Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Sedin are two of the top centers in the NHL, and would be vital to any fantasy owners’ success. All forwards are the main source for a team’s offensive stats, but centers are also responsible for faceoffs which shouldn’t be over looked.
Henrik Sedin is one of the top centers in the NHL. He is usually one of the top contenders for scoring title who brought home the Art Ross Trophy and the Hart Trophy in 2010. Sedin has the advantage of playing on the same line with his twin brother, which gives him a scoring partner with unbelievable chemistry.
Sedin is not the only center with a full trophy case. Datsyuk is a three time Selke Trophy winner and more importantly a four time Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.
Pavel Datsyuk is one of the most talented stick handlers in the league, and his abilities allow him to create chances and score goals that others can’t. Last season Datsyuk was great all year, but ended up being sidelined to have a voluntary knee procedure done.
If both Sedin and Datsyuk are able to play a full 82 game season Datsyuk should be the player with the higher point’s total. Datsyuk will have more points, but if you are a fantasy owner who wants to have a center who will put up huge assist numbers then Sedin is the better choice.
In fantasy hockey centers are the only position responsible for the faceoffs. Other players do get a chance to take some when a player gets tossed from the circle, but centers will be the ones to put up the majority of faceoffs for any team. In a season where Datsyuk played twelve games less than Sedin, he still managed to win fifty more faceoffs than Sedin. Datsyuk has more wins because his faceoff percentage is 56.2% while Sedin is only at a 50.1%.
With most top players the differences in fantasy hockey are pretty small. Every team will have top level players who put up huge stats and Datsyuk and Sedin are a perfect example. The only thing that could make one player a bad choice over the other would be if one player suffered a massive injury that forced them out for an extended time. Since it is impossible to predict season ending injuries, there isn’t really a clear choice.
When push comes to shove and a fantasy owner is picking a center and choosing between Sedin and Datsyuk, Pavel Datsyuk is the one they should choose. Sedin is a proven player and is very similar to Datsyuk, but Datsyuk has some small things that make him the better choice. Datsyuk is heading into the new season with a fresh knee and will give any fantasy owner a great season.