PS: Pavel Datsyuk is a playmaker

[dicksmack 33]

I think around the time the Regular Season hardware nominations started rolling in, he hasn't been himself offensively. No other elite scorer would even get a sniff at a Selke award so he's pretty much the only one in his category. Perhaps he's got a defense-first mindset going on...in addition to being in a slump offensively. It doesn't help that his linemate is slumping too. When Hossa struggles, he's strictly a perimeter player. Pav doesn't seem to be hanging on to puck right up to the net like he does when he's confident. Since the team is unstoppable when all cylingers are firing, it behooves Babcock to hook Pav up with somebody like Franzen if only to jump start him and then re-assemble the lines he likes. If Babcock weren't coaching, I'd say it also behooves Pav to maybe cheat a little and go for the offense! Nobody backchecks better than Datsyuk but chill out Mr. Responsible and go for it until you're rolling again! If he doesn't get going offensively, Babcock could just hand over most of the defensive responsbility to Pav, he's better at it anyway.

Datsyuk gets paid the big bucks to help his team win, and that's what he's been doing.

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Selke caliber defense... check

Faceoff specialist... check

Best passer on the team... check

Has more hits this playoff run than Zetterberg has in his career... check

slack slack slack

Registered yestereday. Hmmmm Carby = Jake Ryan??

[Kira 451]

I don't know, six shots yesterday and four hits? Doesn't exactly sound like slacking off to me.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

PS: Pavel Datsyuk isn't a Hart finalist because of backchecking and throwing hits.

[Chris L 0]

I don't like seeing Dats with Hossa because they seem to have zero chemistry together. Dats makes almost anybody great on the ice, except Hossa, weird. They both see the ice too diferently and that combo is bad.

As for Homer, I don't know what's up with him. He seems to be not his normal self. A bit slow to get the puck, sometimes confused where the action is, getting pushed out of the crease easily. I dunno what's up with him, I can't figure it out. Maybe an injury? He doesn't seem to get in the corners and dig out the pucks like he used to. The Demolition Man seems to have put his wrecking ball away.

[Guest micah]

How awesome is this team?

Our two best scoring forward are in an offensive slump and can't seem to buy a point, and we're still the best team in the league.

there is no excuse for Datsyuk not putting up some points if Wings fans want to point to him as one of the league's premier forwards. I don't think he is. The league's best are Ovy, Crosby, mayby Gets - guys that will play against the other team's best and still take over the game. Dats is 2nd rate. So is Hossa. So is Zetterberg. Big deal. That isn't a dig really. None of them deserve serious consideration when talking about the game's very best forwards. Even though they are not the best, they're all in the top 5%, and that's pretty amazing, especially since their on the same team as the league's best (maybe former best, but still top 3, easily) DMan. this team has depth depth depth. The wings are SO good, that their best players don't even have to show up, and they're still the league's best team.

Dats and Hossa really oughta start picking it up and scoring as they're expected to, but even if they don't, the Wings will be fine.

[Jake Ryan 1]

Registered yestereday. Hmmmm Carby = Jake Ryan??

I am not cool enough to think of "Carby" as a name. OH MY. There's more than one person in the world who thinks that Datsyuk's scoring problems are more NINETY-SUX related than Pavel Datsyuk related?!! Imagine that. All of the newspapers are saying it. The coach is moving the lines around because of it. A lot of letsgowings members are coming around to it. Are you going to keep your head in the sand or pull it out? It's not rocket surgery.

[Jake Ryan 1]

I don't like seeing Dats with Hossa because they seem to have zero chemistry together. Dats makes almost anybody great on the ice, except Hossa, weird. They both see the ice too diferently and that combo is bad.

As for Homer, I don't know what's up with him. He seems to be not his normal self. A bit slow to get the puck, sometimes confused where the action is, getting pushed out of the crease easily. I dunno what's up with him, I can't figure it out. Maybe an injury? He doesn't seem to get in the corners and dig out the pucks like he used to. The Demolition Man seems to have put his wrecking ball away.

