Pavel Datsyuk: Professional Playoff Goat

[rcTycoon 0]

Its that time of the year, its 2006 all over again. Datsyuk plays well but the team fails and somehow it falls on his shoulders.

Hossa has been a GHOST. He scored his first goal of the series, obviously disallowed, from 2 inches away from a gaping net. The Datsyuk line is terrible and instead of pinning it on the 100 point, premier playmaking, Hart candidate perhaps you guys should take a look at his linemates for a moment.

Thomas Holmstrom

Pros:

- Screens the goaltender, best in the game.

- Deflects shots.

- Never gives up on a battle for the puck in front of the net.

Cons:

- Has AHL skating speed.

- Cannot score unless hes within five feet of the crease.

- Passing is subpar

- Cycling the puck really isn't part of his game.

Marian Hossa

Pros:

- Killer one timer and wrist shot

- Blazing speed

- Relies on a puck control game

- Backchecks well

Cons:

- As soon as he receives a pass he chips it into the zone, which is the worst thing to do on a line with Datsyuk.

- Lost in his own zone, relies on his linemates to feed him the puck.

- Can make great passes but looks to shoot 99.99% of the time.

Now lets review Datsyuk....

Pros:

- Two time Selke winner(most likely).

- Best faceoff man on the team in the offensive zone.

- Makes passes that most can't replicate

- Has a deceptive shot

- Can beat 5 guys if he chooses to.

- Hart Candidate

- Has shown that he can work on a line with ANYONE on this team EXCEPT Hossa.

Cons:

- Hes a playmaker, even though most fans act as if he needs to be Ovechkin.

- Playing with a pure Sniper in the mold of Hossa leaves him looking like a rookie all over again, always looking to pass.

Its pretty simple really, Hossa is destroying Datsyuk's game, the game we all love. Saying that Zetterberg's line is doing better is ridiculous. Datsyuk's line is facing a pure shutdown line and Anahiems top defensive pairing. Zetterberg's line is facing Anahiem's top offensive line and getting hemmed into their own zone everytime Perry-Getzlaf-Ryan gets possession.

The fact that people are including Datsyuk's name in the same sentence as Hossa is embarassing. Hossa has been a ghost, Datsyuk was our best player in the Columbus series.

[Reds4Life 51]

Yeah Hossa and Datsyuk suck together, and Hossa - Zetterberg is even worse combo.

Babcock better does something because Wings' top forwards aren't producing at all. Sticking with the same lines and saying it will work out is stupid.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I agree with most of the OP, especially that Hossa's tendency to dump the puck into the zone is completely the opposite of what you should do on Datsyuk's line.

Datsyuk started looking really good in the 3rd period of tonights game, and he doesn't really need good linemates to dominate a game. But I'd love to see him back with Z. Right now I feel like we need a top line that can really dominate, that can give us sustained pressure in the offensive zone shift after shift. Spreading the wealth is great, but against this Ducks team we might have to load up a bit more on one line.

[pavyaz19 1]

I agree with a lot of the OP's statements. I really like Hossa and I want him to stay, but I think it may be necessary to put Pavel and Hank back on the same line because we need some damn offence. Putting Val, Hoss, and Franzen on the second line is not a backbreaker whatsoever.

[pavyaz19 1]

hey Dat's Sick... jinx.

actually, you beat me to it. I'll concede... however, I'm pretty sure the referee blew the whistle before you hit "Add Reply" and therefore, I win and you lose even though you really should have won.

[Dabura 12,232]

I wasn't happy to see ZDH broken up in the first place, so I'd have no problem seeing it reunited. Bump Hossa down with Mule and Hudler.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Maybe Joe Thornton has possessed his soul, so that he can have another crack at the Ducks.

[Dabura 12,232]

Also, Hossa has NOT been a "ghost."

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

so dats having hossa on his line is hindrance? datsyuk's production these playoffs is inexcusable. there's no excuse, especially that he's playing with hossa. if we lose this series, datsyuk will shoulder a ton of the blame. your leading scorer putting up three points in seven games in the playoffs ain't gonna cut it. he's looking more and more like he can't handle the pressure. he looks like he did in '06 and before. trying to do everything himself, turning the puck over because he's trying to beat everybody on the ducks team. he's not a threat. i don't care how good the shut down line is on the ducks. it's no excuse.

if your best player isn't your best player, he deserves most of the blame for the loss. datsyuk hasn't been close to our best player this series or most of last series. he is choking, plain and simple.

[#19forPresident! 1]

I agree he's been invisible of late.

Not to play devil's advocate, but I wouldn't be surprised if it comes out later that he's dealing with some kind of a nagging injury. Not enough to bench but just enough to gimp him.

Hard to believe he's playing like this while in good health, but not impossible.

[TheOwl 77]

Also, Hossa has NOT been a "ghost."

Yes he has. He's the top payed forward, and has 2 goals in 7 games. He has one job, score. If you can call shutting down Getzlaf his other job, he's failed that too.

Chances are meaningless. He's been a ghost, simple as that. No debate.

