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Wednesday Digging
by IwoCPO on 12/19/07 at 03:41 AM ET
Comments (15)
The Detroit News claims Pavel Datsyuk is the best player in the NHL. Well, they ask the question, “Is he the best player in the NHL”?.
Then in true Digger fashion, they try to answer it using quotes dredged up from weeks, even months, ago.
“I remember when I was with St. Louis,” Osgood said. “It was a nightmare. We were worried about (Brett) Hull and Shanny (Brendan Shanahan), and this little Russian guy kept splitting the ‘D’ and going around (Chris) Pronger and putting it through my legs. We were like, ‘Who is this kid?’ We didn’t really know him. It’s definitely great to be on his side now.”
You’ll find at least two more quotes in there that will seem eerily familiar. Not sure who you are David Goricki, but it’s nice to see you’ve been able to quickly adopt Ted Kulfan’s work ethic.
Thankfully, there’s the Captain. Khan(!) and his nose for the late breaker, the big stories the other Diggers don’t have the nad to tackle.
Dan Cleary turned 29 Tuesday, and, like many of his teammates before, he let his guard down. As a result, he received what has become a traditional birthday shaving cream pie in the face from Kris Draper. And, as usual, it happened during an interview scrum with the media and was caught on tape.
Draper was asked how he’s able to keep track of all the birthdays.
“I have guys kind of blowing in my ear whispering that it’s somebody’s birthday,’’ he said. “I’m going to get it good one year, I know that.’’
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Comments
I haven’t slept since the “enhancement” spam started showing up in the comments section SRT. I just keep clicking and clicking.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 12/19/07 at 05:39 AM ET
Datsyuk is not the best player on his team. Have they ever heard of Niklas Lidstrom? Datsyuk is a good player, but any claim that he is the best in the NHL is pretty stupid.
Posted by PuckStopsHere on 12/19/07 at 08:18 AM ET
PSH: don’t abuse our Diggers. Only WE can abuse our Diggers. Nah, not really. Have at ‘em.
For the record: the official A2Y stance is that we have the three best players in the NHL.
1. Lidstrom
2. Zetterberg
3. Datsyuk
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 12/19/07 at 08:21 AM ET
I at least have the excuse of being an insane grad student.
Is there another kind? 
Maybe best winger/center, if you consider Zetterberg the best center/winger and Lidstrom the best defenseman.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/19/07 at 08:33 AM ET
#99, The Great One, was on Dennis Miller’s show on VS. last nite after the OTT/BOS tilt. Great One says Hanl and Vinny are the “Best Forwards” in the game right now!!!! Who am I to argue.
I’m with Chief though, St. Nick may be the best player in the league—end of discussion (of course that is a heavily biased opinion). Hank isn’t too far behind though. But interestingly, in the NHL+/-, Nick is 2nd (top among D), Pav’s is 5th, and Hank is 11th. (Vinny is NOT in the top 30).
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 12/19/07 at 09:09 AM ET
Lidstrom is the best, period. Is there any other player out there these days that has 5 awards for being the best at his position? (and is the heavy favorite for a sixth).
It’s Nick. Nick is the best these days. Wayne is the Great One, no argument. But until he can put together a competent team, his judgement sucks… IMO.
Dats would skate circles around Wayne. Well, okay, maybe not.
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 12/19/07 at 10:12 AM ET
You know cheif, if you keep blasting the diggers, you may wake up the sleeping giant that is “the Delicate Genius”.
Careful what you wish for.
Posted by Aaron from Phoenix on 12/19/07 at 10:19 AM ET
Great teams are built on a foundation of great defense.
Why have the Wings been so good for so long?
Nick Lidstrom.
Ken Holland says as much, when he threatens to retire before Nick.
That being said, it is impossible to compare forwards to defensemen to goalies in terms of “Who is the best player.”
That is like asking “What is better, a rifle or a shotgun? or a car or a truck? or a plane or a train? or an Oak or a Maple?”
Posted by w2j2 on 12/19/07 at 12:40 PM ET
“Oak, definitely oak.”
Ever tried Oak syrup on your pancakes?
Posted by dougie on 12/19/07 at 02:40 PM ET
Ever tried Oak syrup on your pancakes?
Yuck. Too many tannins.
I like cherry.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/19/07 at 05:28 PM ET
I like cherry.
You like oak syrup on cherries? 
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 12/19/07 at 05:58 PM ET
Yup.
The sweetness of the cherries is complemented nicely by the acrid tannic bite of the oak syrup.
Put the whole mess over French vanilla ice cream, sprinkle with toasted pecans, and there you go! 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/19/07 at 06:36 PM ET
We are going to be in BIG trouble when the Chief gets home. He starts a hockey thread, and we end up talking about pancake syrup! he will be so proud of us!!
Posted by dougie on 12/19/07 at 06:51 PM ET
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What on earth are you doing up Chief? I at least have the excuse of being an insane grad student.
I was thinking that we should rename the diggers to blowers, for obvious reasons. I reconsidered, however, because digging into their pile-o-quotes file is what they do. Then again, I’m too tired to care…
Where is that Niyo guy? and MacLeod the highlander; he is indeed the final one left.
Posted by srt on 12/19/07 at 05:19 AM ET