Watch the first goal yesterday. Find Holmstrom. I'll give you a hint. He's waiting for the outlet pass at the blue line instead of helping his defensemen. You can see him in the background 60 ft away from the net along the boards. Johan Franzen got caught flat footed as well, because he thought the defense had position and control, but Holmstrom ALWAYS skates blue line to blue line. Datsyuk and Hossa skate goal line to goal line. They play the whole ice surface like MOST of the Red Wings. The worst thing about Holmstrom right now is that he's not even banging in pucks on the PP. That's his only job and the only real skill he brings to the team. I hope he retires gracefully at the end of next season and the Wings don't have to send him packing. It's time to start looking for his replacement.

[Hossa7.4 0]

Selke caliber defense... check

Faceoff specialist... check

Best passer on the team... check

Has more hits this playoff run than Zetterberg has in his career... check

slack slack slack

better takeaway ratio ... check

isn't injury prone.... check

better stickhandler...check

can play with anyone and make them better ... check

isn't swedish... a crime with the homers here on lgw.com/swedesruleandarentgreedylikerussians.html

[Jake Ryan 1]

better takeaway ratio ... check

isn't injury prone.... check

better stickhandler...check

can play with anyone and make them better ... check

isn't swedish... a crime with the homers here on lgw.com/swedesruleandarentgreedylikerussians.html

EXACTLY. What's wrong with saying Pavel is doing a great job playing like Dallas Drake played last year? The Wings are outscoring their opponents 45-26 right now in the playoffs. Pavel and Hossa play a great two way game that pressures the opponent at both ends of the rink. If they don't score goals and the other Red Wings do, it's ok. It's not like they're going to put an asterix on Hossa and Datsyuk's name when they do the Stanley Cup imprinting. *Did Not Score Like He Should. Would it be nice if Pavel and Hossa were getting better bounces and making the score 7-2 instead of 5-2? Yah, it probably would. Is it more important that they stick to their defensive assignments and play physical? Yah, for sure it is.

[chuklz 15]

If our top line played better, we wouldn't have to eke out a 7 game series against Anaheim.

There's no reason to make these series' any harder than they need to be. If Datsyuk and Hossa were producing half as well as they did in the regular season, we would have beaten the Ducks in 5.

If the refs would have called fair games it would have been Wings in 5 against the Ducks. Its pretty much that simple.

As far as dats is concerned he was mugged for 7 games, it was always 2 on 1 and he still had amazing shots on goal. Hiller is damn fine goal tender who had his number.

[soonboomer 31]

I guess winning isn't enough. Some of you kids might think about waiting either Hossa or Datsyuk actually cost the Wings a game instead of posting this crap after a dominant 5-2 win. It all fits together. The Wings did shut down the Kane line....ever think that some of these guys lack of offense might be due to the fact that defense takes a little work too? As for the Ducks, as I've said before, they probably are the worst matchup in the league for the Wings. We're gonna walk through Chicago to the SCF (even in spite of the "slackers" Datsyuk and Hossa).

GO WINGS!!

[Jake Ryan 1]

I guess winning isn't enough. Some of you kids might think about waiting either Hossa or Datsyuk actually cost the Wings a game instead of posting this crap after a dominant 5-2 win. It all fits together. The Wings did shut down the Kane line....ever think that some of these guys lack of offense might be due to the fact that defense takes a little work too? As for the Ducks, as I've said before, they probably are the worst matchup in the league for the Wings. We're gonna walk through Chicago to the SCF (even in spite of the "slackers" Datsyuk and Hossa).

GO WINGS!!

This pretty much sums it all up. Datsyuk and Hossa are playing great TEAM hockey. And the TEAM is winning.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

better takeaway ratio ... check

isn't injury prone.... check

better stickhandler...check

can play with anyone and make them better ... check

isn't swedish... a crime with the homers here on lgw.com/swedesruleandarentgreedylikerussians.html

Really? It seems to me like Datsyuk hasn't made Hossa better. Then again it's probably all Hossa's fault right?

[titanium2 867]

Really? It seems to me like Datsyuk hasn't made Hossa better. Then again it's probably all Hossa's fault right?

Well, if you had to pick one to be more at fault than the other, then yeah, that would be Hossa.

It's annoying when Pav and sometimes Homer battle for the puck in their own zone and then pass it on to Hossa only for him to wrister one into the glass or just plain throw it away. It's even more aggravating when you consider that he's tied for being the highest paid player on the team.

