Last 3 Art Ross winners. You pick Which one.

[Guest NumbaSixty-Six]

No Flames here. Just wanting Red Wing Fans Opinion. I won't argue or anything because everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Pavel Datsyuk this year, the prime of his career probably is the most complete player in the League.

However if you could pick 1 player of the past 3 Art Ross winners to be a Red Wing who would you pick? My only reason for making this post is to see what other fans think, not to try and bash you for whatever decision you pick. Hell, you might rather have 6 other guys before 1 of these players but you could pick out of these 3, who would you pick? I live in Pittsburgh but when I want I would like to think I can be Honest in my assessments of Players

[norrisnick 1]

Ovechkin without even a second's hesitation. The Wings have more than a handful of players that love nothing more than to pass the puck rather than take the shot themselves. A guy who loves to shoot and has a great shot is the easy choice here.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

All three are fantastic players and the Wings would benefit immensely by icing any of them, but I'll have to echo the above and say Ovechkin. The Wings have more than enough playmakers, and don't have bad triggermen either (Franzen, Hossa), but AO takes that to another level.

[Konnan511 1,736]

This one has to be hands down Crosby. With the leadership he would have walked in to, I am 100% sure his demeanor on the ice would be completely different than it is now. I love Ovechkin, like Malkin, and can't stand Crosby; but when we talk about a Red Wing type of player it really is Crosby. Crosby and Malkin are two of the three that plays a smart puck possesion game and Crosby is the only one cabable of winning a Selke of the three. Wings take on players who are unselfish players and play a strong defensive game, the only one who fits that bill is Crosby.

[Datsyerberger 279]

I'mana say Geno, he has the best potential for a complete, two-way game with balanced playmaking, scoring, and physicality. Fits the Wings puck possession mold well.

However, Ovy in a really close second, for the aforementioned reasons in this thread. Just not sure how his defensively.. weak game would fit into the Wings and what sort of changes more defensive play would bring to his game.

[Ruys92 0]

Malkin.

I just feel he would mesh into our system best. He reminds me of Datsyuk, and would likely fit comfortable on the second line with Hossa and Franzen. (ZDH on the first )

I think Ovechkin and Crosby are leaders and captains by their own means.. Detroit's future seems pretty etched out already.

Just my 2c's..

[Dano33 41]

I like Ovechkin more, mostly because of his energy, but i think Malkin will turn out to be the most complete of the three, so i'd go with him.

[thedisappearer 291]

Ovie, barely over Malkin.

[jollymania 162]

If any one of them were to be drafted by the wings they would be much more complete players and besides malkin not as much of "attention grabbing whores", but id say malkin would be the best because he is the biggest, grittiest, and most complete/most red wing like of the 3.

Edited April 30, 2009 by jollymania

[Guest NumbaSixty-Six]

I am only gonna say this.

It really suprises me that so many people picked Ovechkin when in the Capitals system all they do is feed Ovechkin one-timers. The Complete Polar Opposite of Detroit's system.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

It really suprises me that so many people picked Ovechkin when in the Capitals system all they do is feed Ovechkin one-timers.

Worked okay for Brett Hull.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Ovechkin.

A few years ago I would have said Crosby, but Ovechkin has elevated to a higher level in my book.

[norrisnick 1]

I am only gonna say this.

It really suprises me that so many people picked Ovechkin when in the Capitals system all they do is feed Ovechkin one-timers. The Complete Polar Opposite of Detroit's system.

Which is exactly why we need him. At some point in time someone has to take the shot.

Don't forget the added bonus. AO is a righty. Say good-bye to Samuelsson on the PP!

[edicius 3,269]

This one has to be hands down Crosby. With the leadership he would have walked in to, I am 100% sure his demeanor on the ice would be completely different than it is now. I love Ovechkin, like Malkin, and can't stand Crosby; but when we talk about a Red Wing type of player it really is Crosby. Crosby and Malkin are two of the three that plays a smart puck possesion game and Crosby is the only one cabable of winning a Selke of the three. Wings take on players who are unselfish players and play a strong defensive game, the only one who fits that bill is Crosby.

Eh, that's potentially debatable. Remember, Sean Avery used to be a Red Wing and we all know how he turned out.

But my pick's for Ovechkin as well. NN nailed the reason pretty succinctly.

[IILeiBlazeII 15]

Ovie, barely over Malkin.

