Can't get an argument out of me.
Marian Hossa used to watch Pavel Datsyuk on TV, occasionally catching his latest highlight pass or goal. Now that they're teammates, Hossa is seeing those moves on a regular basis, and the experience has left him starstruck.
"He is using his head really good with his body and his hands, and when he comes in a situation where you think he is going to get hit ugly, most times he is like the Terminator when he goes through the glass," Hossa said. "He just moves through people. It's just unbelievable to see from some situations how he gets the puck on his stick and goes like nothing happened. That's what makes him a really special player because not many players can do that."
The Red Wings take a five-game winning streak into tonight's game against Minnesota at Joe Louis Arena thanks in no small part to Datsyuk, who has five goals, five assists and a plus-8 during the stretch. For four of those games, he has been linemates with Henrik Zetterberg and Dan Cleary.
"Pavel always gets better as the year goes on," coach Mike Babcock said. "He's usually his best at playoff time. He's just so good with the puck, so responsible defensively, and yet he can be such a physical player at the same time. I think that's one of the things that's underrated about him, is how physical he can be. Him and Z got magic together, obviously, we all know that, and I think they play better together probably than they do apart. But Pavel, he's got it going right now."
Datsyuk's 68 points trail only NHL scoring leader Evgeni Malkin (80 points), Sidney Crosby (72) and Alex Ovechkin (70). It may be because of a relatively slow start (10 of his 21 multipoint games have come since Jan. 1), but Datsyuk isn't drawing the same attention as those three as a contender for the Hart Trophy as regular-season MVP.
"I don't know why he doesn't have that recognition, but lots of players know he is right there with Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin," Hossa said. "People think he is not fast, but he is sneaky-fast. He can shoot the puck as well as he can pass. I think he is the best all-around player in the world right now."
Having spent his NHL career in the Eastern Conference until this season, Hossa found out there was a lot he didn't know about Datsyuk.
"I was surprised by his English -- it's not that great," Hossa said, laughing. Overall, though, it's the hockey talent that's dazzled.
"Sometimes when I'm watching TV, I see Pavel making all the moves, and you know how good he is," he said. "But when you see him every day, he is even better than you thought."
Marian Hossa used to watch Pavel Datsyuk on TV, occasionally catching his latest highlight pass or goal. Now that they're teammates, Hossa is seeing those moves on a regular basis, and the experience has left him starstruck.
"He is using his head really good with his body and his hands, and when he comes in a situation where you think he is going to get hit ugly, most times he is like the Terminator when he goes through the glass," Hossa said. "He just moves through people. It's just unbelievable to see from some situations how he gets the puck on his stick and goes like nothing happened. That's what makes him a really special player because not many players can do that."
The Red Wings take a five-game winning streak into tonight's game against Minnesota at Joe Louis Arena thanks in no small part to Datsyuk, who has five goals, five assists and a plus-8 during the stretch. For four of those games, he has been linemates with Henrik Zetterberg and Dan Cleary.
"Pavel always gets better as the year goes on," coach Mike Babcock said. "He's usually his best at playoff time. He's just so good with the puck, so responsible defensively, and yet he can be such a physical player at the same time. I think that's one of the things that's underrated about him, is how physical he can be. Him and Z got magic together, obviously, we all know that, and I think they play better together probably than they do apart. But Pavel, he's got it going right now."
Datsyuk's 68 points trail only NHL scoring leader Evgeni Malkin (80 points), Sidney Crosby (72) and Alex Ovechkin (70). It may be because of a relatively slow start (10 of his 21 multipoint games have come since Jan. 1), but Datsyuk isn't drawing the same attention as those three as a contender for the Hart Trophy as regular-season MVP.
"I don't know why he doesn't have that recognition, but lots of players know he is right there with Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin," Hossa said. "People think he is not fast, but he is sneaky-fast. He can shoot the puck as well as he can pass. I think he is the best all-around player in the world right now."
Having spent his NHL career in the Eastern Conference until this season, Hossa found out there was a lot he didn't know about Datsyuk.
"I was surprised by his English -- it's not that great," Hossa said, laughing. Overall, though, it's the hockey talent that's dazzled.
"Sometimes when I'm watching TV, I see Pavel making all the moves, and you know how good he is," he said. "But when you see him every day, he is even better than you thought."
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