[Reds4Life 51]

so dats having hossa on his line is hindrance? datsyuk's production these playoffs is inexcusable. there's no excuse, especially that he's playing with hossa. if we lose this series, datsyuk will shoulder a ton of the blame. your leading scorer putting up three points in seven games in the playoffs ain't gonna cut it. he's looking more and more like he can't handle the pressure. he looks like he did in '06 and before. trying to do everything himself, turning the puck over because he's trying to beat everybody on the ducks team. he's not a threat. i don't care how good the shut down line is on the ducks. it's no excuse.

if your best player isn't your best player, he deserves most of the blame for the loss. datsyuk hasn't been close to our best player this series or most of last series. he is choking, plain and simple.

Really? So why does he play much better withou Hossa? Did you even watch the game?

Hossa has totally different style, just doesn't work with Datsyuk.

[titanium2 867]

Yeah Hossa and Datsyuk suck together, and Hossa - Zetterberg is even worse combo.

The Hoss-Z combo sucked during the regular season while the Hoss-Pav was good during the regular season. Maybe the Hoss-Z combo is different during the playoffs.

[Dabura 12,232]

Yes he has. He's the top payed forward, and has 2 goals in 7 games. He has one job, score. If you can call shutting down Getzlaf his other job, he's failed that too.

Chances are meaningless. He's been a ghost, simple as that. No debate.

He's generally been pretty solid for us. I agree that he needs to convert and earn his paycheck in that respect. But to say he's been completely invisible is wrong.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

Really? So why does he play much better withou Hossa? Did you even watch the game?

Hossa has totally different style, just doesn't work with Datsyuk.

who says he plays much better without hossa. he scored plenty with hossa on his line in the regular season. he's not getting it done now. i don't care if he's hurt, everybody is hurt. he needs to buck up and start leading this team. right now he might as well be on the fourth line.

[rcTycoon 0]

so dats having hossa on his line is hindrance? datsyuk's production these playoffs is inexcusable. there's no excuse, especially that he's playing with hossa. if we lose this series, datsyuk will shoulder a ton of the blame. your leading scorer putting up three points in seven games in the playoffs ain't gonna cut it. he's looking more and more like he can't handle the pressure. he looks like he did in '06 and before. trying to do everything himself, turning the puck over because he's trying to beat everybody on the ducks team. he's not a threat. i don't care how good the shut down line is on the ducks. it's no excuse.

if your best player isn't your best player, he deserves most of the blame for the loss. datsyuk hasn't been close to our best player this series or most of last series. he is choking, plain and simple.

I posted this in another thread but it applies here perfectly also:

Homer has more respondsibility than just standing in front of the goalie, you need to possess the puck before you just stand infront of the net aimlessly. The main problem with the Hossa line is Hossa. Im a guy who is obsessed with Datsyuk, ive watched every single one of his games in the NHL, sometimes I think I only watch Wings games to watch him and not the team, regardless, I know how he plays and his tendencies.

For anyone doubting Datsyuk, watch our PP during the next game. Watch Lidstrom lead the puck up the ice and pass it to Datsyuk to enter the zone. Do you understand how valuable it is to enter the zone unmolested and pass it off to a teammate as oppossed to dumping the puck up the boards to a Norris caliber defenseman waiting to blast it back up the same boards?

Watch highlights of Datsyuk play, he thrives on gaining the zone as fast as possible, getting to the goal line and stopping on a dime and either looking for the cross crease pass or passing it back to an open defenseman. That is Datsyuk's game in a nutshell.

Datsyuk, defensively persues the puck in the neutral zone and his own zone. He doesn't stand around waiting for a loose puck(Hossa) or a pass from his teammate. You'll find him most of the time behind Osgood playing the role of a third defenseman, either stripping the puck and getting it out of the zone or passing it to an open and flat footed Hossa. Hossa, after receiving the pass skates up the boards through the neutral zone and than dumps the puck in, expecting Homer to be the second coming of Pavel Bure and retrieve the puck from two Anahiem defenseman.

Of course, the 5% of the time Hossa doesn't chip the puck in, he does attempt to carry it into the zone like Datsyuk but he generally loses the puck. The entire act of Hossa playing "Dump and chase" hockey is what kills the line, whether its Datsyuk or Zetterberg.

Hossa doesn't fit this team and even if they cleared enough space for him to stay it would have to be on the third line because he clearly doesn't fit with either Zetterberg or Datsyuk. Cup or not, say goodbye to Hossa.

Start watching the games and stop paying attention to stats. Datsyuk has no choice but to try and beat four guys, he can't rely on his linemates and he has a true shutdown line on his ass.

[TheOwl 77]

Weren't we all calling the Franzen-Dats-Homer line the best in the regular season? The Wings are weak 5 on 5, simple as that. Top to bottom. It's not that Homer is ineffective. Homer has been doing exactly what's he's been doing all season, this game, and nearly every game of his career. That's what he does. It works, it works when the shooters actually get a decent shot. Hossa and Datysuk aren't getting the puck in the net, even strength, or powerplay. That's the fact here boys. The line isn't working. Maybe it's Hossa, maybe it's Datysuk. The only way to know is, stick Hossa on a different line.