Same here, for the same reasons norrisnick mentioned. The Great 8 would look mighty fine in a Wings jersey.

[mjlegend 155]

For fun:

The last Art Ross Trophy winner to win the Stanley Cup:

And before that:

I took Ovie for the fact there's no better finisher in the game right now. Yzerman, Lidstrom and Draper would have made sure he would never break out the Sharpies and the pom-poms for a goal celebration in a Wings uniform.

[C-TownWing 0]

This one has to be hands down Crosby. With the leadership he would have walked in to, I am 100% sure his demeanor on the ice would be completely different than it is now. I love Ovechkin, like Malkin, and can't stand Crosby; but when we talk about a Red Wing type of player it really is Crosby. Crosby and Malkin are two of the three that plays a smart puck possesion game and Crosby is the only one cabable of winning a Selke of the three. Wings take on players who are unselfish players and play a strong defensive game, the only one who fits that bill is Crosby.

I voted for Crosby too. Same reasons.

As far as the Ovechkin argument "someone has to take the shots," aren't we the team that leads the league in shots and shot differential basically every year? I'm not saying that there aren't valid reasons for Ovie, there definitely are, but that one strikes me as odd.

[Yzerman191 37]

In my opinion, the player that fits the Red Wings' needs the best is Ovechkin. He's got golden hands and can put the puck in the net better than anyone in the league; pure goal scorers are so hard to find. Defense (the biggest knock on Ovechkin) can be learned, but Ovechkin's ability to put the puck in the net can't.

Out of Crosby and Malkin, I'd choose Malkin. Honestly, I think he's the most talented of the bunch. One surprising statistic that most people don't know is that Datsyuk was second to only one person - Evgeni Malkin - in takeaways. He's got tremendous offensive talent, and he's got the ability to have one of the best two way games in the league. His personality also seems to be in line with most of the Red Wings'; Malkin seems to kind of sit back and quietly lead the league. Improve his defense and faceoff percentage and I'll have no problem calling Malkin the best player in the world.

[Reds4Life 51]

Ovechkin for sure. Malkin is not far behind though.

[RusDRW 155]

I have to say Crosby. To be honest I do think he has the best potential to become two way forward like Zetterberg. Aslo he is better player right now.

PS it was easy choice for me even though I'm russian.

[toby91_ca 620]

Which is exactly why we need him. At some point in time someone has to take the shot.

Don't forget the added bonus. AO is a righty. Say good-bye to Samuelsson on the PP!

While I don't think Ovechkin is the best player, he probably would be the best choice for the Wings based on the teams current needs/wants, which probably makes the thread irrelevent for what the initial poster was looking for. On a different team, you might pick someone different.

Anyway, on the part that I bolded, I think for this to happen, it would be a significant change for Ovechkin, that is not the position he is used to playing.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

In my opinion, the player that fits the Red Wings' needs the best is Ovechkin. He's got golden hands and can put the puck in the net better than anyone in the league; pure goal scorers are so hard to find. Defense (the biggest knock on Ovechkin) can be learned, but Ovechkin's ability to put the puck in the net can't.

Out of Crosby and Malkin, I'd choose Malkin. Honestly, I think he's the most talented of the bunch. One surprising statistic that most people don't know is that Datsyuk was second to only one person - Evgeni Malkin - in takeaways. He's got tremendous offensive talent, and he's got the ability to have one of the best two way games in the league. His personality also seems to be in line with most of the Red Wings'; Malkin seems to kind of sit back and quietly lead the league. Improve his defense and faceoff percentage and I'll have no problem calling Malkin the best player in the world.

Go double check how many give-aways he had.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

While I don't think Ovechkin is the best player, he probably would be the best choice for the Wings based on the teams current needs/wants, which probably makes the thread irrelevent for what the initial poster was looking for. On a different team, you might pick someone different.

Anyway, on the part that I bolded, I think for this to happen, it would be a significant change for Ovechkin, that is not the position he is used to playing.

Really? Because the hardware he's won says otherwise

[Guest NumbaSixty-Six]

Really? Because the hardware he's won says otherwise

Crosby won the same "Hardware".

Malkin Also won the Same "Hardware"

[Guest NumbaSixty-Six]

Go double check how many give-aways he had.

Malkin just turned 22, Ovechkin is about to turn 24. Ovechkin lead trhe League In giveaways and was in the last 50 for takeaways. Malkin was 8th in the league in Giveaways.