pavel datsyuk completely bombing this season

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

I hate to say it, but prior to this season I was thinking Z and D were in the same class as the Big 3. I hate to say it but I think I was wrong. .

Yeah, but Pavel and Hank have already hit their primes as players.

Malkin, Crosby and Ovechkin have yet to hit theirs. It's only natural that they'd eclipse our euro twins so easily. They may have been in their league in the past few years, but now it's not even close.

[Guest mindfly]

why play datsyuk with zetterberg when they doesnt click anymore? I think the team gets more even if they split them

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

why play datsyuk with zetterberg when they doesnt click anymore? I think the team gets more even if they split them

Fillpulla - Datsyuk - Bertuzzi

Cleary - Zetterberg - Eaves

That's how I'd do it.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I hate to say it, but prior to this season I was thinking Z and D were in the same class as the Big 3. I hate to say it but I think I was wrong. .

Have you watched Malkin this year? Joe Thornton, Henrik Sedin, Marian Gaborik, Dany Heatley and others are more deserving of being in the "big 3" than he is this year. And once again, when Malkin is not scoring points is absolutely useless out there.

This thread is full of suck. Datsyuk has underperformed but jesus christ, he's still the most complete player in the league when he wants to be. I've seen it several games this season, how he can completely own every facet of the game (including shutting Ovechkin down). It's just been rare, but that doesn't mean he will never pick it up again and start producing like we know he can. This is the first time in a bunch of years he's really had a long slump, he's been extremely consistant.

[clutchngrab 12]

Its not just Z and D - its the perfect storm of offensive crappiness from our 13 million duo on the back end.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Have you watched Malkin this year? Joe Thornton, Henrik Sedin, Marian Gaborik, Dany Heatley and others are more deserving of being in the "big 3" than he is this year. And once again, when Malkin is not scoring points is absolutely useless out there.

This thread is full of suck. Datsyuk has underperformed but jesus christ, he's still the most complete player in the league when he wants to be. I've seen it several games this season, how he can completely own every facet of the game (including shutting Ovechkin down). It's just been rare, but that doesn't mean he will never pick it up again and start producing like we know he can. This is the first time in a bunch of years he's really had a long slump, he's been extremely consistant.

I think that's the key.

Obviously to say he's bombing is ridiculous. But last season we were putting him as one of the absolute top players in the league, and he was. This season half the time he doesn't look that interested out there.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Its not just Z and D - its the perfect storm of offensive crappiness from our 13 million duo on the back end.

I think part of it with Lids is that this team needed all the help it could get defensively. He's been playing more minutes than last year, which he shouldn't be.

Now that they're getting their act together defensively (relative to a few months ago) and we're getting some guys back, hopefully they'll be able to reduce his minutes and he can put some more effort into offense. With Ericsson back, he's at least got one more defenseman to pitch in on the PK. And he's already looked much better the last couple games. Using his slapper more and getting involved in the offensive zone.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I think that's the key.

Obviously to say he's bombing is ridiculous. But last season we were putting him as one of the absolute top players in the league, and he was. This season half the time he doesn't look that interested out there.

Yes but if we're gonna let half a season decide that Pavel is past his prime, will never reach 95 points again, and is not one of the top players in the league, why not let the same decide that Malkin isn't a top player anymore either?

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Yes but if we're gonna let half a season decide that Pavel is past his prime, will never reach 95 points again, and is not one of the top players in the league, why not let the same decide that Malkin isn't a top player anymore either?

I'm not claiming any of those things, other than he's not playing that well this season. And frankly I'm not really that interested in what Malkin is doing.

[ZataforCaptain 0]

buccigross isn't looking so crazy now, is he?

I say he is, just for thinking someone who is 30 is old. So, yes, he's still crazy. Edited January 17, 2010 by ZataforCaptain

[CopenhagenWing 38]

I think Datsyuk is playing hurt.

If that is the case, there's no way the team can let him sit with the plethora of injuries it has had ever the last couple of months.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I'm not claiming any of those things, other than he's not playing that well this season. And frankly I'm not really that interested in what Malkin is doing.

No but others are claiming those things, along with saying he's not in the same league as the "big 3" (Malkin, Ovie, Crosby).

[VM1138 1,921]

34 points is completely bombing?

oh jeez

For a guy who gets 90-100 points each season? Yes.

[Stiffy 0]

Datysuk gets paid to rack up points. Not play well. Draper and Maltby get paid to play well. Big difference. Would anyone say Heatley or Ovechkin played well if they didn't score any points? No. These high paid forwards get paid to score. Datysuk isn't scoring, and thus, isn't playing well. Doesn't matter if he wins 100% of his draws, and has 5 take aways. Scoring is what matters, and for guys like Datysuk and Zetterberg, if you don't get points, you aren't playing well.

I'm a HUGE Datsyuk fan and he has been my favorite player since his first season, but I have to agree 100%. You don't get 7 million a year to do nothing less than succeed and lead. Datsyuk is not living up to his salary or expectations this season. Excuses are for over protective mothers. He needs to lead by example, now more than ever.

[cmonster 11]

you do realize that Pavel is only about .5 ppg off a 100 pt. pace? Considering how many fewer goals are being scored, I would cut him some slack. He contributes a lot more than points. Down a goal, up a goal, tied late in a game, key powerplay, key penalty kill, he is one of the guys you want on the ice. After Lidstrom, there is nobody else I want on the ice more than Pavs and Z.

[Kwame_Kilpatrick 0]

pavels problems are all mental, i think he is just uncomfortable. hopefully he will overcome these battles and become confident again

[Guest micah]

you do realize that Pavel is only about .5 ppg off a 100 pt. pace?

