Location: Bill Cosby’s Magic Wiener #FireBlashill, TN Joined: 04.16.2016
Jul 5 @ 4:33 PM ET
Connor
Hall
Modano
datsyuk
Weight
That’s my list - HB77
A very good list. Yzerman of course is the best ever. So he’s one. Lidstrom, Datsyuk then it’s Sakic, Niedemeyer, Lemieux, Ovechkin, Hull, Kronwall, Brodeur, Shanahan, and McDavid. Among many others.
On a side note, imagine a Hemsky that wasn't injury prone in his prime?
Holy poop. One of the best-skilled players with the puck during that time period (2002-2009, most likely even longer if it weren't for injuries). Deking, stick-handling, and maneuverability were off the charts (not better than Datsyuk though).
Nonetheless, from 2002-2009, nobody had better hands nor more raw talent than:
On a side note, imagine a Hemsky that wasn't injury prone in his prime?
Holy poop. One of the best-skilled players with the puck during that time period (2002-2009, most likely even longer if it weren't for injuries). Deking, stick-handling, and maneuverability were off the charts (not better than Datsyuk though).
Nonetheless, from 2002-2009, nobody had better hands nor more raw talent than:
Datsyuk, Kovalev, or Hemsky. Fight me. - EdmHockeyMan
Hemsky also had that wicked wrister that he refused to use often enough.
Hemsky also had that wicked wrister that he refused to use often enough. - shack67
So true. He was always patient with the puck. Perhaps too patient.
If I'd rank those three based on the categories mentioned above it'd be
Kovalev=> (depending on your subjective take) Datysuk>Hemsky
Kovalev's raw talent was just insane. No disrespect to Datsyuk at all, but Kovalev was just something, IMO. The way he moved with the puck, created space, and took control of the ice at will was just scary good.
I put Hemsky in there since I think he's quite underrated IMO (not as good as the other two, but near there in terms of talent and stickhandling). During his tenure with Edmonton and prior to all of the injuries, he was our offensive catalyst and nearly a PPG player. On top of that, his talent was just insane and he shined in big moments (Dallas goal, '06 run especially in that absolute clutch of a performance against the Wings in Game 6, and the list goes on). Injuries and concussions (frank)ed up what would have been an even better career.
Location: 3 cups in 5 years = DYNASTY Joined: 04.13.2012
Jul 6 @ 6:14 PM ET
(frank)ing injuries man. The last conference interview I heard from him was about how he was battling depression from his concussion recovery. - EdmHockeyMan
Wrong. He was depressed because he was an oiler for far too long and missed his opportunity to win with a good team.
Location: Bill Cosby’s Magic Wiener #FireBlashill, TN Joined: 04.16.2016
Jul 6 @ 6:39 PM ET
So true. He was always patient with the puck. Perhaps too patient.
If I'd rank those three based on the categories mentioned above it'd be
Kovalev=> (depending on your subjective take) Datysuk>Hemsky
Kovalev's raw talent was just insane. No disrespect to Datsyuk at all, but Kovalev was just something, IMO. The way he moved with the puck, created space, and took control of the ice at will was just scary good.
I put Hemsky in there since I think he's quite underrated IMO (not as good as the other two, but near there in terms of talent and stickhandling). During his tenure with Edmonton and prior to all of the injuries, he was our offensive catalyst and nearly a PPG player. On top of that, his talent was just insane and he shined in big moments (Dallas goal, '06 run especially in that absolute clutch of a performance against the Wings in Game 6, and the list goes on). Injuries and concussions (frank)ed up what would have been an even better career. - EdmHockeyMan
Kovalev couldn’t hold a flame to Datsyuk. - RafiDRW
In terms of their overall career and what they achieved, I can see your point. Even then, it's closer than you think.
In terms of raw talent and ability, Kovalev wins. Once again, no offense to Datsyuk, but Kovalev was something else in terms of talent.
If he had prioritized and utilized it to the best of his abilities and had a better work ethic, Kovalev would've definitely been more than just a 1,000+ point player with one ring. That right there is a scary thought.
The Datsyuk dekes look like he first steals your puck, then turns you inside out, outside in, then inside out again. Looks like he loves putting the puck through players' legs. After getting deked by Datsyuk, I imagine the poor victim's brain imploding from the sheer complexity.
The Kovalev dekes are just angelic. Sometimes he's just sliding and swirling around people like they aren't even there. After getting deked by Kovalev, I imagine the dekee feels like they've transcended to another spiritual plane, a dimension of grace and elegance, as though they've experienced pure Truth and Beauty and become one with the universe."
In terms of their overall career and what they achieved, I can see your point. Even then, it's closer than you think.
In terms of raw talent and ability, Kovalev wins. Once again, no offense to Datsyuk, but Kovalev was something else in terms of talent.
If he had prioritized and utilized it to the best of his abilities and had a better work ethic, Kovalev would've definitely been more than just a 1,000+ point player with one ring. That right there is a scary thought. - EdmHockeyMan
This just proves why Datsyuk was the better player.....the others you names had the “potential” to do this and that....Datsyuk just did it and that’s the difference....it isn’t about what could have been or should have been it’s about the results and Datsyuk in my eyes is the clear winner in that situation
This just proves why Datsyuk was the better player.....the others you names had the “potential” to do this and that....Datsyuk just did it and that’s the difference....it isn’t about what could have been or should have been it’s about the results and Datsyuk in my eyes is the clear winner in that situation - RatedR80
My initial ranking of the 3 was based solely on raw talent and stickhandling, not accomplishments or achievements during their career.
If we're looking at what they accomplished, the rankings would be different with Datsyuk leading the pack.
My initial ranking of the 3 was based solely on raw talent and stickhandling, not accomplishments or achievements during their career.
If we're looking at what they accomplished, the rankings would be different with Datsyuk leading the pack. - EdmHockeyMan
I guess in a round about way I’m saying it’s even too bad it has to be raw talent vs accomplishments instead of raw talent living up to its hype but we have seen it a million times in sports
I guess in a round about way I’m saying it’s even too bad it has to be raw talent vs accomplishments instead of raw talent living up to its hype but we have seen it a million times in sports - RatedR80
Datsyuk was the best 2 way player in the league for a long time. There was nothing underrated about his game. He was flat out amazing at both ends of the ice.
To put Kovalev ahead of him in any category is just asinine. One was your typical lazy Russian player, and the other was the hardest working guy on the ice every shift. Kovalev had talent, but wasted it like so many others. Datsyuk had it all.
Based on raw talent and who had the best stickhandling, it's Kovalev. What he could do with the puck was just insane. His wrister was probably one of the most accurate and deadly the NHL ever saw as well.
No knock on Datsyuk at all. If we consider their careers and what they achieved, Datsyuk would come out ahead, but I'm looking at who had the most raw talent and best stickhandling abilities.
Just to clarify once again, I'm basing the rankings solely on who was the better stickhandler and had the most raw talent, NOT on career achievements or accomplishments.
