Who would do better with Datsyuk's ice time

[Z and D for the C 712]

Since filppula's return he has been our best forward. He plays hard every night, is excellent defensively and has been contributing to the scoreboard. Since his return he and Datsyuk have the same point totals (and this is after Filppula has missed two months, nearly an entire offseason while Datsyuk was playing the entire time), with Datsyuk having better linemates and more ice time. Datsyuk, while obviously has the skill to put up the points but just never looks into it.

So I ask this question. Obviously Filppula is not better than Datsyuk but he has damn well been playing better than him. In a teams that claims to reward hard work, I think filppula deserves Datsyuk's ice time more than he does.

Edited January 24, 2010 by Z and D for the C

[dat's sick 1,002]

Fil only had a minute less ice-time than Pav tonight. But do you mean that Fil should have all of Pav's ice-time in addition to his own? Which would give him about 36-37 minutes per game? Can't say I believe that would be the best thing to do, but then again I'm not an armchair GM.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

The only reason to do this is to send Datsyuk a message.

Flip isn't good enough to be a top line center on either sided of the ice. Datsyuk is flat out better than him, just not as motivated.

[Z and D for the C 712]

The only reason to do this is to send Datsyuk a message.

Flip isn't good enough to be a top line center on either sided of the ice. Datsyuk is flat out better than him, just not as motivated.

I agree. But a motivated Flip is better than the de-motivated Datsyuk we have right now.

[zettie85 106]

Datsyuk has was not terrible tonight but Z was. Who gets Zetterberg's minutes then.Helm? Fil has looked good but I think taking away minutes from our top players is dumb. He hasn't been bad defencively and I would rather have him out there in most situations then anyone else.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

how does a player turn from one of the best players in the league to a second rate player instantly. it's ridiculous. it's not the talent surrounding him. this started at the end of last year. three games to go in the regular season and he disappeared. he was invisible in the playoffs and he's been invisible all of this season. he needs to get his ******* ass in gear. i'm all for babs demoting dats. send him a message. flip is playing a hell of a lot better. i would love to see flip on the top line in dats' place.

[zettie85 106]

This thread is just a typical "Witch hunt" thread looking to place blame. Sorry guys but Dats didn't lose us the game tonight.

[Z and D for the C 712]

This thread is just a typical "Witch hunt" thread looking to place blame. Sorry guys but Dats didn't lose us the game tonight.

Definitely not saying he did, but he needs to be better.

Edited January 24, 2010 by Z and D for the C

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

This thread is just a typical "Witch hunt" thread looking to place blame. Sorry guys but Dats didn't lose us the game tonight.

I'd say the trouble is he didn't do enough to help win it. Although Hank looks like he's dragging ass big time while Pavel at least has some jump in his skates, not that much comes of it.

Still, cutting the ice time of your best player doesn't really sound like a good way to get him out a funk.

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

Definitely not saying he did, but he needs to be better.

To be fair, Datsyuk isn't the only player that needs to do better.

[Zetts 236]

This thread is just a typical "Witch hunt" thread looking to place blame. Sorry guys but Dats didn't lose us the game tonight.

This is true. It's always ridiculous to look at one game and then point the finger at a single player.

Having said that, if we don't make the playoffs and both Datsyuk and Zetterberg end up under 65 points (which they both will at the current pace) it's largely on their shoulders.

[zettie85 106]

We jump on the players are not doing that great but this team as a whole is not playing great. Fil should not take Dats minutes becasue he has played well for a few games. If his play slips he will be the next one with his own thread. The Bertuzzi sucks thread is a joke now. This season is definitely a bust but it is not becasue of individual players. Points wise Dats get a lot of assists and if nobody can finish his passes it's not his fault. Same goes for goals. When see trys a cross crease pass but gets blocked Dats can't score. This season is a bust from a team perspective. Everybody on the team is playinmg badly for the majority of teh game and it is all relative.

[eva unit zero 271]

Jiri Hudler?

[Zetts 236]

Jiri Hudler?

I think you have the wrong thread. This thread was for who would help us, not who can lose the most puck battles.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I think you have the wrong thread. This thread was for who would help us, not who can lose the most puck battles.

Someday I want to score 57pts and still have people say I don't help the team.

[gcom007 1,465]

This thread is absurd.

[Zetts 236]

Someday I want to score 57pts and still have people say I don't help the team.

