With just 18 days to go until opening night we’ll turn our attention to a rivalry that is no more due to the league re-alignment. The Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks have one of the most storied conflicts in the history of the NHL. The geographical proximity of the two cities is certainly a contributing factor to the venom between these two historic rivals.
The NHL has taken away the frequency of this conflict by putting Detroit in the Eastern Conference, but there will be no love lost any time these two meet in the future. At the center (literally) of each club are the two most prominent centers Jonathan Toews and Pavel Datsyuk. While each of these two might be overlooked as a top ten draft pick on your fantasy team, they both have value to any roster with the complete game that each play.
Both are recognized as two of the most well rounded players in the game, excelling on almost every inch of the playing surface. Toews was the winner of last season’s Selke Trophy awarded to the top defensive forward in the NHL. Datsyuk was a finalist for the fifth year after winning the award three consecutive times from 2008-1010. Neither player challenges for top billing in the scoring race, but in the “real” NHL world, an argument could be made for either as MVP of the league.
Pavel Datsyuk is simply a magician. If you don’t believe me, ask your smartphone where the “Magic Man” was born. On offense or defense, Datsyuk is as dangerous a player as there is in the world right now. There is simply no other player that takes the puck away from opponents with the subtle ingenuity of the world’s greatest pickpocket. Once he has the puck, the slick skating Russian can turn opponents inside out with his saucy dangles. His composite stick becomes a wand that can make any skater look like an uncoordinated buffoon before ruining a goaltender’s night with a top shelf snap shot.
Jonathan Toews might not make opponents look as silly as his Russian rival, but he has a skill set that is right there with the best of the best. His numbers aren’t overtly gaudy, but he is a beast in the faceoff circle and has some of the best vision on the ice of any center today. An unbelievably strong skater, Toews plays like a man much larger than the 208 pounds that he is listed at. A cold streak that lasted throughout the 2013 Playoffs couldn’t stop the Chicago captain from winning his second Stanley Cup in four years.
If you happen to be drafting at the bottom half of your league both Toews and Datsyuk make a great fit. As an unabashed Red Wings fan, I typically draft Datsyuk whether I have the second or the tenth pick. I just can’t help myself. With mixed results over the years incorporating this philosophy, I can’t recommend drafting either player in the top ten. There is just too much depth in the NHL talent pool and though both players are elite, they might not deserve a top ten designation.
With regards to which player should go first in the draft, I’ll hold on to Datsyuk for at least one more year. Until he proves that he is actually losing a step, I consider Pavel Datsyuk to be the most complete hockey player in the world. Crosby might be the best offensive player in the world, but his overall game is behind Datsyuk’s. Toews is ten years younger and certainly has more upside and a brighter future, but that only matters in dynasty leagues. Datsyuk has had elite scoring years (2008-2009) and actually seems to still be improving his play. He may not reach the offensive levels from four years ago, but he still gets the nod over Toews. For now.