[Dabura 12,232]

Hossa doesn't fit this team

I heard he's secretly a Nazi too.

[pavyaz19 1]

so dats having hossa on his line is hindrance? datsyuk's production these playoffs is inexcusable. there's no excuse, especially that he's playing with hossa. if we lose this series, datsyuk will shoulder a ton of the blame. your leading scorer putting up three points in seven games in the playoffs ain't gonna cut it. he's looking more and more like he can't handle the pressure. he looks like he did in '06 and before. trying to do everything himself, turning the puck over because he's trying to beat everybody on the ducks team. he's not a threat. i don't care how good the shut down line is on the ducks. it's no excuse.

if your best player isn't your best player, he deserves most of the blame for the loss. datsyuk hasn't been close to our best player this series or most of last series. he is choking, plain and simple.

thanks for putting "plain and simple" in there in bold... you really are einstein and we're all retards.

[rcTycoon 0]

Weren't we all calling the Franzen-Dats-Homer line the best in the regular season? The Wings are weak 5 on 5, simple as that. Top to bottom. It's not that Homer is ineffective. Homer has been doing exactly what's he's been doing all season, this game, and nearly every game of his career. That's what he does. It works, it works when the shooters actually get a decent shot. Hossa and Datysuk aren't getting the puck in the net, even strength, or powerplay. That's the fact here boys. The line isn't working. Maybe it's Hossa, maybe it's Datysuk. The only way to know is, stick Hossa on a different line.

The jury isn't out on this case... The facts are simple:

Datsyuk produced a nearly 100 point season playing on a variety of lines, with and without Hossa.

Zetterberg struggled the entire time he was on a line with Hossa, which is why he didn't even manage a point per game all season.

Reverse roles, put Zetterberg and Datsyuk together and everyone would be asking were Z is.

Hossa is absolutely bringing Datsyuk's game down as he did with Zetterberg's earlier in the season.

I favor bringing back the D-Z-H line or moving Helm up with Datsyuk and Hossa down with Flip and Hudler.

Will any of this happen? Yes, with five minutes remaining in game six when we're down 4-0 facing elimination. The ol' Mike Babcock special.

[pavyaz19 1]

Weren't we all calling the Franzen-Dats-Homer line the best in the regular season? The Wings are weak 5 on 5, simple as that. Top to bottom. It's not that Homer is ineffective. Homer has been doing exactly what's he's been doing all season, this game, and nearly every game of his career. That's what he does. It works, it works when the shooters actually get a decent shot. Hossa and Datysuk aren't getting the puck in the net, even strength, or powerplay. That's the fact here boys. The line isn't working. Maybe it's Hossa, maybe it's Datysuk. The only way to know is, stick Hossa on a different line.

say simple as that one more time... i can't get it enough. we're all dumb! we need you to put it simply for us!

[rcTycoon 0]

I heard he's secretly a Nazi too.

Blonde hair and blue eyes...

But really you're just saying this because you have no defense. Quite frankly Hossa hasn't played up to standards all season. 40 goals 72 points, playing with Pavel Datsyuk and being the highest paid player on the team?

Hossa has been a disappointment all season. And lets not even bring up his so called Selke caliber defense....

[Outsider 42]

Also, Hossa has NOT been a "ghost."

Dabura, I'm gonna disagree.

I'm gonna disagree so loudly that they'll probably hear me all the way in Detroit.

Again....

Whatever they were showing on TELEVISION, was NOT was I was seeing on the ice.

I had my eyes GLUED to #81, waiting, hoping, PRAYING, for the spark.

It never came. In fact, I watched him, literally, turn away from chasing the puck down on COUNTLESS occasions, when the puck was a mere 10-15 feet away from him and he was the ONLY player close to it, and skate back to the bench.

It was HEART WRENCHING!

God! I am so ANGRY right now!

[Dabura 12,232]

But really you're just saying this because you have no defense.

No, I'm saying it because I think singling out any one payer who isn't named Chris Chelios is ridiculous at this point in time.

I don't care about the regular season, it means nothing. So you can throw out all of your arguments pertaining to it. As for the only season that matters, the postseason, I like what Hossa has brought to the table overall. Is his point production (or lack thereof) unacceptable? Yes. So's Dats'. So's Hanks'. I could find fault with everyone on the roster.

But I'm not so narrow minded that I'm gonna sit here and say, "NO POINTS = NO WORTH." Gimme a break. Hossa's hustle is outstanding. He creates chances. He backchecks like a madman. For being a soft Euro, he's had a pretty strong physical presence.

It's unfortunate that he doesn't quite seem to "click" with Dats in the way that Z does. But I'm not gonna call for him to be burned at the stake for it.

Edited May 6, 2009 by Dabura

[Outsider 42]

Blonde hair and blue eyes...

But really you're just saying this because you have no defense. Quite frankly Hossa hasn't played up to standards all season. 40 goals 72 points, playing with Pavel Datsyuk and being the highest paid player on the team?

Hossa has been a disappointment all season. And lets not even bring up his so called Selke caliber defense....

Just so were 100% clear.....

Lids is the highest paid player on the Team.