I've decided-Datsyuk for Captain

[HankthaTank 1,100]

Z has been more productive in the playoffs (on the stat sheet) and has won a conn smythe

Yeah, I am not going to get in a flame war and attempt to say Hank is head and shoulders above but what was the point of the 'on the stat sheet' addition?? Hank has been one of the best playoff performers in the league in the last 5 years and well when does hockey matter most to this and any organization??

Sidestepping the playoff stats for any kind of gain in your argument is kind of funny imo. It is an unmistakably important aspect to this. Either way, I don't care, I love both players and both are a joy to watch. We are all lucky.

Edited March 1, 2011 by HankthaTank

[Barrie 900]

Nothing against Dats, but Z is the future captain. All the reasons have been stated already, so I won't go over them again.

[rbkhockey43 52]

The one argument I would raise to counter yours would be that when Dats wants someone to help him in an interview/post game presser he leans on Z. Z does a lot more than what we see on the ice.

Lol at :55

[Mabuhay Red Wings 177]

Zetterberg singlehandedly handed the most hated player of LGW his own ass.

There should be no question who should get it here.

Psh. I don’t think he did anything out of the ordinary besides what any other guy would do on a 5-on-3.

[atodaso 279]

For the second time in this thread, show me proof.

i can't show you proof. i'm sure you've watched a lot of wings hockey so i don't understand how you can think otherwise. even if you think Z is as fast as pavel, you can't tell me you think Z is as good of a skater as pavel.

While Pavel is one of the best defenders in the world, he's won those Selke's over Z because the committee seems to put a premium on takeaways. Z consistently gets the tougher defensive assignments from Babs.

those assignments you speak of are only during home games, and some of that may have something to do with the fact that pavel is put out there against the other teams' better defensive forwards due to his superior offensive skills. match-ups aren't all about defence.

and i could ask you to show me proof here. you'll probably mention crosby in the finals. do you honestly think pavel can't handle crosby?

Haha! Really? Are seriously using this in your argument?

why not? the award is for sportsmanship combined with a high standard of playing ability. someone that wins this award shouldn't be laughed at just because there is a 'lady' in the name of the award.

So what you're saying is that Z is more effective in the playoffs which is the first priority in Detroit. Gotcha!

Sidenote: You can't remove stats from part of his playoff career to make a case for someone. You don't see me removing certain stats from Z that were less than Pavs'.

ok. i'll give you that. maybe i shouldn't have removed the pre-lockout years to make my point. all i was trying to say was that recently pavel has been putting up points in the playoffs. however, i never meant to imply, by statistics, that Z is more effective that pavel in the playoffs. that's why you have to watch the game to see who is playing well. for example, homer is very effective on most nights but he only puts up 35-40 points per year. another example is rafalski's +/- this season compared to lids'

Yeah, I am not going to get in a flame war and attempt to say Hank is head and shoulders above but what was the point of the 'on the stat sheet' addition?? Hank has been one of the best playoff performers in the league in the last 5 years and well when does hockey matter most to this and any organization??

what i meant by "on the stat sheet" is that judging a player's worth should be done through watching him play, not just looking at how many points he scored. i admit that i have used a lot of statistics to back up some arguments on pavel's behalf but i only did that because i am certain that some of you would ask for 'proof,' which i cannot easily provide. if i say pavel is a better faceoff man, the only way to "prove" it is to state their faceoff statistics.

one final thing i want to say regarding the original topic of this thread: Z would make a better captain not because he is as good of a player as pavel but because of his leadership skills, as well due to the lack of english language skills on pavel's part.

either way, i sometimes just cannot believe that red wings fans, who watch the majority of wings' games (i hope), still do not appreciate how superior pavel datsyuk is to almost every player in the league, in almost every way. that is why i posted in this thread in the first place.

[Electrophile 3,554]

I'm glad you've decided, but the organization has pretty much already decided, and it's Hank's gig to lose. That's not a knock against Pavs at all; he's an amazing player, a tremendous presence, and I feel a legend in the making.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

either way, i sometimes just cannot believe that red wings fans, who watch the majority of wings' games (i hope), still do not appreciate how superior pavel datsyuk is to almost every player in the league, in almost every way. that is why i posted in this thread in the first place.

