Zetterberg without Datsyuk?

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Doesn't matter how good or bad of a player you might be, people are going to go through slumps every now and then. To me it doesn't have as much to do with Datsyuk/Zetterberg being together or apart, moreso that people slump every now and then, regardless of who the player is.

There's no denying that Zetterberg and Datsyuk playing together was a helluva combo. However, both made each other look good, not just Datsyuk making Zetterberg look good alone, and vice versa.

Would I like to see them back together just to see them do their stuff and make other teams look silly? Without question. However, this team has even more depth this year vs. last year and goal production is not a problem. I don't mind keeping them split apart.

[Opie 308]

I mostly picked that vid because it's one of the most beautiful goals ever.. obviously Hossa would have scored on a pass like that.

I'm just saying Zetterberg is a good playmaker, he makes a lot of great passes and he's imo better than Hudler and not that far behind Datsyuk in that regard.

Sure, Hossa has scored 21 goals so far, but he could definitely have a few more, he's had a little bad luck on some chances.

Just look at the chance last game when Z passed him and he had an open net, but the puck hit his skate and before going into the goal Hossa's own stick deflected it wide. Z has had some fine chances himself and has hit everything but the back of the net.

Point: he's creating chances and could easily have like 10 points more than he has. I'm not worried that Hossa and Z aren't going to start producing more soon.

The play you tried to describe was not an "Empty net" as you described it, Turco was out of position, yes. However after the puck deflected off of Hossa you may notice in the replay that his stick is not the only one going for the puck. He was attempting to slam it home. Which imo was the right move. If he waits to see if the puck will continue in, the defenseman or Turco would have swatted it with his stick. That was not an empty net, good try though.

Even after your description of the play I fail to see how that vid or statement back up your original statement that:

It's not his fault that Hossa is hitting everything except the back of the net on his passes.

Hossa has 21 g and 21 a, I think he is handling his own pretty well. To say he is hitting everything except the net is a stretch. Maybe Hossa's slow streak and the fact he left Dat's line aren't exactly a coincidence. Who knows but either way when you try to use a vid to back up a statement you should at least back up the part in question. Did any one on here question Z's ability to make plays and pass, no. Therefore no need to provide evidence to back it up. You claimed Hossa can't hit the net and show a vid of Hank passing to Dats from last season.

Sure. Let's put a video of THAT on YouTube. That would get a lot of hits... Oh.

Why in the hell would anybody put that up on YouTube?

His point was that Hank makes sweet plays. He posted a video of Hank making a sweet play the sweetest play I've ever seen. Makes sense to me.

Did any one on here question Z's ability to make plays and pass, no. Therefore no need to provide evidence to back it up. He claimed Hossa can't hit the net and showed a vid of Hank passing to Dats from last season. How does that back up his argument.

Make a statement that Z is a great passer and then show a bunch of Z plays. Make a statement that Lids is the best D man in the world, then show a bunch of Lids plays, say Hossa can't hit the net and then show him missing the net consistently when he should be burying the puck.

Point is, the guy is a machine, and like Dats and Z he too will go through hot and cold streaks. Too bad his cold streak is a PPG this guy is lazy and sucks © trade him for Chris Neil!!

EDIT: If that is the sweetest play you have ever seen you have not been watching hockey very long or are a HUGE HOMER. I don't through the homer tag out that often, but really that was sweeter than AO scoring on his head, Flip's Booby Orr impersonation, Bobby Orr's Bobby Orr goal. Come on dude/dudette really sweetest play ever, Dats with Turco on Fort Street, hanging people's jock's in the rafters and that is the sweetest play????

Edited January 15, 2009 by Opie

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

I don't think it is, especially when you weigh in the potential for the puck to end up in your own net.

Well, he's nothing to write home about, but Hudler's decent defensively. Not that I endorse stars that can't play defense, but speaking strictly in terms of more ice time = more points it doesn't matter all that much anyways.

You could make the reasonable argument that less ice time means he can go like hell on the limited shifts he gets.

I have a hard time believing a pro athlete like Jiri couldn't handle 2-3 more minutes a night.

Edited January 15, 2009 by Heroes of Hockeytown

[Barrie 900]

Scoring goals hasn't been a problem, and we're winning, so I don't see a reason to put Z, Dats, and Homer back together for now. If scoring was down, and the offense needed a kick in the rear, then yea, put them back together.

[stactum 4]

The way I see it - the way Datsyuk plays I could have a very solid rookie season despite I never really played hockey, that how good Datsyuk is and how bad I am!

I think Zetterberg's role is a bit different this season; the other reason he is not playing with Datsyuk, while still some people are saying that they both made everybody look good, the evidence is - Datsyuk numbers are still sky rocketing (I believe he is on better pace this season) playing with anybody, and even Z is effective, his is not up to expectations yet.