Maybe his subconscious wants him to damage his own playoff stats so that it'll be easier for him to take a ridiculously low salary cap hit.

[OsGOD 3]

EXACTLY. What's wrong with saying Pavel is doing a great job playing like Dallas Drake played last year?

Cap space wasted on an overpriced Drake....

we could have 6 or 7 Sir Dallas' on the team for the price we are paying Dats

Edited May 18, 2009 by OsGOD

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

This pretty much sums it all up. Datsyuk and Hossa are playing great TEAM hockey. And the TEAM is winning.

What if the team stops winning?

It's not crazy or pathetic to state that if the team starts struggling and Dats and Hossa don't step up *offensively*, alot of the blame can and should fall on their shoulders. No one is knocking their defensive play, but on top of that these guys are here to score. If the Wings' depth all of a sudden starts struggling, Dats and Hossa will need to do their job on the scoreboard. Thus far, they haven't.

[Jake Ryan 1]

What if the team stops winning?

It's not crazy or pathetic to state that if the team starts struggling and Dats and Hossa don't step up *offensively*, alot of the blame can and should fall on their shoulders. No one is knocking their defensive play, but on top of that these guys are here to score. If the Wings' depth all of a sudden starts struggling, Dats and Hossa will need to do their job on the scoreboard. Thus far, they haven't.

Again, if Darren Helm is the other winger on that line, and Datsyuk and Hossa still struggle, I will concede this argument. But Tomas Holmstrom is THE reason that line has sucked as of late. That line needs one player who can force the opposition to back off of Datsyuk and Hossa. It's easy to shadow Datsyuk and Hossa because Holmstrom is ALWAYS behind and can't create pressure on his own. Why is this so difficult for fans to comprehend? The HHO is tough to get rid of, I guess. "What am I going to be able to do if I can't yell "Homer" all the time in the playoffs?" Answer - The same thing you've done the last 8 games, and the same thing you'll do EVERY time we play a team that marks our best players. The press is starting to realize that Holmstrom is the poison that's holding Datsyuk and Hossa back. The announcers have also mentioned it. When are you going to believe it? Stop denying the truth and ditch the HHO.

[Guest micah]

EXACTLY. What's wrong with saying Pavel is doing a great job playing like Dallas Drake played last year?

LOL! Totally! There's nothing at all wrong with Dats - he's just playing like a journeyman utility 4th liner preparing for retirement and making 1/2 million$/yr.

[Guest micah]

Again, if Darren Helm is the other winger on that line, and Datsyuk and Hossa still struggle, I will concede this argument.

The best players in the league will still score even with subpar linemates. The fact is, people are making exscuses for the lack of production of Dats and Thornton this playoffs, but nobody has to make excuses for Crosby, Ovechkin or Getslaf. Those guys are the best forwards in the league right now. Dats is in the company of the also-rans. He's very good. Very very good - but his name should not be mentioned with the best until he gets his act together and starts producing again.

And yes, I am fully aware that Dats is still in the playoffs (and will probably hoist the cup again in a few weeks) and Ovechkin and Getslaf aren't/won't. Datsyuk has the luxury of playing on a team with crazy depth that can win without his help - not so for the Ducks or the Caps.

Tghe WIng's best forward so far this postseason has been Franzen by a mile. Then who, Clearly? Samuealsson? Filpula? Zetterberg? Dats has not performed like an elite forward in this league. He's either underperforming, or he isn't an elite forward in this league.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Again, if Darren Helm is the other winger on that line, and Datsyuk and Hossa still struggle, I will concede this argument. But Tomas Holmstrom is THE reason that line has sucked as of late. That line needs one player who can force the opposition to back off of Datsyuk and Hossa. It's easy to shadow Datsyuk and Hossa because Holmstrom is ALWAYS behind and can't create pressure on his own. Why is this so difficult for fans to comprehend? The HHO is tough to get rid of, I guess. "What am I going to be able to do if I can't yell "Homer" all the time in the playoffs?" Answer - The same thing you've done the last 8 games, and the same thing you'll do EVERY time we play a team that marks our best players. The press is starting to realize that Holmstrom is the poison that's holding Datsyuk and Hossa back. The announcers have also mentioned it. When are you going to believe it? Stop denying the truth and ditch the HHO.

