The most valuable players in the league don’t necessarily take center stage. Pavel Datsyuk certainly collects his share of goals and assists for the Detroit Red Wings, but is known more for his complete style of play. Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks fits the mold of the statistic-laden superstar gaining recognition and acclaim for lighting up the score sheet.
That isn’t to imply that Sedin doesn’t play well at both ends of the ice, it just isn’t necessarily what he is known for. Prior to the season we compared the two high profile centers and gave the nod to the crafty Russian. Let’s take a look in real-time and see who was the best fantasy draft option this year.
We’ll start in the Pacific Northwest with the diminutive twin Sedin. Accompanied by his brother Daniel Sedin, the two have terrorized the NHL winning scoring titles and MVP awards. Henrik Sedin won the scoring title and MVP in 2010 and was succeeded the following year by brother Daniel’s scoring crown in 2011. Though Henrik has seen a decline over the last two seasons he was still a point-per-game guy through last season. Hardly a gamble when you consider drafting him, eh?
Well it turns out that the floor hasn’t hit the ground yet on the Vancouver captain. He certainly isn’t a scrub, but both Sedins have struggled mightily this year. Henrik still leads the Canucks in scoring with eight goals and 21 assists in 32 games to date. At age 32, it might be a little early to close the book on Sedin's high scoring days, but the numbers, as they say, don’t lie.
Pavel Datsyuk has battled some nagging injuries over the past few seasons, so we haven’t seen his name near the top of the scoring charts. A two-time 97-point man for the Red Wings, Datsyuk represents the Russian half of the Detroit “Eurotwins” with Swedish captain Henrik Zetterberg. Datsyuk has been nothing short of amazing this season, scoring timely goals and playing his relentless trademark defense. Through the first 32 games in Hockeytown, Datsyuk has lit the lamp 11 times and added 24 assists.
His play in both ends of the ice has been just what the doctor ordered for a Detroit team that was expected to struggle with the retirement of their iconic captain Niklas Lidstrom and a significantly depleted defensive corps. The Red Wings currently sit just behind the Canucks in the Western Conference standings with one more head-to-head matchup between them.
There may be only six points that separate the two players from a statistical standpoint, but the edge again goes to Datsyuk. Sedin is a nice addition to any roster, but he just doesn’t deliver the goods with the efficiency that we are used to