PS: Pavel Datsyuk is a playmaker

[Carby 0]

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.

Datsyuk made plays all over the ice tonight, on the defensive end he had two great takeaways during the first five minutes of the game. He was constantly winning draws and setting up his linemates (this includes defensemen).

The mantra that Datsyuk is "snakebitten" is getting old. The Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Hossa line is a collection of spare parts who do not fit with anyone else, all put together. Datsyuk, as proven, can play with anyone on the team besides Hossa. Holmstrom seems to have lost a step or two since last season and Hossa's game of "Chip the puck in, let Thomas chase it down" never works. Datsyuk NEEDS to be the puck carrier on the line he plays on. He is the "go to guy" on the PP when it comes to carrying the puck into the zone unscathed and he also does this perfectly 5 on 5. Hossa relies on dumping the puck in, which isn't Datsyuk's game.

In b4 Norrisnick

In b4 Zetterberg is clutch

In b4 troll

In b4 Hossa scored 40 goals this season

This line combination doesn't work, it hasn't all post season and to continue to blame Datsyuk is insane. Zetterberg looked WORSE while paried with Hossa, hes obviously a hindrance to both players. And strapping Holmstrom to Datsyuk's back doesn't exactly equate to an offensive threat.

Bring up Leino...maybe he could capitalize on the glorious scoring chances.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

So what you're saying is that Datsyuk is your favorite player and you're worried about him? I am too.

When you're the one creating the thread, you're always going to be "in b4" everyone. Keep up the good work.

[Carby 0]

So what you're saying is that Datsyuk is your favorite player and you're worried about him? I am too.

When you're the one creating the thread, you're always going to be "in b4" everyone. Keep up the good work.

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.

Put Datsyuk on a line with Cleary and Franzen and lets see if he still has a handful of points... maybe he'll pickup an empty netter or three

[OsGOD 3]

they should just rest him until the finals... the others are picking up where he is slacking off!

[TheOwl 77]

Hossa thinks he's Ovechkin when he gets the puck, he shoots from everywhere and misses. He's a chucker. Rarely passes, rarely makes a fancy move. He's like an over-paid version of Sammy. BUT at least Sammy can score.

Hossa = 7.45 million dollar chucker

[Guest Shoreline]

The OP is just going over exactly what we saw post game on NBC, so I don't really find it very original since this topic comes right after it. But I guess it's necessary since there are still some who believe Dats is in a slump just because he's not scoring goals on a 'tended net. Once again, most of his talent is being a two way forward, hence why he is up for a ******* Selke. Players are allowed not to be perfect, and indeed they do have slumps. We are talking about humans here, and Dats is very much helping this team win, even though he's not scoring goals.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

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.

Put Datsyuk on a line with Cleary and Franzen and lets see if he still has a handful of points... maybe he'll pickup an empty netter or three

Again, so you clearly have some inferiority thing with Datsyuk right now, which is why you take the potshot at Z?

It's not a question of Zetterberg versus Datsyuk. I know it should be obvious, but they're on the same team. But the Wings Cup chances get a lot better if their regular season MVP gets going.

[Carby 0]

they should just rest him until the finals... the others are picking up where he is slacking off!

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

[Carby 0]

The OP is just going over exactly what we saw post game on NBC, so I don't really find it very original since this topic comes right after it. But I guess it's necessary since there are still some who believe Dats is in a slump just because he's not scoring goals on a 'tended net. Once again, most of his talent is being a two way forward, hence why he is up for a ******* Selke. Players are allowed not to be perfect, and indeed they do have slumps. We are talking about humans here, and Dats is very much helping this team win, even though he's not scoring goals.

I turned off the game after they interviewed Osgood.. and I have been bringing up this argument since the "Datsyuk sucks" threads started appearing after game three in Columbus.

[Guest Shoreline]

I turned off the game after they interviewed Osgood.. and I have been bringing up this argument since the "Datsyuk sucks" threads started appearing after game three in Columbus.

Well, even though I find it a bit re-hashed, it is entirely necessary to bring some logic into the equation. People jumping off the Ozzie/Wings bandwagon during the season needed to be hit over the head with some rationality, and those climbing up Dats' ass need a bit of it too, evidently.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Holland should trade Datsyuk right now. Right in the middle of the playoff run (if that's allowed).

Then he can go back to Russia and get his body back from Igor Grigorenko.

[ComradeWasabi 109]

Saying he's a playmaker is making excuses for him. He had 10 goals in 22 games last playoff run, now he has one goal in what, 12? Not performing like he did last year, simple fact. PS he also had 13 assists last year and has only 3 or 4 now. Any way you slice it, he's not scoring like we're used to. Is he still a great two-way player? Absolutely. Should we panic? Absolutely not.