Correct also. As I said we are all lucky to witness these 2 players and the type of player Pav is just once in a liftetime type player. Again, Pav makes you do this while Hank just does the little things nowadays. Look for the Hank and Pav best 20 goals a member made way back. Hank's deteriorating back is pretty prevalent with how he used to be. Even still Hank does a lot of things most of the playoff only Wings fans wouldn't see. Both great players.

Both great at both ends and both provide that extra element to the Wings that most teams don't have 1 led alone 2 players that can do what they do.

[atodaso 279]

Correct also. As I said we are all lucky to witness these 2 players and the type of player Pav is just once in a liftetime type player. Again, Pav makes you do this while Hank just does the little things nowadays. Look for the Hank and Pav best 20 goals a member made way back. Hank's deteriorating back is pretty prevalent with how he used to be. Even still Hank does a lot of things most of the playoff only Wings fans wouldn't see. Both great players.

Both great at both ends and both provide that extra element to the Wings that most teams don't have 1 led alone 2 players that can do what they do.

i completely agree with what you said here.

it's just that some people will say "pavel and Z are both great, therefore pavel = Z." i don't agree with that, and i am pretty sure you don't either.

edit: however, i wouldn't replace Z on our team with anyone in the league. i just wanted to say this in case someone thought otherwise based on my previous posts where it seemed like i was praising dats and s***ting on Z.

Edited March 2, 2011 by atodaso

[Mabuhay Red Wings 177]

Either one, Hank or Pasha, is fine with me.

[SpIkE 17]

Z will be captain when Lids hangs em up, no doubt about it. Zetterberg is Swedish. Most of the Wings are Swede's. It ends there.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

I wouldn't mind if Pavel gets it.

He's more visible every game than Zetterberg has been. Hasn't taken him long to dominate since coming back from injury either. It's like he never left.

I guess Zetterberg must be doing something in the lockerroom better than Datsyuk is, because he's been all but named as the future captain. I don't think it should be an open and shut case. Maybe they could be co-captains or alternate. I normally don't like that, but in this case it would be fine. They are the Euro twins after all.

Edited March 2, 2011 by GMRwings1983

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

Zetterberg - C

Datsyuk - A

Stuart - A

Rafalski - A

[wings1110 184]

Z just hasnt been all that great.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Who will get an "A" first. Filppula or Franzen? We all know after Lidstrom retires the captaincy will probably look like this:

C/A: Zetterberg

C/A: Datsyuk

A: Rafalski

And my dark horse if the Wings are rotating:

A: Cleary.

According to a statistic I just made up, it's a 75% certainty that Zetterberg will be our next captain.

[WorkingOvertime 536]

Z just hasnt been all that great.

Why does the best player have to be captain? Z is having a good year and I think he should be the next captain. Getting the C is about leadership. None of us know who the lockeroom leaders are. Also, the captain has many media responsibilities that Z seems better prepared for than Dats.

[cupforwings 138]

Who will get an "A" first. Filppula or Franzen? We all know after Lidstrom retires the captaincy will probably look like this:

C/A: Zetterberg

C/A: Datsyuk

A: Rafalski

And my dark horse if the Wings are rotating:

A: Cleary.

According to a statistic I just made up, it's a 75% certainty that Zetterberg will be our next captain.

Honestly, that isn't even a dark horse.... I see Cleary getting the A over Filpula and definitely over Franzen. Franzen is too lazy to be a captain. Lets not forget Helm either.

Probably going to be:

C: Zetterberg

A: Datsyuk

A: Rafalski

A: Kronwall

others:

A: Cleary

[Kira 451]

I can't believe you have turned this into a competition between these two amazing players. It's like comparing apples and oranges. You need to just appreciate them both for what they have and do, and leave it at that.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Honestly, that isn't even a dark horse.... I see Cleary getting the A over Filpula and definitely over Franzen. Franzen is too lazy to be a captain. Lets not forget Helm either.