It was a joke. I'm aware that he's a Hudler slappy, I was just bugging him.

[gcom007 1,465]

Since filppula's return he has been our best forward. He plays hard every night, is excellent defensively and has been contributing to the scoreboard. Since his return he and Datsyuk have the same point totals (and this is after Filppula has missed two months, nearly an entire offseason while Datsyuk was playing the entire time), with Datsyuk having better linemates and more ice time. Datsyuk, while obviously has the skill to put up the points but just never looks into it.

So I ask this question. Obviously Filppula is not better than Datsyuk but he has damn well been playing better than him. In a teams that claims to reward hard work, I think filppula deserves Datsyuk's ice time more than he does.

This is nothing short of malarky on the grandest of scales.

Can we link to video replays of every point that Datsyuk and Flip has put up in this time frame? I think it'd be a lovely comparison to help us see how a brilliant player at his worst still looks far better than an average player at his supposed best.

This is pure nonsense.

[gcom007 1,465]

Definitely not saying he did, but he needs to be better.

Datsyuk has earned every cent of his money and some from the second he pulled a Wings sweater over his head. He's a proven performer. This is a weak season and he still not playing terrible at all. He's mostly been unlucky, especially lately.

Meanwhile, Flip is still overpaid based on anything he's proven thus far. So I think he needs to do a hell of a lot better than he's doing now to justify his contract which is currently still extravagant based on his performance.

Can we talk about that? Why don't you make a thread about that. After all, even you've admitted that he's overpaid based on what he's done so far in his career. Why aren't we talking about that?

[eva unit zero 271]

It was a joke. I'm aware that he's a Hudler slappy, I was just bugging him.

I was serious. Hudler is certainly a better option than Filppula to take Datsyuk's ice tie, at least in terms of offensive production. And as that's the nature of this thread based on the OP's post, Hudler certainly belongs.

[Guest Crymson]

OMG, OBLIGATORY "WHO DO WE BLAME/WHO NEEDS TO BE TRADED/WHO NEEDS TO BE WAIVED/WHO SUCKS/WHO NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED" WHENEVER WE LOSE THREAD, OMG!

[eva unit zero 271]

OMG, OBLIGATORY "WHO DO WE BLAME/WHO NEEDS TO BE TRADED/WHO NEEDS TO BE WAIVED/WHO SUCKS/WHO NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED" WHENEVER WE LOSE THREAD, OMG!

Clearly, the loss should be blamed on Tim Cheveldae.

[Zetts 236]

I was serious. Hudler is certainly a better option than Filppula to take Datsyuk's ice tie, at least in terms of offensive production. And as that's the nature of this thread based on the OP's post, Hudler certainly belongs.

Oh, I know that you were serious. I meant that my jab at Hudler was a joke.

I disagree with your assessment of Hudler, but there's no point in rehashing an argument that's already been gone through on here plenty of times. Especially since he's in Russia. And this thread is about where Datsyuk's ice time should go amongst the Wings.

For the record, I think that Datsyuk's ice time should stay as time going to Datsyuk. He won't start putting up points from the bench.

It's only Osgood who can affect the outcome of games from the bench, everyone doesn't have that power.

Edited January 24, 2010 by Zetts

[Z and D for the C 712]

I was serious. Hudler is certainly a better option than Filppula to take Datsyuk's ice tie, at least in terms of offensive production. And as that's the nature of this thread based on the OP's post, Hudler certainly belongs.

Hudler is off in Russia. For this threads purposes he may as well not exist.

gcom, if you want to link all the vidoes from each of filppula's and datsyuk's points since Flip has been back, I'd love to watch them.

Leino was benched to send a message because he wasn't putting forth any effort. Why should datsyuk be excused? Flip's play has more than warranted a game playing on the first line and a message needs to be sent. Is it radical? Yes. But more of the same isn't doing anything.

And this has nothing to due with the loss tonight.

Edit: Actually I took a quick look at all of Datsyuk's and Filppula's points since you're so into that stuff, and datsyuk actually has 2 secondary assists to Filppula's 1. OMG!

Listen, you're right. Datsyuk's points have been marginally more "flashy". There is no denying Datsyuk is much more skilled than Filppula but the fact is a point still counts as a point regardless of how hip or cool he looked while doing it, and both Datsyuk and Filppula have the same amount.

Edited January 24, 2010 by Z and D for the C

[Theophany 110]

This is a ridiculously dumb thread.