PS: Pavel Datsyuk is a playmaker

[norrisnick 1]

You're forgiven.

[Booster313 138]

I am soooo sick of how spoiled Red Wings fans can be, one minute someone is savior, the next coming of Jesus H Christ and the next minute they are a waste of space on the bench. NO ONE has been immune. Osgood, Hasek, Datyuk, Hossa, Sammy, Cleary, Hudler, even Lidstrom and Yzerman weren't spared this critcism albeit to a lesser extent.

All season long we complained about how poor the Red Wings were playing and yet their dismal season had us sitting second in the West.

We have a great team, we are proving that night in and night out, Pavel and Hossa want to be scoring more than any of us want them to be scoring. Give them a break and credit where credit is due. These are special players and their not as good as their last game, or even their last playoff series...greatness prevails over time.

The track record is there to prove that.

[VM1138 1,921]

Id like to remind everyone of this simple factoid. Pavel Datsyuk is one of the premier playmakers in the league, possibly the best. At the same time, the guys he consistently play with Hossa, Holmstrom, Kronwall, and Stuart couldn't hit the net if their life depended on it.

You're right. Hossa is such a bum. It's not like he could ever carry a team (along with Datsyuk) for a season and help them limp to the playoffs after everyone else on the team took a year off. Bum.

Seriously, the Hossa and Datsyuk hate is mind-boggling. Yeah, they've disappeared. No, I don't have an explanation, but these guys are amazing players and it's easy how quickly everyone forgets. Obviously something bizarre is happenign to have BOTH of them just disappear. Zetterberg, too, until the last couple of games.

Both Hossa and Datsyuk are making things happen. For some reason, their shots aren't going in.

[Kira 451]

I agree. This town has banked on the "what have you done for me lately" attitude for years. Yes, Pasha is not on the scoreboard. But how many of the things he's doing are things that don't show up on the stat sheet at the end of the game? Hits, faceoffs, takeaways...you don't see those things at the end. They don't show up on the stats, but you know they're as important as who puts the puck in the goal. Without those plays, you don't get the goals. Look at how he worked his ass off the other night on that 5-on-3 penalty kill. You could not ask for more. Look at how he sacrificed the body for the goal Sammy scored. And even today, how many times did he go in the corners and muck for the puck and get it away from the Hawks? I stopped counting.

The goals will come if they are meant to. You can't force it. In the meantime, he's going to play with the intensity and the heart and the desire that he would have if he was scoring. So relax...this is no panic time. Chill. If it's meant to happen it will. It's like Pasha said, "You can plan, but God decides."

[grindlinelove 0]

We're getting it done even with Pav in an attrocious scoring drought. That only speaks to our teams DEPTH!! This team is built with the forethought that one player, or even two, can't carry the team in scoring. Franzen, Cleary, Zetter, on and on. Look at the level of play of our Griffins guys, Helm and Ericcsson.

If we keep this up with the rest of the team scoring, and Pav finally opens up, may God have mercy on our opponent....

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I love how players are immune to criticism if they've done something great in the past.

In the playoffs it is "what have you done for me lately?" Because in the playoffs if you don't do something then there is no "lately." This isn't the regular season.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

datsyuk is paid to find a way to get pucks in the net. that's why he makes the big bucks. i don't care what excuses people make for him, if he's not putting up points, he's not doing his job. great players find a way to get it done, and he isn't. 5 points in 12 games is unacceptable from a 97 point player in the regular season. he's lucky as hell the rest of the team has decided to carry him on their backs. on most other teams, a performance like this from your best offensive player would send the team packing.

that said, he had a great defensive showing today.

[norrisnick 1]

Babcock starts out talking about Holmstrom but it's very clear the latter part of his statement is referring to multiple players.

"He's got to find a way to contribute," Babcock said. "When you go through a whole series and you're normally a guy who scores, when it doesn't happen for you, you're fortunate you're on a good team. Some of these guys who haven't scored, if they were on different teams wouldn't be playing in the playoffs anymore.

"In our situation, we have enough depth that other people pick you up. They only pick you up for so long and then you got to do your part, too."

[Jake Ryan 1]

Kenny Holland just announced that they are NOT going to resign Hossa and they're also going to trade Datsyuk. "Samuelsson and Hudler are enough", said the Red Wings general manager. "Pavel can't score in the playoffs and Hossa isn't far behind that. We're sick of it." Holland also noted that they extended Tomas Holmstrom's contract another 8 years at 5 million a season due to his stellar play in the post season.

