Maybe it just me & heading into the final loooooong stretch run of the off season, but just thinking about Wally, Datsyuk, Z, Hudler etc al playing keep away get me wanting to see some freaking puck.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 09/08/08 at 12:00 PM ET

I think one of the reasons Pavel steals so many pucks is that he’s a lot faster than opponents think he is. They get past him and about the time they think they’re in the clear he jets up behind them and picks the puck off their stick.

It has to be frustrating to have that happen...and that, in turn, leads other players to be more cautious than they’d like to be. Suddenly offensive guys are thinking “defend the puck” instead of “score with the puck”. It really is fun to watch.

And great news that Fil is becoming Pavel’s pupil. I hope Happy spends some time with him as well. He’s great at hanging onto the puck. With a little more jump and a few Datsyukesque moves, he probably could be an excellent “puck stealer” as well.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/08/08 at 12:49 PM ET

They don’t mention that Pavel and Hank have always played keep-away with each other…

This is an excellent article by Brad Holland.

I do not think enough fans (or TV commentators) watch what Datsyuk does.  His stick work is absolute magic, and the cameras should isolate on him more when he is playing defense.

Posted by w2j2 on 09/08/08 at 01:17 PM ET

Fantastic article.

Its always fun to watch Dats sneak up behind someone, deftly lift the stick, and start skating the other direction. So many other guys backchecking are constantly whacking and hacking. But with Pavel, they don’t know he’s there until the puck is already gone.

And to think, the official count of 144 last season is probably only about 1/2 to 2/3 of what he should get credit for.

Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 09/08/08 at 01:48 PM ET

IIRC I read somewhere guys wait in line after practice to play the monkey in the middle with P n Z.... and Huds was always the first in line.

Man I’d kill to sit n watch them just goofing off about now....

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 09/08/08 at 02:05 PM ET

Glad to see Wally going to school...but as good as he is, he’ll never be as good as Pavs.  There’s just some things you can’t learn.

I keep thinking back to Game 3 against Colorado when he stopped Rafalski’s shot from the point right at the crease and scored with it.  It happened so fast everyone thought Theodore made the stop and Pavs picked up the rebound. (It’s what I thought too...Matt Saler pointed out what actually happened) It was one of those “He didn’t really do what I think he just did....did he?” moments that you just can’t teach.

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 09/08/08 at 04:58 PM ET

I have been watching hockey for a very long time and I am always stunned and amazed every time he goes near the puck. He has a mastery and talent that cannot be explained. Patience, skill, strength, character. All the qualities a leader needs to possess. His quiet demeanor, leading by example. Any player that has the good fortune to play on a line with him only gets better. He elevates the entire team. Heck even Pavs can make Sammy look good.I have had the good fortune to watch him his entire career. The first time I saw him was at a practice in Phoenix in 2002. His rookie season. He was skating alone passing the puck to himself between the pylons. My sons and I watched in amazement then. He is only going to get better and smarter if that is even possible. I can honestly say that I have never seen a player like him in my lifetime. Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa. on 09/08/08 at 06:10 PM ET

They don’t mention that Pavel and Hank have always played keep-away with each other…

- w2j2

I was just about to say because there are videos on youtube of these two hardworking maniacs playing keep-away in practice.

It’s the sickest video ever.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 09/08/08 at 06:57 PM ET