Datsyuk vs. Thornton

[mack 44]

I stopped looking at your figures when you omitted Thornton's stats from Boston, the team he actually did play for at the beginning of last season.

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

I stopped looking at your figures when you omitted Thornton's stats from Boston, the team he actually did play for at the beginning of last season.

Oh snap

Last two years, corrected:

Thornton: 199 points, 137 games, 1.45 PPG

Thornton Playoffs: 9 points, 18 games

Datsyuk: 140 points.. 130 games 1.07 PPG

Datsyuk Playoffs: 9 points, 17 games

Any updates on Foppa?

[warrior37 0]

i hope the wings trade datsyuk for foppa

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

i hope the wings trade datsyuk for foppa

At this point, Montreal probably leads the way. They have a ton of scoring wingers that will never reach their full potential playing in Montreal's defensive scheme. They need a #1 center, Koivu can barely handle that duty. Im sure they would love to part with Kovalev too, $4.5 mill for the laziest player in the league, what a steal

[Eazy_b97 1]

Thornton Career PPG: .96

Datsyuk Career PPG: .87

Thornton Career Playoff PPG: .59

Datsyuk Career Playoff PPG: .36

Thornton's Career Earnings: $27,161,000

Datsyuk's Career Earnings: $10,625,000

Thornton has been paid three times as much while narrowly staying ahead of Datsyuk in career PPG. The only thing Thornton has going for him is his size, which no one will argue with and his slightly less mediocre playoff PPG.

Thornton doesn't blow Datsyuk out of the water as you seem to be suggesting.

What's career earnings have to do with anything? We're talking about what Datsyuk wanted to be paid. Past contracts don't matter, its not like Datsuk said I get paid less than Thornton so I won't play as well just to prove everyone right. You used being lower paid as a negative towards Zetterberg, but its a positive towards Datsyuk. His career PPG is lower than Thornton and Joe spent more time in the league as a younger player. 2 years in a non-scoring role. Datsyuk never had that issue. Despite that, his career PPG is higher. His play-off PPG is significantly higher as well. There's no reason for Dats to even be mentioned in the same breath as Thornton.

Who is better in the regular season? Thornton

Who is better in the post-season? Thornton

Who is one of the best players in the league? Thornton

Which of the two is the best player on their team? Thornton

Who has an MVP to their name? Thornton

Who has experience as a captain in the NHL? Thornton

Who is younger? Thornton

Which of the two was able to turn their franchise around? Thornton

Datsyuk doesn't have any ground to argue that he is on Thornton's level, he may be somewhat close, but he isn't the face of his franchise and isn't the leader on his team. His on-ice performance is sub-par as is his dressing room impact.

[chippa13 1844]

You:Math::LCHockey:English

The math speaks for itself, I wouldn't waste my time if I wanted to hide Datsyuk's stats. You wanted to use the last two seasons, Thornton and Datsyuk's best seasons to date, PPG wise and I did. The math, which im horrible at apparently, shows Thornton scored a half a point more per game in the regular season and exactly the same amount in the playoffs. Is it that hard to comprehend?

"You see, these go to 11."

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Thornton has a bigger impact on his team but Pavel is more talented. He is helping the Red Wings a bunch right now with Zetterberg.

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

Thornton has a bigger impact on his team but Pavel is more talented. He is helping the Red Wings a bunch right now with Zetterberg.

Eklund's latest E1 rumor is Datsyuk to the Habs. Kovalev and Datsyuk are amazing together but id rather see them both on the Wings

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Wow, who would Montreal gives for Datsyuk?

Thornton has a bigger impact on his team but Pavel is more talented. He is helping the Red Wings a bunch right now with Zetterberg.

Eklund's latest E1 rumor is Datsyuk to the Habs. Kovalev and Datsyuk are amazing together but id rather see them both on the Wings

[dietzie27 0]

How is this argue still going? Thornton has been in the league for 10yrs and Dats 5, but yet you bring up their career earnings? Even Better, you talk about Dats getting 25 mil over 5 years, doesnt that give Datsyuk 35 mil over 10 yrs, as opposed to Joes 27 mil? Ill take more points, a better playmaker, MVP, a true leader and a big body who can throw down if needed over Dats anyday. Sorry it took so long to chime in but I could not take it anymore. How many more catergories does Joe T have to win before you shut the hell up?

[pwrfwd26 0]

Let's get this strait Dat's is good BIG Joe is gr8! End of story.

[Cavs019 710]

Datsyuk and Kovalev would be the biggest disaster since the Flyers, especially when you consider MTL would have to tap into their wealth of blue chip prospects to acquire Datsyuk. Also, why does Eklund still have a job?

[Sticks of Fury 0]

The only way to justify a pay increase for Dats is if he can bring the Cup to Detroit. Otherwise NO JOE money.

[DP_57 1]

Why not, did Joe brought the cup in Boston/SJ. I would not say having the same salary than Joe but not that much less.

[mack 44]

He didn't get them a cup but he's proven himself to be one who can carry a franchise. Datsyuk can't even carry a top line, so in a fair and perfect world he'll make Gomez money.

[pwrfwd26 0]

He didn't get them a cup but he's proven himself to be one who can carry a franchise. Datsyuk can't even carry a top line, so in a fair and perfect world he'll make Gomez money.

well said mack!

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

How can you say he can't carry a top line?

Detroit is first in west as of today's standing with Datsyuk on their top line.

He didn't get them a cup but he's proven himself to be one who can carry a franchise. Datsyuk can't even carry a top line, so in a fair and perfect world he'll make Gomez money.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Exactly, he's on it, but he isn't carrying it. Zetterberg is the star on that line right now.

