Franzen

[Doc Holiday 0]

...or he could just stay with the Wings and tear it up with two of the best offensive centers in the game.

Offensively, Datsyuk and Zetterberg are not as good as Malkin and Crosby.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Franzen isn't even close to being the most underrated player in the NHL. All of the following players are more underrated than Franzen:

-> Duncan Keith

-> Alexander Semin

-> Jeff Carter

-> Mike Richards

-> Marc Savard

-> Shea Webber

I assure you- after last year no one can say that Franzen is flying under anyone's radar.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Offensively, Datsyuk and Zetterberg are not as good as Malkin and Crosby.

Agreed- I think ARice must have meant that D and Z are the two best all-around centres in the NHL.

[TheOwl 77]

Offensively, Datsyuk and Zetterberg are not as good as Malkin and Crosby.

I disagree, nearly 100% of the ice-team Malkin/Crosby get is even-strength, and on the power-play. Datsyuk and Zetterberg both are put into checking roles when needed, penalty kill, and receive less power-play time, since you got Franzen and Hossa on the next line. Both are way more complete then Malkin and Crosby. And really, Malkin has what, 70 assists? Who scored all those goals? Not Malkin, not Crosby. Malkin and Crosby are extremely over-rated, because the only players who can actually score are on the top-two lines, so whenever Pitts scores a goal, you know Malkin/Crosby is getting an assist.

Franzen though should be kept, and really getting rid of Flipulla is probably not the best idea. Getting rid of Kronwall is a MUCH better idea because Ericcson can take his place instantly. Really, I would be extremely happy if both Stuart and Kronwall got moved so we could keep Sammy, Hudler, Franzen, Leino, Hossa and a decent goalie, perhaps Conklin. Ericcson, Meech or even Kindl can be top 6 D-men.

[Doc Holiday 0]

I disagree, nearly 100% of the ice-team Malkin/Crosby get is even-strength, and on the power-play.

That doesn't negate anything I've said. OFFENSIVELY.

Datsyuk and Zetterberg both are put into checking roles when needed, penalty kill, and receive less power-play time, since you got Franzen and Hossa on the next line. Both are way more complete then Malkin and Crosby.

OFFENSIVELY

And really, Malkin has what, 70 assists? Who scored all those goals? Not Malkin, not Crosby. Malkin and Crosby are extremely over-rated, because the only players who can actually score are on the top-two lines, so whenever Pitts scores a goal, you know Malkin/Crosby is getting an assist.

They are getting an assist because they are great offensive players.

The top two lines are the only ones who score because MALKIN AND CROSBY ARE ON THOSE TWO LINES. Pittsburgh is not deep like Detroit. They have virtually no talent other than those two.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

That doesn't negate anything I've said. OFFENSIVELY.

OFFENSIVELY

They are getting an assist because they are great offensive players.

The top two lines are the only ones who score because MALKIN AND CROSBY ARE ON THOSE TWO LINES. Pittsburgh is not deep like Detroit. They have virtually no talent other than those two.

The current figure for how many points Crosby and Malkin get when on the ice together is about 49% of overall point totals for Malkin, and a little bit higher for Crosby, according to someone else's calculations. They aren't holding down 2 separate lines all night long.

[ComradeWasabi 109]

The current figure for how many points Crosby and Malkin get when on the ice together is about 49% of overall point totals for Malkin, and a little bit higher for Crosby, according to someone else's calculations. They aren't holding down 2 separate lines all night long.

As I recall, Pav and Z have had themselves quite a few points while together.

Both are productive when playing with other linemates (Pavel especially) but they are probably moreso together. The same can be said for Malkin and Crosby.

Offensively, I don't think there's any question that Malkin and Crosby have the ability to put up more points because they get more ice time in more offensive situations and neither are committed to defense. If Pav and Z weren't defensively responsible and played comparable minutes I think they could put up similar numbers to Malkin and Crosby.

Until that happens, Malkin and Crosby are the superior offensive players simply because that's all they need to focus on.

Edited March 27, 2009 by ComradeWasabi

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Until that happens, Malkin and Crosby are the superior offensive players simply because that's all they need to focus on.

I disagree strongly there. Malkin and Crosby are better offensive players than Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Superior implies they're leaps and bounds over the heads of Dats and Z. You can make the case for that in Zetterberg's case, but certainly not in Datsyuk's case. If you apply the increased ice time Crosby and Malkin get to Datsyuk he's scoring nearly the same points. Earlier in the season someone did the calculations and it put Datsyuk over Malkin if they had equal time on ice and power play time. My point is that they certainly aren't "superior" to Datsyuk. They're putting up better offensive numbers than Dats, for sure, but they're not outclassing him or anything. They're certainly outclassing Zetterberg this season, however. I full expect Z to rebound next season. Lots of players have off years after a cup victory (although the finals losers often have rough years too).

EDIT:

Also I disagree on the "all they need to focus on" part. At the start of this year both Malkin and Crosby were pushed to improve their defensive game and used on the PK. Obviously that plan fell to the wayside to some extent, but they were asked to be more responsible.

Edited March 27, 2009 by Drake_Marcus

[xBrave_Heartx 0]

He'd be amazing if he had a backbone.. played with an edge..