Its time the NHL started touting the amazing season that is defining 2008-2009 for Pavel Datsyuk. And if the powers that be won’t do it... well, we all know who will.
Last night on Puck Bunny Radio, I passionately argued that Pavel Datsyuk is the best player in the league, that he is the most complete player in the league, that he does it all and does it better than anyone else.
Although no one disagreed with me on the show, you all know I like to back my shiksa up. In researching Pasha, I found ample statistical and empirical evidence to support my argument, as well as some surprising opinions from his peers. Hence I bring you “Part один “ of the 2009 campaign:
Pavel Datsyuk: Hart Trophy Front Runner
Arguably the strongest names being tossed about for MVP at this point are Ovechkin, Crosby and Malkin. Marc Savard, Joe Thornton or Patrick Marleau are whispered but their numbers don’t consistently match the elite 4. Because I am not Alpha Dawg Statistician Extraordinaire, LeftWing3Hugger from NHL Connect, I am sticking with the clear front runners and comparing Pavel Datsyuk only to Ovie, Malky and Sid.
BY THE NUMBERS
70 points, +/- of 30, 16 PIM, League leader in takeaways. Pasha undresses more opposing players and goalies with his sick puck handling skills on the ice than Sean Avery undressed models at Fashion Week during his men’s Vogue internship.
Points: Pasha currently ranks 4th in the league in scoring, with 70 points, on a team where he shares ice time with Hank Zetterburg (35th in the league with 49 points) and Marian Hossa (10th in the league with 60 points) (Oh and let’s not forget Jiri Hudler with his 47 points, ranking him 44th in the league.)
With 18 points (6 goals) in his last 12 games, Datsyuk is on pace to become the first Red Wing to hit 100 points since Sergei Fedorov racked up 107 in 95-96.
The only guys beating him in the points categories are Malkin, Ovie and Sid. Only the Wings and the Pens tout two players as top 10 point leaders.
Additionally Pasha has the second highest number of Power Play Goals (10) of these top 4 point leaders and Hart Trophy contenders and only Ovie has more game winners. Pasha and Ovie are tied in second for shorthanded goals (each have 1), with Malkin leading the league (2).
Plus Minus: Pasha sports an incredible +30 rating for the season, with a +15 in his last 12 games. He is second in the league for +/-. Only Blake Wheeler (33) has a better Plus-Minus than Datsyuk (30, Pavel is tied with Krejci). I have argued in previous blogs that the Plus-Minus is, by far, a more important statistic on ice than points scored, so I won’t rehash an old argument here. I will say that the fact that Boston has five guys in the top 10 on the plus minus and 6 in the top 20 represents and helps explain why they are having such an amazing season.
+/- for Ovie, Sid and Malky? They don’t even come close.
Ovie’s +/-is 16
Sid’s +/-is 2
Malkin’s +/- is 15.
In his last 12 games, Pasha’s +/- beats them all, not just for those games, but almost for their entire seasons.
Penalty Minutes: Pasha has only 16 penalty minutes the whole season! (Ovie has 64 PIM; Sid has 65 PIM; Malkin has 54 PIM.) Pasha gets the job done without costing his team.
Statistical Support/Analysis for the 4 front runners. Taking a page from the Reigning Statistical Alpha Dog Extraordinaire at NHL Connect: LeftWing3Hugger (without whose fearless example, I would never attempt the following), I offer the chart below and some pretty colors to highlight my argument points:
Red= 1st
Blue = 2nd
Yellow= 3rd
Green=4th
This chart sets out the stats I have relied in this blog. Perhaps there are some additional statistical categories you will find more compelling than the ones I have relied on. By all means, let me know what you think and why.
As you can see, Pasha and Malkin tie for the most first place rankings (Red). However, Evgeni Malkin appears slightly more consistent with more 1st and 2nd place results. A strong argument can be made that Malkin is truly consistently solid in every area. Truth is these two players should be the front runners.
I, of course, watch nearly every game Datsyuk plays in and see how his numbers translate into skill on the ice. I think Pasha takes the edge away from Malkin based on the intangibles.