[norrisnick 1]

Check out Forsberg's career playoff goal numbers. Check out Thornton's numbers.

The elite playoff performers figure it out that being a pure playmaker isn't going to cut it. Pavel has scored 30+ a couple times in the regular season. 1 goal in 12 games isn't going to cut it.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Saying he's a playmaker is making excuses for him. He had 10 goals in 22 games last playoff run, now he has one goal in what, 12? Not performing like he did last year, simple fact. PS he also had 13 assists last year and has only 3 or 4 now. Any way you slice it, he's not scoring like we're used to. Is he still a great two-way player? Absolutely. Should we panic? Absolutely not.

This.

[SoDakWing 8]

Check out Forsberg's career playoff goal numbers. Check out Thornton's numbers.

The elite playoff performers figure it out that being a pure playmaker isn't going to cut it. Pavel has scored 30+ a couple times in the regular season. 1 goal in 12 games isn't going to cut it.

Are the wings still winning?

yeah thats what i thought

[norrisnick 1]

Are the wings still winning?

yeah thats what i thought

One has nothing to do with the other.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Are the wings still winning?

yeah thats what i thought

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.

[SoDakWing 8]

One has nothing to do with the other.

So you saying that 1 goal from him in 12 games isn't getting it done? Why the hell are we winning then? ohhh Ozzie is scoring? or wait the refs are scoring for us... or wait maybe gary bettman paid EA sports to show us these games and it's all just a secret plot to keep us from seeing the truth,... or wait...

wings are winning Pav is playin a two way game, putting pressure on the other team. Thats what we need.

you know it's kinda nice seeing that the wings fans are the only fans in the world that will be pissed off because one guy isn't performing as they want even when the rest of the team is winning. What a world.

[Dabura 12,207]

Hossa thinks he's Ovechkin when he gets the puck, he shoots from everywhere and misses. He's a chucker. Rarely passes, rarely makes a fancy move. He's like an over-paid version of Sammy. BUT at least Sammy can score.

Hossa = 7.45 million dollar chucker

No, seriously, what do you really think of Hossa? Be honest. Don't hold anything back.

[blikst 1]

So you saying that 1 goal from him in 12 games isn't getting it done? Why the hell are we winning then? ohhh Ozzie is scoring? or wait the refs are scoring for us... or wait maybe gary bettman paid EA sports to show us these games and it's all just a secret plot to keep us from seeing the truth,... or wait...

wings are winning Pav is playin a two way game, putting pressure on the other team. Thats what we need.

you know it's kinda nice seeing that the wings fans are the only fans in the world that will be pissed off because one guy isn't performing as they want even when the rest of the team is winning. What a world.

Yeah right, no one would complain if Crosby or Ovie had the same production as Dats even if they where winning...

[Anomalously 0]

Check out Forsberg's career playoff goal numbers. Check out Thornton's numbers.

The elite playoff performers figure it out that being a pure playmaker isn't going to cut it. Pavel has scored 30+ a couple times in the regular season. 1 goal in 12 games isn't going to cut it.

Great example.

[norrisnick 1]

So you saying that 1 goal from him in 12 games isn't getting it done? Why the hell are we winning then? ohhh Ozzie is scoring? or wait the refs are scoring for us... or wait maybe gary bettman paid EA sports to show us these games and it's all just a secret plot to keep us from seeing the truth,... or wait...

wings are winning Pav is playin a two way game, putting pressure on the other team. Thats what we need.

you know it's kinda nice seeing that the wings fans are the only fans in the world that will be pissed off because one guy isn't performing as they want even when the rest of the team is winning. What a world.

He's playing great defensively, what's the other way?

[titanium2 867]

Great example.

But that was the point. A comparison of one good playoff performer to another who hasn't figured it out.

[norrisnick 1]

Great example.

It is. You've got two elite playmakers that have passed their way to scoring titles and Hart trophies.

One figured out that passing the puck alone isn't going to cut it in the playoffs. The other hasn't.

[Anomalously 0]

It is. You've got two elite playmakers that have passed their way to scoring titles and Hart trophies.

One figured out that passing the puck alone isn't going to cut it in the playoffs. The other hasn't.

Ah, ok. There was no word or phrase in there as to say, "as opposed to," "versus," "in contrast," etc., or even numbers to suggest one thing was different to the other, until you mentioned Pavel and his numbers, hence why I thought Thornton was a puzzling example.