[Zion 93]

And signed Maxim Afinogenov to play alongside Homer. Awaiting Alexei Yashin's return...

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I love how players are immune to criticism if they've done something great in the past.

In the playoffs it is "what have you done for me lately?" Because in the playoffs if you don't do something then there is no "lately." This isn't the regular season.

Agreed.

And it's not like people are saying trade Datsyuk (though some are just about saying that for homer and hossa). But there's no denying that Datsyuk is not putting points on the board. Yes he's doing a lot of good things, but as a first liner, his job is to score points. It's not crippling the Wings, as they've made it this far. But is sure would be nice if from here forward, he got back on track scoring.

Is that really such an outrageous thing to think of a star player?

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

I agree with one thing....Pasha is have a rough go....and if you think he's perfectly happy not putting the biscuit in the basket, your wrong.

I can't believe your blaming him .. Like he just decided to give it up and let Hudler take over....

NO ONE wants to break this slump more than HE does.....you can see it in his play...... He's trying his ass off...

But he is a guy that gets more attention this time of year...He'll break out..and In a BIG way...Playoffs are only half over....

[Jake Ryan 1]

And signed Maxim Afinogenov to play alongside Homer. Awaiting Alexei Yashin's return...

You didn't hear about Larry Murphy coming back to the Wings, too? Holland is all excited. He's bringing back the clutch guys that the fans really like. They can't skate, but the fans are going to be so happy.

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

You didn't hear about Larry Murphy coming back to the Wings, too? Holland is all excited. He's bringing back the clutch guys that the fans really like. They can't skate, but the fans are going to be so happy.

Only if "Rocket Man"and Ray Sheppard come back too......and DINO gotta have DINO

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

I can't believe your blaming him .. Like he just decided to give it up and let Hudler take over....

NO ONE wants to break this slump more than HE does.....you can see it in his play...... He's trying his ass off...

But he is a guy that gets more attention this time of year...He'll break out..and In a BIG way...Playoffs are only half over....

who should we blame if not him. every star player gets extra attention this time of year. some rise above and establish themselves as somebody the team can count on when it really matters, some crumble...

nobody else is responsible for datsyuk and his production (or lack there of). if he can't respond well to tighter, more physical coverage and find a way to produce anyway, then it makes his hart candidacy almost embarrassing. he was compared this season to malkin, ovechkin, crosby, etc. look at what those guys have done these playoffs. they've led their teams. datsyuk has fallen off the face of the earth. he's one of the most talented players in the nhl, no doubt about it, but there have been concerns about his play in the post season throughout his career. he played well the last two years, so clearly he's capable. but his inconsistency this time of year really brings into question his ability to perform under pressure.

[Kira 451]

You don't think he isn't putting a ton of pressure on himself??? I know damned well he is.

[titanium2 867]

You don't think he isn't putting a ton of pressure on himself??? I know damned well he is.

Without a doubt. I just wish whatever's broken gets fixed quickly. I'm not even sure what it is exactly.

-Homer has lost a step? Or perhaps poor conditioning from all the injuries?

-Hoss doesn't have as much of a tendency to pass the puck back to Pav as Z did?

-Hoss doesn't maintain the puck as well as Z?

-Both Pav and Hoss have the same tendency to stay around the perimeter?

-Both Pav and Hoss want to dominate the puck?

In comparison to ANA, they had a lot more room to create in Game 1 against CHI and they definitely got more scoring chances. Maybe that's as good of a sign we fans can ask for right now.

Edited May 18, 2009 by titanium2

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

In comparison to ANA, they had a lot more room to create in Game 1 against CHI and they definitely got more scoring chances. Maybe that's as good of a sign we fans can ask for right now.

Agreed. There were about six or seven odd man rushes for the Wings in total, and they didn't convert on any of them. The whole team had a hard time finishing, otherwise that game could have gotten out of hand in a hurry in the second.

[Vladiator 116]

Wow, Pasha can't buy a goal right now, an everyone is freaking? Dats has been playing well. It may not show up in the numbers. Chill out.

[Guest MrSandMan]

So... this is a Zetterberg vs Datsyuk thread? Interesting.