Seriously? You honestly believe two of the best forwards in the world are being shut down because of the third guy on their line? Not to mention the fact that Homer is planting his ass where he has his entire career....in front of the goalie. That's always going to take up one defenseman meaning these guys aren't getting double-teamed. Homer is forcing the opposition to single-cover them and they still aren't finding the back of the net.

Has Homer had a terrible postseason: Without a doubt. Is he the reason Dats and Hossa are as well: No way. If those two can't be difference makers playing on the same line with a pylon on the right wing, I question the need for their $14 million total salaries.

[dicksmack 33]

The best players in the league will still score even with subpar linemates. The fact is, people are making exscuses for the lack of production of Dats and Thornton this playoffs, but nobody has to make excuses for Crosby, Ovechkin or Getslaf. Those guys are the best forwards in the league right now. Dats is in the company of the also-rans. He's very good. Very very good - but his name should not be mentioned with the best until he gets his act together and starts producing again.

And yes, I am fully aware that Dats is still in the playoffs (and will probably hoist the cup again in a few weeks) and Ovechkin and Getslaf aren't/won't. Datsyuk has the luxury of playing on a team with crazy depth that can win without his help - not so for the Ducks or the Caps.

Tghe WIng's best forward so far this postseason has been Franzen by a mile. Then who, Clearly? Samuealsson? Filpula? Zetterberg? Dats has not performed like an elite forward in this league. He's either underperforming, or he isn't an elite forward in this league.

Franzen is the greatest playoff goal scorer in recent NHL history.

If some of the other elite forwards played for the Wings, their one-way play wouldn't be tolerated.

[norrisnick 1]

I guess winning isn't enough. Some of you kids might think about waiting either Hossa or Datsyuk actually cost the Wings a game instead of posting this crap after a dominant 5-2 win. It all fits together. The Wings did shut down the Kane line....ever think that some of these guys lack of offense might be due to the fact that defense takes a little work too? As for the Ducks, as I've said before, they probably are the worst matchup in the league for the Wings. We're gonna walk through Chicago to the SCF (even in spite of the "slackers" Datsyuk and Hossa).

GO WINGS!!

But which line shut them down? The fact that Kane and Toes were both -3 on the day should give you a hint.

[Hossa7.4 0]

What if the team stops winning?

It's not crazy or pathetic to state that if the team starts struggling and Dats and Hossa don't step up *offensively*, alot of the blame can and should fall on their shoulders. No one is knocking their defensive play, but on top of that these guys are here to score. If the Wings' depth all of a sudden starts struggling, Dats and Hossa will need to do their job on the scoreboard. Thus far, they haven't.

you are a big whiner. but considering you sig I guess that's par for the course.

datsyuk is off the pace for a couple of series with half the playoffs yet to come and listen to all the babies bitching. they come out of the woodwork like roaches.

in the 07 and 08 playoffs zetterberg has scored 2 more points (41-39) more than datsyuk. that's it. these playoffs aren't over.

i wish datsyuk had FOUR empty net goals this year like everyones favorite injury prone swede but he's not been lucky enough for that but I guess thats the measure of outpreforming for alot of bandwagoners.

it's just laughable how much bitterness and spite there is on here for datsyuk, always been that way. greedy russian this and greedy russian that, he's been called that here for 7 years.

[blikst 1]

you are a big whiner. but considering you sig I guess that's par for the course.

datsyuk is off the pace for a couple of series with half the playoffs yet to come and listen to all the babies bitching. they come out of the woodwork like roaches.

in the 07 and 08 playoffs zetterberg has scored 2 more points (41-39) more than datsyuk. that's it. these playoffs aren't over.

i wish datsyuk had FOUR empty net goals this year like everyones favorite injury prone swede but he's not been lucky enough for that but I guess thats the measure of outpreforming for alot of bandwagoners.

it's just laughable how much bitterness and spite there is on here for datsyuk, always been that way. greedy russian this and greedy russian that, he's been called that here for 7 years.

You are taking this way to personal. And also since you seem to think it is necessary to bring down Zetterberg in most of your post to counteract the big "crimes" against Dats, it only hurts the points you are trying to make.

Yes people have complained about Dats unjustly in the past. Does that mean the complaints against him now aren't legit? Calm down.