down, but I think his absence prevented them from coming out of it.

I can not believe how well he (lids) has done as C following Yzerman, usually you never want to be the guy following the legend, like Lewis following Bowman.

Back to Dats, I don't think we will see him plateau off for another couple of years, he is getting into his prime and he has such a great mind for the game that I think he and Z will be great players for at least 4-5 more years (barring injury), and maybe he contends for Hart in a couple of years, but not this year. And if WAS makes the playoffs, imo, I have no idea how you can't vote for AO.

[bringback91 2]

The majority watch games that Detroit don't play in as well as those that they do.

The majority watch players other than just Pavel Datsyuk on the ice.

The majority recognize that Nicklas Lidstrom is far and away the best and most important player Detroit has.

The majority don't have some blind love for Datsyuk that completely clouds their judgment of anything that is related to him.

So come on sane people - join us while Kira stands in the corner pouting, claiming that everyone else in the world is crazy, not her.

A majority act like assholes too, and have their head so far up lids and Z's they can't see, don't make it right.

All that's well and fine, just funny how it's always the same couple of people who make it their mission to go into every slightly positive thread and try to rip the guy down. IMO Dats is the teams MVP, about tied with Lids. One MAJOR difference is Dats always shoulders some of the blame especally in the playoffs for losses, while Lids never does. Now that there is some coulded judgement.

[Reds4Life 51]

I really like Pavel, but there is no chance for him to get the Hart this year. Lady Byng and Selke would be great!

[BeeRYCE 2]

There is no way Pavel will reach 2nd in scoring. Malkin and Ovechkin are too far ahead for ANYONE to reach. I think Ovechkin will win Hart regardless though... Even if they don't make the playoffs, they are still a considerably good team. Next season they will be dynamite, Mike Green will probably be a top 5 defenseman, and that helps.

[Majsheppard 203]

If Washington misses the PO, it should be Nabokov IMO.

The sharks, while a powerhouse, have been inconsistent all year. The only solid factor that kept them in the playoff hunt was Nabokov. With Campbell on board they have regained their offensive form and gone nuclear.

All of my goaltender votes go to him, and I think he is equally as important as Malkin, Brodeur, Luongo, etc.

I could very well see the Hart trophy becoming the pittsburg trophy as they seem to be the new posterchild team for the league. Ove, Nabokov, Pavel, Brodeur, Luongo and deserve it more then Malkin. Just because Sid went down for a month and he remained very good doesn't make him MVP, what about all the time Sid and Malkin helped each other.

That is the same rational you can use against Pavel as well.

[BeeRYCE 2]

If Washington misses the PO, it should be Nabokov IMO.

The sharks, while a powerhouse, have been inconsistent all year. The only solid factor that kept them in the playoff hunt was Nabokov. With Campbell on board they have regained their offensive form and gone nuclear.

All of my goaltender votes go to him, and I think he is equally as important as Malkin, Brodeur, Luongo, etc.

I could very well see the Hart trophy becoming the pittsburg trophy as they seem to be the new posterchild team for the league. Ove, Nabokov, Pavel, Brodeur, Luongo and deserve it more then Malkin. Just because Sid went down for a month and he remained very good doesn't make him MVP, what about all the time Sid and Malkin helped each other.

That is the same rational you can use against Pavel as well.

Opinions are opinions, and I respect yours, but I'd say Thornton would be way more deserving than Nabby. Nabby has been outstanding, but the Sharks without Thornton would probably be one of the worst teams in the West.

Nabokov plays every game and makes good saves, but don't forget, he has some VERY good defensive defensemen in front of him. Vlasic, Rivet, MacLaren, and Carle all play pretty good shutdown roles... Even though it isn't recognized, but in their own end they are very very responsible. Adding Campbell since then has helped, obviously.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I really like Pavel, but there is no chance for him to get the Hart this year. Lady Byng and Selke would be great!

Honestly I like it when he plays with a bit of an edge, which would take him out of the running for the Byng. And as I said in the other thread, I don't think he has shot at the selke.

But I'd love for him to win the Conn Smythe.

[puckloo39 5,686]

There is no way Pavel will reach 2nd in scoring. Malkin and Ovechkin are too far ahead for ANYONE to reach. I think Ovechkin will win Hart regardless though... Even if they don't make the playoffs, they are still a considerably good team. Next season they will be dynamite, Mike Green will probably be a top 5 defenseman, and that helps.

Maybe Pav needs to learn to be a puck-hog and shoot all the time, instead of passing to his team mates? He was well tutored by Hull as a rookie, to be the pick-pocket and set up guy. Pavel pairs so well with Z, I think that would be a difficult thing for him to adapt to keeping the puck in order to run up his own numbers, however. Not that he would, anyway.

I agree with Ovie for the Hart.