Probably going to be:

C: Zetterberg

A: Datsyuk

A: Rafalski

A: Kronwall

others:

A: Cleary

How is it "not even a dark horse"? Most people I've seen have been putting Stuart and Kronwall over Cleary, even yourself put Kronwall over Cleary. That's a dark horse.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

All fans should be so lucky to have this kind of problem. My obvious vote is for Zetterberg, but it wouldn't bother me too much if Datsyuk got it. I don't know if it's been mentioned before, but I recall Datsyuk saying that he would like to finish his career in Russia. I don't know if that means after this contract, or if he'd sign on longer. I do know that Zetterberg is going to be here as long as he physically can, and he's a much more "media friendly" player.

I think comparing the skills and stats of both players isn't a true indication of who should be the captain. Each guy is supremely skilled in his own way, and when it comes down to it we're lucky to have both of them.

[wings1110 184]

How is it "not even a dark horse"? Most people I've seen have been putting Stuart and Kronwall over Cleary, even yourself put Kronwall over Cleary. That's a dark horse.

i know multiple people who have been around cleary and said he was a prick.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

i know multiple people who have been around cleary and said he was a prick.

They have been around him eh? Well damn, I don't want him being any type of assistant after this award-winning reporting. Hell, trade him.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

If Lilja was still here, this would all be easily resolved, because he looks like Leonidas from the film 300.

C: Lilja

A: Datsyuk

A: Zetterberg

[eva unit zero 271]

Pavel is just to impish for the C. It would be like giving it to Homer.

Or Draper.

It's not like Hank is some run-of-the-mill forward in his own right. No, he's clearly nowhere near as flashy as Pavel, but Zetterberg is top ten in scoring and I personally believe he doesn't get near enough recognition for the Selke. The best player in the NHL can't escape Henrik's shadow every time they play.

That's because you can never escape your own shadow.

Yes both Hank & Pavs deserve the C. You know how you solve it? Give it to Huds. Happiest...captain...ever...

We would see the clucking turn into a secret on-ice language used for play-calling.

When Lidstrom and Draper's time is up I would personally like to see

Zetterberg "C"

Datsyuk "A"

Rafalski "A"

Holmstrom "A"

any complaints?

Rafalski and Holmstrom are both almost certainly retiring after next year. Which means that this is a setup assuming Draper and Lidstrom call it this summer. I personally would go with this:

C: Zetterberg

A: Datsyuk

A: Kronwall

A: Cleary

Filppula and Stuart are other names I have heard mentioned. Filppula is an interesting one; I wonder at his chances of getting a letter simply because he's a forward and Z and Dats already have them. Stuart could be argued to replace Kronwall in my list, but I would rather charge Kronwall with leadership and say "It's your ship on defense, make it work." to Kronwall because I doubt Holland wants to keep Stuart at that price or higher, but most teams pay a premium to pick up a veteran all-around defenseman. Campbell's contract is proof of that.

zetterberg can't be 'just as good' as datsyuk since datsyuk is the best player in the world. i mean, i love Z but no one can seriously argue he is a better player (or just as good) than pavel.

Datsyuk is great, but Zetterberg is the better player. Dats is flashy and gets more attention from fans and media, but Z is the more versatile player and is capable of filling any role. Z is the one who can completely neutralize any player in the league, including Pavel. Dats is a great player, but he needs to be put in that position of scoring center for his game to thrive while the other team tries to stop him, and he prevents their offensive attempts against his line. Z's play, on the other hand, thrives no matter where you put him. You could tell him to shadow Crosby, and it will turn into Crosby trying to stop Zetterberg.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Brett Lebda should be Captain.

Yeah that's right I said it.

[Datsyerberger 279]

Datsyuk seems like the sort of guy that would both appreciate and play better in a supporting leadership role. He leads by example and is quite humble, but he doesn't have that same force of personality that seems present in guys like Lidstrom or Zetterberg. He's the sort of guy you'd want coaching your kids; he's more of an instructor type than a leader type. I'm sure he'd make a fine leader if necessary, but he always seems the sort to defer when there's someone that he regards as more capable around (such as interviews with Z and him).