,

Only? .5ppg off a 100 point/yr pace? s***, I didn't realise it was *that* bad. Especially considering his 20+ minutes TOI/night. He has not turned in the results expected of an offensive superstar, or even an offensive star this year. He has the numbers of an also-ran, of a thouroughly pedestrian 1st or 2nd liner. I expect better of him. Our star forward is 61st in the league in points. The guy who last year people (okay, not savy hockey minds, but LGW homers) said was on par with Crosby and Ovechkin, is 61st in points this year.

[bconnan 0]

This site is really a joke sometimes. Over the last season this team has lost:

Marian Hossa

Jiri Hudler

Mikael Samuelsson

and replaced them with Bertuzzi and Eaves.

Bertuzzi played like garbage for 50% of this year, Williams was irrelevant until he got injured. The only true goal scorer outside of Zetterberg, Franzen, has been injured for the majority of the season. And you are all complaining about our play making center not putting up points?

Id hate to break it to you but hes getting very little help. Lidstrom scoring a goal once every 40 games, Rafalski being a ghost offensively, accounts for $14 million dollars. Franzen, Filppula, Cleary and Williams have all spent significant time on the IR.

And still, people complain.. Its truly amazing. Datsyuk isn't Ovechkin or Kovalchuk, he never will be. Hes a PLAY MAKING CENTER, surrounded by 3rd line players.

Where were these topics last season when Zetterberg finished with 70 points on the season? All of the blame falls on Datsyuk's shoulders, who is probably playing better defensively than he ever has, while Lidstrom, Rafalski and Zetterberg get a pass?

On pace for points this season:

Datsyuk: 59

Zetterberg: 65

Lidstrom: 39

Rafalski: 34

Franzen: 24

Filppula: 32

Kronwall: 34

Bertuzzi: 46

Eaves: 22

Williams: 22

------ 377 points

Last season:

Datsyuk: 97

Zetterberg: 73

Lidstrom: 59

Rafalski: 59

Franzen: 59

Filppula: 40

Kronwall: 51

Hossa: 71

Hudler: 57

Samuelsson: 40

------ 606 points

Apparently if Datsyuk was a true superstar, he would be on pace for 300 points to make up for the loss?

This team is dramatically worse than last season and don't even start by comparing them to teams like San Jose, Washington or Pittsburgh. Heatley/Thornton/Marleau/Blake/Boyle/etc, Ovechkin/Backstrom/Green/Semin/etc, and Crosby/Malkin/Gonchar/etc vs Datsyuk/Zetterberg at 50%/IR/IR/IR/IR.

Pavel may be struggling some what but the passes are there. Lidstom and Rafalski aren't capitalizing and hes playing with Todd Bertuzzi, whom nearly everyone of you thought was washed up completely. Datsyuk isn't exactly in good company.

Its safe to say that a Detroit team hasn't experienced THIS much turnover in one off season in 20 years. And id wager to bet that no Wings team in the last 20 years has been this sparse with talent for such a high payroll.

Edited January 17, 2010 by bconnan

[Nev 1,085]

Only so much can be blamed on the loss of players. For whatever reason his game just doesn't have the same jump this year. The past 5 seasons, whenever he was on the ice he was a human dynamo skating hard with the puck, backchecking ferociously, stickhandling out of the tightest situations - dominating the play whenever he was on the ice. And, contrary to what others are claiming, he WAS one of the big 3 last year. Him having an off year this season, doesn't invalidate the fact that he was one of the 3 best players in the world last season.

This year, its just not there. He could be injured, he could be worn down by the last 3 playoffs, his wife could be unhappy, it could be age. It could be all 4. It could be something else.

However, to completely write the rest of his career off like some on here are is just stupid. Plenty of players have off years throughout their careers. If he scores ~60 points next season and the season after, then OK, his career is on the decline. Right now, its just a down year.

It will be interesting to see how plays at the Olympics mind...

[hoogs 8]

Give him a break, he has to play with Bertuzzi who at best is a 3rd liner.

[Carman 387]

Give him a break, he has to play with Bertuzzi who at best is a 3rd liner.

Give Bertuzzi a break, he's a 3rd liner that has more goals than a 7 million dollar Hart finalist.

[hoogs 8]

Well at leat you admit he is a 3rd liner........his goals are all because of circumstance.

Mickey had a funny quote a few games ago talking about an old time playmaker who said "Take anyone from the stands, park them in front of the net, and I'll get them 20 goals a year" or something really close to that.

He was referring to Datsyuk in that segment, noting how Dats can mezmorize the D and get his linemates open any time he wants to.

[Copenhagen848 58]

This thread is full of suck. Datsyuk has underperformed but jesus christ, he's still the most complete player in the league when he wants to be. I've seen it several games this season, how he can completely own every facet of the game (including shutting Ovechkin down). It's just been rare, but that doesn't mean he will never pick it up again and start producing like we know he can. This is the first time in a bunch of years he's really had a long slump, he's been extremely consistant.

I'm sorry, but he's not being paid MILLIONS a year to play well "when he wants to be". In my opinion, he's been by far the biggest disappointment this year.....there is no justifying his paycheck, unless something major happens in the second half of this season and he decides he wants to pick up his game.

Don't get me wrong, he's not sucking, but he's not earning his paycheck either.

[Carman 387]

Well at leat you admit he is a 3rd liner........his goals are all because of circumstance.

Mickey had a funny quote a few games ago talking about an old time playmaker who said "Take anyone from the stands, park them in front of the net, and I'll get them 20 goals a year" or something really close to that.

He was referring to Datsyuk in that segment, noting how Dats can mezmorize the D and get his linemates open any time he wants to.

Oh well. Bertuzzi is over performing, Datsyuk is underperforming. Datsyuk can and needs to play better.

It's time for our star players to play how we know they can.

[stevkrause 1,247]

this whole thead is hilarious