Comments on: Kovalchuk says Pavel Datsyuk is the world’s best center

By: hawksandsawx

hawksandsawx — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 03:11:56 +0000

I did grow up playing actually. Toews is a better hockey player than Stamkos. Conn Smythe, best forward at the olympics, best face off man in the league. Its not all about goals. I’d say Datsyuk, Crosby, and Malkin are in a class of their own. Then guys like Giroux and Toews

By: tcclark

tcclark — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 06:15:53 +0000

I’ve been a big Datsyuk fan for a while now, and I’m tempted to agree that he’s the best because of his all around game, but you can’t say that it’s not even close. I understand your mindset that you have to look at the overall game, not just the offensive side, but there are other two-way hockey players that make it a close call. Even if you only consider guys who play both sides of the puck, you can’t tell me it’s not close between Pavel Datsyuk and Claude Giroux. Claude Giroux is a dedicated defensive player and actually played a full minute per game of shorthanded ice time more than Datsyuk. Not saying that he is better defensively than Datsyuk cause he’s not, but I think his offensive advantage makes up for the difference.

By: sdollaoftheyear

sdollaoftheyear — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 06:02:27 +0000

This clearly is an idiotic statement. Crosby missed 101 games over the last 2 seasons. Dude can hardly place his helmet on his head without getting another concussion…

By: sportsfreak13

sportsfreak13 — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 05:03:52 +0000

Still contributed more the having fans vote for their favorite player for the cover. Which seems more silly/meaningless to you?

By: killerpgh

killerpgh — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 01:34:21 +0000

Considering in the ame poll the players vote Crosby as the player they would want to start a fanchise with I think that a lot about who they think the best is. Crosby had over double the votes of the 2nd place guy. http://www.playerspoll.ca/results/20112012-results/teams-player-opinions/which-current-player-would-you-select-to-start-a-franchise

By: jgus93

jgus93 — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 23:55:35 +0000

Teams win games, not individuals. He might have had the game winning goal but the defense and other players helped aid Team Canada to the gold the most, not Sidney Crosby.

By: dangle13x

dangle13x — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:40:05 +0000

What do they know? Crosby is the best because I like penguins.

By: hockeydon10

hockeydon10 — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:14:17 +0000

2012 CBC NHLPA Players’ Poll
Datsyuk tops for:
Smartest Player (45% of respondents placed Datsyuk as their answer)
Most Difficult to Play Against (26%)
Hardest to Take the Puck From (47%)
Goalies Only: Most Difficult to Stop (24%)
Cleanest Player (21%)
Toughest Forward to Play Against (25%)

Also:

By: sportsfreak13

sportsfreak13 — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:59:13 +0000

He scored the game winning goal for gold and finished 3 points behind the conn smythe winner the year they won the cup. His individual success led to team success at the highest level.

By: jgus93

jgus93 — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:29:37 +0000

You can’t really say one player is better than another based on team accomplishments either. Saying a player is better than the other because of a Stanley Cup or Olympic gold is almost as silly as mentioning a video game cover.

By: geo91

geo91 — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:14:11 +0000

The fact that Datsyuk is 34 can also be a knock against him, he’s slowing down and has a lot more wear and tear on him than the younglings. That said Giroux had one breakout season so lets pump the breaks on that one a bit, Crosby has more killer instinct on offense than Datsyuk and is a more consistent finisher but Datsyuk is way better defensively, has a ton of takeaways and its not like he doesn’t score. Right now I’d say he’s the best overall player

By: zetaone

zetaone — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:31:24 +0000

I agree to an extent. Center is such a harder role to play than wing. I don’t know why he doesn’t work on faceoffs more in the off season. Lecavalier takes most of the key draws when they’re both on the ice.

I remember when Crosby first joined the league, he was TERRRRRIBLE at faceoffs. He worked all of that off season, and is now #1 or 2 overall in faceoff wins each year (him and Toews).