I'm just glad we're doing a good job and winning. I don't give a s*** who scores as long as we put the puck in their net more than they put it in our net.

[Datsook 0]

datsyuk is paid to find a way to get pucks in the net. that's why he makes the big bucks. i don't care what excuses people make for him, if he's not putting up points, he's not doing his job. great players find a way to get it done, and he isn't. 5 points in 12 games is unacceptable from a 97 point player in the regular season. he's lucky as hell the rest of the team has decided to carry him on their backs. on most other teams, a performance like this from your best offensive player would send the team packing.

that said, he had a great defensive showing today.

No.

If great players "find a way to get it done" then no team would ever win since their 'great players' would always be finding ways. There always has to be a winner and a loser. There are things that you cannot control.

It's not like he isn't trying - he is and it's obvious on the ice. Some things can't be explained. We only see one side of the story, as fans, which is their play on the ice.

If he was lazy and floating around the ice and not producing well thats one thing; but he is doing EVERYthing right except adding to his point totals.

I'm so sick of people (not necessarily you) who post here about how players are supposed to be so perfect all the time. They are human, they get in ruts, other teams actually shut down your offense - we have to respect that.

I find it interesting how many people try to be Mike Babcock and Kenny Holland on this forum but in reality they would not last one minute in the real hockey world. It's the same people who game in and game out criticize players like drake last year before the playoffs, like ozzy, cleary earlier this year, lilja last year, and now hossa, datsyuk...the list goes on and on.

Sometimes I hope (oh noes! jinx!!) that we have a few years where we get beat BAD and don't make the playoffs - just so some of these "fans" who think they know so much about hockey would just go away. These people are the real bandwagoners.

sorry for the rant.

[titanium2 867]

Agreed. There were about six or seven odd man rushes for the Wings in total, and they didn't convert on any of them. The whole team had a hard time finishing, otherwise that game could have gotten out of hand in a hurry in the second.

Interesting. Maybe the Wings didn't convert because they were a little shocked on how much space they had as a side effect of their series against ANA. They had more space and just didn't know what to do with it; didn't use it as effectively as they could.

In addition to that, there's no way that was the Hawks' best game. They will be immensely better for Game 2, which perhaps means that the Wings won't have as much room. So all in all the Wings don't have to adjust all that much, other than giveaways.

[Datsook 0]

Interesting. Maybe the Wings didn't convert because they were a little shocked on how much space they had as a side effect of their series against ANA. They had more space and just didn't know what to do with it; didn't use it as effectively as they could.

In addition to that, there's no way that was the Hawks' best game. They will be immensely better for Game 2, which perhaps means that the Wings won't have as much room. So all in all the Wings don't have to adjust all that much, other than giveaways.

Agreed also. Chicago will turn up the heat in game 2 but I don't feel it will be enough as Pavel will miraculously be cured from this slump and get me thinking Arby's

[Phazon 24]

datsuyk is the greatest player ever, he can absolutely do no wrong.

[Stiffy 0]

What I am saying is that Pavel Datsyuk isn't Alexander Ovechkin. The best comparison is Sidney Crosby but Crosby has wingers that actually fit his needs. Holmstrom is a fourth liner and Hossa is a puckhog in the truest sense of the word.

I could not agree more. Hossa seems to have no interest in making his line work and instead is trying to be a single handed scoring machine who is failing miserably. I can't count how many times he took some low percentage shot while Datsyuk was relatively open. I can't count how many times he took the puck in and held on to it while Datsyuk was there as well, and then had it poke checked away. Meanwhile Homer is a joke these days. He can't even take the puck in- and you might ask why the hell is he even trying? He is doing nothing and even Babcock said in the press the other day that on other teams most guys playing like he did wouldn't even be on the bench. Given that comment why the hell did we seem him playing so much with Datsyuk yesterday? That we can win a 7 game series with this ill advised lines is amazing. Probably part of the problem in really recognizing and adjusting.

As for Dats, he continues to try and make plays to these guys. Yesterday he was almost like the shy timid pass pass pass Pavel of old. That needs to go away. Instead of passing so often or fail with his amazing wrister (I love that shot of his) I'd like to see him just go balls out into the net a few times. Even if there are two guys there he can make things happen like nobody else.

Edited May 18, 2009 by Stiffy