One of the best players in the league, and humble to boot!

Posted by Garth on 01/09/09 at 11:49 AM ET

Z’s right, he probably hasn’t played well enough.

Datsyuk has.  Lidstrom has (though he had a rough start to the season).  Hossa, in my opinion, has too and should be there.  But Z and Rafalski have not, not quite.

Posted by Primis on 01/09/09 at 11:49 AM ET

Take the time off and rest up Hank. The stretch drive is going to take it’s toll… as always.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 01/09/09 at 11:52 AM ET

The one thing that bugs me about Hank’s play this year is his steadfast refusal to pass the puck off when he carries it into the offensive zone. It’s almost exactly the same scenario every time. He carries the puck in. Two or three guys converge on him. He tries to split the defense and, if he does, he’s so deep his only recourse is to carry the puck around the back of the net. Even then, he’s not looking for an open guy in front somewhere. He’s almost always looking to take some kind of low-percentage shot.

Now, having said that, it’s pretty hard to argue with his point production. It just seems like he’d have both more goals and more assists if he’d give the puck up on some give-and-go’s once in a while.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 01/09/09 at 11:55 AM ET

Hopefully that humility carrys over to his contract negotiations.

Posted by bababooey on 01/09/09 at 11:57 AM ET

Hopefully that humility carrys over to his contract negotiations

I’m calling it...he signs for the EXACT amount that Datsyuk did.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 01/09/09 at 12:30 PM ET

But Z and Rafalski have not, not quite.

Perhaps not Z, but Rafalski has the numbers to be an All-Star and that is really all that matters.

Posted by Heaton on 01/09/09 at 12:31 PM ET

As long as he plays “good enough” this spring.  I’d rather Z have another ring than play in the ASG.

Posted by Aimee in Austin on 01/09/09 at 12:58 PM ET

His play this season has been of a caliber that would lead you to believe he’s one of the best all-around players in the game. You have to remember that in big defensive matchups, Babs has been putting Z out to do the dirty work and letting Datsyuk take the more offensive matchup.

But all-around play isn’t as much of a consideration for the ASG.

People are overreacting, he’s still on pace for 30 goals and a PPG. And with the job he’s done going up in a defensive role against the Thornton line, Kane line, etc. this season? That’s freakin’ stellar.

But yes, Datsyuk has been the best player in the NHL this year, period.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 01/09/09 at 01:06 PM ET

I was hoping he’d get a sympathy nod for being voted in the last two years but unable to participate due to injury.

As for him shooting more, I think it has to do with him being the “Center” on the line. Now that he doesn’t have Pavel with him who would carry the puck in the zone just as much as Z did, he’s trying to get the zone by himself and doing too much because until Hossa was put on his line he didn’t have anyone that he had enough chemistry with to make anything happen.

It seems like he’s passing more now that he’s got the big Hoss on his line. I love Franzen but he just didn’t go to the holes that Hank was looking or did he pass to him when he worked open like Pav would.

This is where the differences between Pavel and Hank really stand out. As slick as Zetterberg can be, Pavel is better one on one and able to make more happen in those outnumbered situations.

Pav and Hank always seemed to flow in and around the defense and find gaps with that sixth sense they have of each other. There is flashes of that with Hossa and to some extent Hudler. Hopefully the current lines will stay together and we’ll see more of the all around play that makes Hank great (although he’s always taken a lot of shots, they just went in more last year).

Posted by moocat on 01/09/09 at 01:09 PM ET

“I’m calling it...he signs for the EXACT amount that Datsyuk did. “

That’s what my fingers are crossed for…

And with Datsyuk tearing it up now, the Detroit brass have an argument for putting that cap on their offer.

Posted by Garth on 01/09/09 at 01:39 PM ET

I’m calling it...he signs for the EXACT amount that Datsyuk did.

They may structure it so that his first year is at that amount, but I’d be shocked if the cap hit over the length of the contract isn’t exactly what Nick is getting right now. That way his first two years could be below Nick’s salary. His third year, and probably Nick’s last year, could be right at Nick’s salary. And the remaining years would be for more than Nick’s current salary.

I know long-term contracts usually are structured the other way around (with the salary decreasing every year), but the scenario above would allow the Wings to keep their commitment to Nick that he would always be their highest-paid player.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 01/09/09 at 03:12 PM ET

I agree with mosts of what Nathan posted. I was born and raised in Detroit and a long time Wings fan. Hank is my fav. I can’t believe the way the Wings organization has treated their Conn Smthe winner for 08. He’s basically been “kicked to the curb” with the arrival of Hossa. As stated above Hank’s line is ALWAYS put against the defendants top line. He’s also on the SECOND power play unit and logs countless minutes on the Penalty Kill. Nontheles, he STILL has put up 28 points and the most points on the PP. What is everyone smoking? I have real issues with Hossa coming on board for one year and booting Hank off the top line. Where’s the team loyalty to Hanks amazing year last year? I certain his numbers would be huge w/o Hossa and the Wings would be even further ahead. Let’s face it Datsyuk is the Wings “golden boy” and I would go so far as to say he’s calling the shots for the team. Not long ago he whinned about Hossa yelling and him about not passing the puck, and now Hossa is moved with Zetterberg. Peeps need to look at the great things Hank does that are often not even on the radar sceen. He’s drawn the most penalties on the team, allowing the Wings to go up on the PP. Yeah, just exactly when the bring Pavel in to “lap up” the premium and easier made PP points...I’m disgusted with the lack of loyalty toward Hank. Geez even the Black Hawks had Patrick Kane night for him winning the Calder. Hang won the Conn Smythe MPV, shut down Sid the Kid and basically gets nothing. You don’t put your ace player in anxiety mode all year over his contract. Out of respect, that should have been cemented before the season. Hank has already proven himself for the Wings and “earned his keep”...sorry, going out of rant mode now!

Posted by Shoes from San Diego on 01/09/09 at 09:20 PM ET

CORRECTION: 38 POINTS....sorry about the typos but I’m pissed. If The Wings won’t pay Hank more than $6MM/year I say he goes elsewhere and a HUGE loss to the Wings.

Posted by Shoes from San Diego on 01/09/09 at 09:37 PM ET

BTW, can anyone tell me why the Wings break up the Zetterberg/Datsyuk/Holmstrom line to accomdate Hossa? That’s just plain lunacy, especially since Hossa is now playing on the second line. Why not move Hank back up with Dats and put Franzen down with Hossa, Franzen can play center? Everyone, including them loves to see those Z and Pav together. Seems like Babcock is just beiing a stubborn ass. I say last year was a huge success, so, “if it ain’t broke, why fix it????

Posted by Carole from San Diego on 01/09/09 at 09:44 PM ET