THE INTANGIBLES
Datsyuk’s numbers clearly represent a player who is more than a sniper, more than a two way forward- He is the total package. He scores, assists, when he is on the ice good things happen and when he hits, keeps it clean. Datsyuk, makes his teammates better.
Doin’ It Clean: Just how does Pasha achieve such amazing numbers? Pure speed and the sickest puck handling skills from here to Moscow. He isn’t often lauded enough for his incredible speed, but if he steals the takeaway or makes a breakaway, there really aren’t many in the league who can catch him. He makes opposing players look like they are standing still. Nothing dirty- in fact to those people who notice that Datsyuk has a solid forecheck, well apparently he knows how to do it clean, with the following amazing ranking : 510th in the league for total season penalty minutes.
Need to see it to understand what I’m talking about? Watch Pasha “Smear the Grier”, long before my brother ever coined the phrase:
Marian Hossa had this to say about Pasha’s defensive-offense prowess: "When he comes into a situation where you think he's going to get hammered or hit ugly, all the sudden he's like the 'Terminator,' when he goes through the glass, just moves through people,'' Hossa said. "Just unbelievable how he (maintains) the puck and goes like nothing happened. Not many players can do that.''
Datsyukian Dekes
Pavel Datsyuk isn’t just a bunch of pretty numbers, his puck handling and deft scoring skills are unequaled. I had the pleasure of sitting at the Ducks goal end last month about 17 rows up, where I was blown away watching a play break with Datsyuk on the puck. Here is what Pasha brings to the game every night:
Pasha Makes his Teammates Better
Both Pasha and Zetter asked to play center this year, a departure from previous years, having the effect of breaking the Eurotwins up. Recently and hopefully for the playoffs, Coach Babcock will keep D and Z together, because when the do play together, such as in the last 7 games Pasha has five goals and nine points, while Zetterberg has been nailing it with three goals and six points.
Let’s face it, despite Malkin having a slight edge number-wise, they are not translating into helping his team make it to the off-season. And this is where I argue the Plus-Minus is so important. On ice, even when he is not scoring, Datsyuk makes his team better. That is why he should have the edge over Malkin.
Still not buying it? How about taking someone else’s word for it? Someone, who perhaps has recently (say, in Spring of 08) been on both sides of a Pasha jockstrap lynching and who has worked with Pasha, Malkin and Sid.
Marian Hossa Sings Datsyuk’s Praises
“Hoss” had this to say about Pasha in interview last week (with one of my favorite sports writers, Dave Waddell, of the Windsor Star):
"I can't think of somebody who is a more complete (player) than Pavel," said Hossa.
"I think he's the best all-around player in the world right now.” (THIS from the guy who has played with Malkin, Crosby and Pasha.)
“To tell you the truth I don't know why he isn't mentioned more in the league, Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin, he's right there. I don't know why people think (he's not a candidate for the Hart Trophy)."
And it isn’t just “Hoss”- Babs and Nic Lidstrom both have recently reiterated Hossa’s sentiments about Pasha.
And let's not forget Dr. Ramani..
There you have it Hockey Fans- He has the numbers, the peer recognition, the intangibles, he makes his team better. He is the complete package. Everything you could want in an MVP.
So why isn’t he getting the attention and kudos he deserves from the rest of the league?
Datsyuk for Hart. The campaign begins…
Ed Note: Yes, Yes I know the MVP award is traditionally given to the player who has the most points or stands out and make his team best, while the best all around player in the League gets the Peterson- I argue pasha deserves both, and sincethis is a Valentine's blog, the hart works better for the metaphor. I mean who wants "Peterson Day card"???Anyway you look at it, Pavel has the elite talent, numbers, skills and brings the same contribution to his team to warrant winning either award.
Originally Posted on Monday February 16, 2009 @ 05:48 PM EST at http://fans.nhl.com/members/JuiceinLA/boards/28598
Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved. No use or reproduction without the express written permission of the author.
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