The Let's Hear it for Datsyuk Thread!

[Kira 451]

Not in jest at all.

I would argue that he's the best player in the game.

He isn't as fast or as lethal a goal scorer as AO but if Dats wanted to do nothing but score goals I have no doubt he could. The guy nets 30 goals without even trying to be a goal scorer.

He isn't the best defensive forward in the game but I would argue that if he chose to be a shutdown guy and forego offense he would be a selke candidate every year. Heck, he should be a selke candidate this year considering 1st in takeways, 1st in +/-.

He's arguably the best passer in the game right up there with Savard, Thornton and Crosby.

He isn't the most physical guy but his ability to evade physical contact and to knock people flat on their cans when he wants shows that he can do so.

All in all, there are many great players in the league. However, if you asked them to do the things Datsyuk does I doubt even a few of them could come close. But if you reversed that and asked Datsyuk to do or be like another player, to be a shutdown guy or a pure sniper, I think he could do any of those things and at an elite level.

Plus, he sees the ice better than anyone in the league right now, even Crosby.

He is the purest, best top speed stickhandler in the game.

He plays the half wall better than anyone in the league with his ability to maintain possession and to create space for himself. How many times is a guy right on top of him and Dats manages to shake and bake the guy and open up a nice 5-7 foot cushion of open space for himself so that he can look to make a play? Nobody in the league is better at having a defender on his back, standing still and then exploding and using agility to outmaneuver and dog out the defender to the point where said defender has to back off and give Dats room, to which Dats then is able to make a passing play. Nobody is better.

Frankly, with the puck, there's nobody better in the league right now. Very rarely does he make a mistake with the puck. He sees the ice better than everyone and his deft touch is ridiculous. The little things he does like knowing exactly how hard or soft to send a drop pass just boggles my mind.

And yes, I watch everything in a game. I especially watch Datsyuk closely. As a self proclaimed, rugged, stay at home, limited skill dman my whole life, Datsyuk is everything I would ever have dreamed of being as far as an offensive weapon is concerned. For instance, this was a nothing play that nobody probably took note of last night.

It was very late in the game, can't remember when but the puck was squirting around center ice and Dats' outmuscled 2 Preds to get to the puck. Now what did he do with the puck? Try to skate it? Nope. Did he try to cradle it and make a move? Nope. Did he panic with it or muff it or mishandle it? Nope. The millisecond he realized he was going to get his stick on the puck first he whipped it 90 feet into the corner to Ellis' right. It's the recognition that there is no play to be had there or at least a very difficult play at best and the most prudent thing to do in that very instant is not to try and stickhandle or do anything but simply dump the puck, with emphasis, into the corner and attempt to regain it.

Many a player wouldn't have that same thought process. Many a player would've maybe tried to do something with that puck. And for a supreme, offensive talent like Dats to know he has no option to show his skill there but simply ram the puck into the corner, he had no hesitation. I swear the guy makes the right decisions 99% of the time. I've said it before, his brain is the forward's version of Nick Lidstrom.

And no, Datsyuk did not pay me for this glowing post.

Well said.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

GS&T,

You and I may not see eye to eye on a lot but that my friend was a spot on post!!!!

I wish I had OsGod's smiley eating chips drinking a beer to show you what I looked like reading that!

I'm just glad more and more people around the league, and more and more Wings fans here are starting to take note that this guy is better than just good. He's an elite level talent and one of the very few forwards in the league that actually CONTROL a game. He absolutely is the only one I know of who dictates the game from a forward position. Instead of time on ice being measured, they should measure time with the puck per player. I doubt any forward comes close. He's the ultimate hockey quarterback up front.

I am giddy beyond belief that he plays for us.

[Hank 0]

I'll fully admit that Datsyuk was on my dartboard for many years. But after last spring I've changed my tune. And he's been dynamite this series so far too.

It took him some time to figure out that in the playoffs you have to drive in the danger areas. You would think other players on the Wings would follow suit and do the same thing.

Here's to Dats!

[DaKineMaui 8]

I've said it before, his brain is the forward's version of Nick Lidstrom.

I'm stealing ^that^.

[Yzermania 156]

yah dats has been playing amazing. He threw some big hits last night, one I would consider one of the wings better hits of the game. He's been my favorite player since his rookie season. I have a Datsyuk jersey with the 02 cup patch on it that I got right after they won as well as an authentic 04 all star jersey. If they win this year, I'll add one to the collection with an 08 patch. I truely believe(as long as things stay how they are) that if we win the cup, he'll without a doubt get the conn smythe, early I know but he is just by far the most consistent player we have.

[savaking72 0]

Game four was all Datsyuk. It certinally wasn't Filppula...Filppula couldn't put a puck in the net if he was standing in it. Here is my list of favorites:

1. God

2. Jesus

3. Datsyuk

...Everyone else in the world then Filppula, untill he learns to shoot again. Then he'll be somewhere in the middle.

[Cruiser008 37]

Datsyuk's certainly been a beast in this series so far.

[Kira 451]

Seems to me that not all that long ago you were all calling for his head on a platter, and you thought I was nuts for sticking up for him. Now your tune has certainly changed.

My, my, my, how the worm has turned.

[Chaldean 0]

The argument of him not showing up in the playoffs is gone for good

[Opie 308]

Seems to me that not all that long ago you were all calling for his head on a platter, and you thought I was nuts for sticking up for him. Now your tune has certainly changed.

My, my, my, how the worm has turned.

Hold on a second cowboy!!!!

When you make a generalized statement like the bolded one you should really make sure it is true.

GS&T, in a weird way (j/k GS&T), was supporting Dats earlier when he said he would be better served on the wing, many people including myself and the 57.5 people that have Dats in their username (I included posters like lidsykberg that is where the fraction comes from) have been in support of Dats the whole season.

I agree there are a lot of haters, for everyone on this team, but to say we were all calling for his head is a stretch!!

[Kira 451]

Okay, I stand corrected. But it sure seemed like everyone was out for his head. And I'm not saying it was this season. Go back a couple years, and remember, if you will, how everyone was riding him for not scoring in the playoffs. A lot of people wanted him traded, benched, whatever. That is where I find the turnaround.

I'll concede the point to you, but I hope you will see where I am coming from too.

[Opie 308]

Kira,

I agree 100% most of this board was screaming for his head when he had like 30 assists in 20+ games (whatever the number was) because he only had 5 goals (again whatever the numbers were).

Z and Dats are as important to this team as Stevie and Shanny were. Stevie was the captain and it was his team, but Shanny was a HUGE part of the leadership of those teams (same with Drapes I might add) as well.

What I find funny, and most of this is due to the internet boom being after they started winning championships, no one ever got upset if you said something good about Shanny, and didn't credit Stevie in some way. But heaven forbid if on this board you post something about dats and not mention Z or vise versa. To me they are as valuable as the other one, they are great together, but you can put them on separate lines.

Sort of like Chips and Salsa, yeah Tortilla chips are good on their own, and Salsa can be eaten on other foods, but it is never quite as good as when they are together!!!

I, like you, have always been impressed with Dats, I think he is top 5 forward in the league and one of the most complete if not the most complete player in the league, and Z is right there behind him.

[redwings56 1]

my sig says it all

[Kira 451]

I like your thinking!

[dats13owns 157]

Awesome thread.

Has been my favorite Wing/player since his rookie season.

It's time to take this team on your shoulders and lead them back to greatness. . .

[Kira 451]

Problem being, he cannot do this alone. He needs 19 other teammates to shoulder the load too.