Another thing, Babcock can't move Hossa to the third line that would probably affect his "star" level and he never ever try to sign with Detroit, but moving him there would open up some other line options.

[blikst 1]

The way I see it - the way Datsyuk plays I could have a very solid rookie season despite I never really played hockey, that how good Datsyuk is and how bad I am!

I think Zetterberg's role is a bit different this season; the other reason he is not playing with Datsyuk, while still some people are saying that they both made everybody look good, the evidence is - Datsyuk numbers are still sky rocketing (I believe he is on better pace this season) playing with anybody, and even Z is effective, his is not up to expectations yet.

Another thing, Babcock can't move Hossa to the third line that would probably affect his "star" level and he never ever try to sign with Detroit, but moving him there would open up some other line options.

Why would he put him on the third line? What other line options would be better?

[kozac 10]

My question is, how is Zetterberg's current performance going to affect his contract negotiations that are bound to start very soon, if they haven't already. In all fairness, they can't pay him more than Datsyuk, but his market value is obviously more. What a dilemma for Holland.

[dat's sick 1,002]

Who knows but either way when you try to use a vid to back up a statement you should at least back up the part in question. Did any one on here question Z's ability to make plays and pass, no. Therefore no need to provide evidence to back it up. You claimed Hossa can't hit the net and show a vid of Hank passing to Dats from last season.

One thing I have to say is that Hank's abilities as a playmaker seem to be underrated here.. the guy can pass the puck.It's not his fault that Hossa is hitting everything except the back of the net on his passes.

Maybe you misunderstood me, I worded my post wrong. The vid was related to the first part of my post and a response to people saying that Zetterberg is mainly a goalscorer and needs a playmaker on his line.

No need to get so agitated, I wasn't really attacking Hossa to be honest. I definitely exaggerated a bit in my first post, he has missed a couple of great opportunities but he's not the only one who has, Z himself has had some great chances without getting the puck in the net.

I think Hossa is playing great hockey and he does have a lot of goals and points, so I'm not at all dissatisified with his performance so far, it's just that him and Z seem to have this string of bad luck right now that makes it really hard for either of them to get the puck in the net, no matter how hard they try.

Even on Hossa's last goal he didn't really touch the puck as far as I could see, and it should have gone to Lids.

But obviously Hossa seems to be a bit of a touchy subject for you, so I'm sorry if I "offended" you or anything.

[Opie 308]

I wasn't offended I simply replied to the inaccurate statement you made about Hossa missing the net. But if you want to prove me wrong since he seems to hit everything but the net I will wait for you stats or vids to prove the point. If you weren't trying to say that Hossa is not able to score (which I backed up with stats) then why say it. If that was your point you are wrong and I will prove it. However it wasn't your point as you stated above, so why say it????

I think Z and Hossa are very comparable players, both top 10 in the league, both top 10 defensive forwards, Hossa is a little more physical and has a slightly better wrister imo, while Z appears to be the better leader and a more team dedicated guy.

So either you want me to only read half of your posts (which leads to more confusion) or you posted something that you didn't really mean.

Either way no skin off of my back, I will debate the topic with you if that is your stance if not, you should be a little more careful with your posts. Saying a guy that is 21 and 21 hits everything but the back of the net is a little odd to say when you don't mean it. Dontcha think.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I just said I exaggerated about him hitting "everything but the back of the net"... my mistake, I'll try to choose my words more carefully in the future. I guess the language barrier doesn't help either.

What I probably should have said was "it's not his fault his teammates hits everyhing but the back of the net" but when I wrote that, Hossa's miss, on what you call "not an open net" but to me is as open as a net can get, against Dallas was still fresh in my mind.

It's at 2:40 in this vid btw. Yeah, Turco has his stick there but it's still amazing that it doesn't go in.

All I'm trying to say is that there have been a few situations like that with Zetterberg involved and if a couple would have gone in than we wouldn't have all this discussion about something being wrong with Hank this season.

Hossa is most definitely able to score, but in my honest opinion, with the amount of chances he's had I think he could have had atleast 4-5 goals more than he has. And that isn't really a knock on him, he's just had a little bad luck with bounces and played against some amazing goaltenders. He'll start pouring in goals again sooner or later I'm sure.

And I never said anything about Hossa being a worse player than Z so I don't know why you start with that whole argument.

I personally think Z is the slightly better overall player, but they both have their strenghts and as you say they're both among the best forwards in the league.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

My question is, how is Zetterberg's current performance going to affect his contract negotiations that are bound to start very soon, if they haven't already. In all fairness, they can't pay him more than Datsyuk, but his market value is obviously more. What a dilemma for Holland.

Yes they can.

We're talking about pro sports contracts, not two kids splitting a cookie.