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

Exactly, he's on it, but he isn't carrying it. Zetterberg is the star on that line right now.

Simply not true, try watching a Wings game. Datsyuk is playing LW/Center.. Zetterberg is playing Center/RW. Its weird, its not your typical line. Datsyuk usually covers like a centerman in the defensive zone but in the offensive zone hes on the left side. This is creating a lot more opportunity for Zetterberg, the center of the line, to skate free and not worry as much about his defensive obligations.

Its pretty obvious that Zetterberg and Datsyuk were playing mediocre without each other, putting them together sparked them both. It was Datsyuk first, who was putting up big point totals, now its Zetterberg. To say its Zetterberg dragging Datsyuk and Holmstrom around is ridiculous. In the last game alone Zetterberg had three goals and 1 assist, Datsyuk had 4 assists.. seems to me that the tandem is working amazingly TOGETHER.

[Cavs019 710]

I didn't know NHL teams played like squirts where everyone sticks to their side of the ice in the offensive zone, as if the red wings are the only team who plays a 2-1-2 cycle doing that.

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

I didn't know NHL teams played like squirts where everyone sticks to their side of the ice in the offensive zone, as if the red wings are the only team who plays a 2-1-2 cycle doing that.

Point being, if you watched Wings games this season and seasons past, Zetterberg is always defense first. Even as a top line center he was always playing defense first and using his wingers more. Now its the opposite, you have Datsyuk picking up the defense and Zetts is free to roam(not float) but hes definitally relaxing his defensive play.

Its obviously benefiting the team and Zetterberg. I know everyone wants to jump on the Z bandwagon because hes had a good year so far but its not just him, the whole top line is amazing. Holmstrom just got resigned to a major contract, 3 years 2.25 Mill a year and Datsyuk will be next.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Good point here, Datsyuk makes everyone around him better because he sees the ice so well...Datsyuk is as valuable to the Wings as Zetterberg.

Exactly, he's on it, but he isn't carrying it. Zetterberg is the star on that line right now.

Simply not true, try watching a Wings game. Datsyuk is playing LW/Center.. Zetterberg is playing Center/RW. Its weird, its not your typical line. Datsyuk usually covers like a centerman in the defensive zone but in the offensive zone hes on the left side. This is creating a lot more opportunity for Zetterberg, the center of the line, to skate free and not worry as much about his defensive obligations.

Its pretty obvious that Zetterberg and Datsyuk were playing mediocre without each other, putting them together sparked them both. It was Datsyuk first, who was putting up big point totals, now its Zetterberg. To say its Zetterberg dragging Datsyuk and Holmstrom around is ridiculous. In the last game alone Zetterberg had three goals and 1 assist, Datsyuk had 4 assists.. seems to me that the tandem is working amazingly TOGETHER.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Simply not true, try watching a Wings game. Datsyuk is playing LW/Center.. Zetterberg is playing Center/RW. Its weird, its not your typical line. Datsyuk usually covers like a centerman in the defensive zone but in the offensive zone hes on the left side. This is creating a lot more opportunity for Zetterberg, the center of the line, to skate free and not worry as much about his defensive obligations.

Its pretty obvious that Zetterberg and Datsyuk were playing mediocre without each other, putting them together sparked them both. It was Datsyuk first, who was putting up big point totals, now its Zetterberg. To say its Zetterberg dragging Datsyuk and Holmstrom around is ridiculous. In the last game alone Zetterberg had three goals and 1 assist, Datsyuk had 4 assists.. seems to me that the tandem is working amazingly TOGETHER.

Try reading what I wrote. I said Datsyuk doesn't carry the line and Zetterberg is the star right now. You just said yourself in your post "it was Datsyuk at first, who was putting up big point totals, now its Zetterberg".

Players like Thornton are always the star of the line from a week to week basis.

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

Simply not true, try watching a Wings game. Datsyuk is playing LW/Center.. Zetterberg is playing Center/RW. Its weird, its not your typical line. Datsyuk usually covers like a centerman in the defensive zone but in the offensive zone hes on the left side. This is creating a lot more opportunity for Zetterberg, the center of the line, to skate free and not worry as much about his defensive obligations.

Its pretty obvious that Zetterberg and Datsyuk were playing mediocre without each other, putting them together sparked them both. It was Datsyuk first, who was putting up big point totals, now its Zetterberg. To say its Zetterberg dragging Datsyuk and Holmstrom around is ridiculous. In the last game alone Zetterberg had three goals and 1 assist, Datsyuk had 4 assists.. seems to me that the tandem is working amazingly TOGETHER.

Try reading what I wrote. I said Datsyuk doesn't carry the line and Zetterberg is the star right now. You just said yourself in your post "it was Datsyuk at first, who was putting up big point totals, now its Zetterberg".

Players like Thornton are always the star of the line from a week to week basis.

Datsyuk put up four points last night as did Zetterberg. They're both playing amazing hockey, Datsyuk stood out more at the begining of the year and now Zetterberg is playing a more offensive role. The Dats-Zetts-Homer line has been together for 26 games this season and Datsyuk has 34 points in those games. Zetterberg 43 points in that same time span.

Datsyuk has 59 points on the season, tied for 24th in the league. Zetterberg has 64 points on the year, tied for 17th. Zetterberg has been on a tear of late but Datsyuk was producing more for 34 games before they were re-united, he was leading the team and his carrying his oh so great line of Williams and Cleary.

If they were reunited earlier in the season this "star" talk wouldn't even be a discussion.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I think you've completely missed my point.