26 replies to this topic

[crotty99]

per the red wings official twitter feed.

http://twitter.com/#!/DetroitRedWings

Kind of surprising given he missed quite a few games. Hope he wins it. He always deserves it.

[mjlegend]

Nice. Still the best pickpocket in the league and a more complete player than Kesler.


Twitter:

@TheTripleDeke‎ Pavel Datsyuk nominated for the Selke, awarded annually to the NHL's Pavel Datsyuk.

[Reds4Life]

Kesler is gonna win this, but nice to see Pav in the top3 despite his injuries.

[Nevermind]

Was just about to post this.

I hope Datsyuk wins, of course. But I think the voters are going to pick Kesler this year because of his 40 goal season and since Datsyuk's won it the last 3 years.

The trophy is really for 'best defensive forward who is already good offensively or happens to have a breakout year offensively'.

Funny how Kesler's probably going to win it for an improvement in his offense rather than defense.

[HankthaTank]

Nice. Can't imagine him getting it with all the time he missed but great he is a finalist. Shows the recognition is finally there for having been out all those games and still being in the top 3. Also a good read there with the SI article too.

SI article

[nate94gt]

yeah, this is keslers trophy this year, but still good to see him nominated.

[HankthaTank]

Now this said, I realize he has gotten the recognition the past 3 years, but to be a finalist for it this year shows he was definitely going to win this had he played all year. Unreal Pash.

[martyrme19]

I don't know guys - sports writers have been just gaga over Datsyuk in the past month. There are so many articles about how amazing he is and one of the best of all time and this and that. I think that is a pretty fair indication to see how the voters are thinking.
Likewise with Lidstrom this year (a litte bit of a bounceback is all writers needed to showcase him to the public) i.e. his perfect human article on espn. I think its safe to say he's wrapped up the norris.

[Shoreline]

I don't care if Kesler is the front runner, go Pavs!

[Hockey13Playa]

I don't care if Kesler is the front runner, go Pavs!

Amen! The guy is just incredible, I hope he takes it home. GO DATS!

[Esquire]

He claims to have found a silver lining in the broken hand he suffered in December: "When the cast comes off, I ask my doctor, 'Have I recovered so I can play the violin?' The doctor says, 'But of course you can play the violin.' I say, 'Wow, this is great. Before this injury, I could never play violin at all. I must break the other hand so I can play guitar.'

Such a Pav thing to say. I love this man.

[Konnan511]

Purely a reputation nomination. Kesler wins this hands down due to his above average defense and nasty offensive numbers.

[GMRwings1983]

I also think Mr. Overrated will win this, but only because Datsyuk missed so many games.

Too bad, or else he could have tied Bob Gainey with 4 Selkes.

[Mabuhay Red Wings]

He's come a long way.

[Theophany]

Purely a reputation nomination. Kesler wins this hands down due to his above average defense and nasty offensive numbers.

Absolutely.

[GMRwings1983]

Purely a reputation nomination. Kesler wins this hands down due to his above average defense and nasty offensive numbers.

Kesler is not in Datsyuk's league defensively.

He'll win this because he played a full season.

[Konnan511]

Kesler is not in Datsyuk's league defensively.

He'll win this because he played a full season.

I never claimed he was

[eva unit zero]

Was just about to post this.

I hope Datsyuk wins, of course. But I think the voters are going to pick Kesler this year because of his 40 goal season and since Datsyuk's won it the last 3 years.

The trophy is really for 'best defensive forward who is already good offensively or happens to have a breakout year offensively'.

Funny how Kesler's probably going to win it for an improvement in his offense rather than defense.

He scored 2 fewer points; sure he scored more goals but that is because instead of being the playmaker he was the shooter. Still a 70-75 point guy, same as last year.

Nice. Can't imagine him getting it with all the time he missed but great he is a finalist. Shows the recognition is finally there for having been out all those games and still being in the top 3. Also a good read there with the SI article too.

SI article

It's official. Henrik Zetterberg is the most underrated player in the NHL. And Dave Bolland is right behind him. The nominees should have been Kesler, Zetterberg, and Hanzal; Toews is good on D, but Bolland is the lock down guy in Chicago. I was saying it since he went out; if he had not been injured Chicago is a top four seed, possibly division champs, and if he had come back in Game 1 of the playoffs Chicago wins in 5 games.

Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Kesler, Bolland, and Hanzal (who I very much want on the Wings) are IMHO the top five defensive forwards in the league.

Edited by eva unit zero, 28 April 2011 - 11:42 PM.

[HankthaTank]

It's official. Henrik Zetterberg is the most underrated player in the NHL.

Couldn't argue this even if I wanted to. Your font and Hudler obsession still makes me want to attempt it though....

[eva unit zero]

Couldn't argue this even if I wanted to. Your font and Hudler obsession still makes me want to attempt it though....

The question is...does Hank get a second team selection at LW or C, or does he get screwed by playing both positions at an elite level and not having the numbers the Sedins and Stamkos have, or the name recognition of Ovechkin?

It will be interesting. IMHO the Sedins bear the only legit challenge to him at those two positions; they're pretty decent defensively and very good offensively. Big difference is that Z had basically no offensive help; his 21-point lead over Datsyuk tied Buffalo's Thomas Vanek for the largest difference between the top two scorers on a team. I am torn between Z and Kesler for the Selke, because Kesler was absolutely fantastic defensively this season, but I would definitely put Z in my top five for the Hart.

But that's all off topic. So enough of that.