By: dangle13x

dangle13x — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:35:53 +0000

Well said zetaone. Still though, 60 goals in a season is going to trump faceoff % and backchecking prowess all day. Just the way of the sportscenter world we live in.

By: dangle13x

dangle13x — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:32:52 +0000

hes from philly of course he is biased. I’m not a fan of either Penn teams, so let me give my objective opinion. Giroux is a great player, extremely talented offensively. Obviously same with Sid, but a superior defender. Both are injury prone (which is not a slight, just a common fact of a violent game). If I could have one or them, my choice would be Crosby. That’s not to say Giroux won’t have a better career. Both are incredible.

By: dangle13x

dangle13x — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:29:15 +0000

right because that is how talent is measured. By video game covers. Seriously, you are scary stupid.

By: dangle13x

dangle13x — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:28:00 +0000

Toews is a stud, but you aruging for him like he’s the greatest in the game just shows how worthless your opinion is, Get it together loser.

By: zetaone

zetaone — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:27:43 +0000

I don’t know how Stamkos enters the discussion of top 5 overall. He’s a goal scorer’s goal scorer, that’s all. He’s terrible at faceoffs, and isn’t the most responsible defensively. Not the hallmarks of a ‘top 5′ center IMO.

By: dangle13x

dangle13x — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:26:41 +0000

you mad because nobody agrees with you? Poor guy, maybe you should try liking your own commnet 30 more times, really sway the numbers. Priceless.

By: dangle13x

dangle13x — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:25:17 +0000

Zero objectivity from the moronic hawks fan. You grow up playing puck? Didn’t think so. Only got into it when the hawks became relevant and the rest of you bandwagon fans jumped on board. Leave the hockey talk to the adults.

By: dangle13x

dangle13x — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:22:38 +0000

Shocker. Pens and Flyers fans getting emotionally unstable?

By: dangle13x

dangle13x — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:21:10 +0000

Right but your comment was injury prone. Just because you made an asinine comment doesn’t mean you can ignore it now and cite age. To even humor the idea that Sid isn’t injury prone is pathetic. I hate Crosby being a Wings fan, but the dude is unbelieveable with the puck. Unfortunately, he is the definition of injury prone.

By: dangle13x

dangle13x — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:18:49 +0000

Right you just lost all credibility. I’ve watched Z and Pav play night in night out since they were 4th liners on the Wings. You are just an ignorant clown that thinks he knows hockey because he played house growing up now plays NHL on his xbox. Clueless.

By: michiganhockey11

michiganhockey11 — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:59:37 +0000

This article is not news to Wings fans…….although even as a Wings fan I would have Crosby, Stamkos and Giroux as my top 4.

By: 13datsyuk13

13datsyuk13 — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:50:25 +0000

Correct, Datsyuk was winning cups when Crosby was still learning to tie his shoes. I think Malkin is a better all around player than Crosby. You guys are getting caught up in your flyer/pens rivalry and are forgetting the topic.

By: hockeyfan28

hockeyfan28 — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:32:50 +0000

Well Giroux is

By: hockeyfan28

hockeyfan28 — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:31:48 +0000

neither one made NHL 13 cover so fans evidentially agree with me

By: hockeyfan28

hockeyfan28 — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:30:47 +0000

Their also not 34

By: travishenryskid

travishenryskid — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:27:48 +0000

A lot of homers in here. If I were to pick them in order for one game (so we can discuss skill, not injuries), it would go:

Crosby
Datsyuk
Malkin
Toews
Giroux
Stamkos

By: sportsfreak13

sportsfreak13 — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:07:42 +0000

So lets recap crosby has olympic gold, stanley cup, hart, art-ross, and other individual awards in his career. Giroux has the cover of EA sports NHL 13. Giroux is older and yet according to you better then crosby. Just process all that for a minute.

By: sportsfreak13

sportsfreak13 — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:04:02 +0000

90 points in 68 games in april, may, and june is a disappearing act? C’mon man.