Confirmed with Link: Wings sign Frans Nielsen 6 years 5.25m/yr

[Dotter]

With Datsyuk's body deteriorating and his progressive slump in production, it seems like Neilsen might be a slight upgrade to 38 year old Datsyuk... at a cheaper cap hit.

From reading ISLs board, it sounds like we all will be very happy with the new addition of Neilsen. Well all of us who don't want to see the team tank for draft picks. =D

I'm exciting for the season to begin.

 

[Ezekial]

With Datsyuk's body deteriorating and his progressive slump in production, it seems like Neilsen might be a slight upgrade to 38 year old Datsyuk... at a cheaper cap hit.

From reading ISLs board, it sounds like we all will be very happy with the new addition of Neilsen. Well all of us who don't want to see the team tank for draft picks. =D

I'm exciting for the season to begin.

I agree, I think Nielsen is at worst a side grade of what we would've seen from Pavel this season. Pav was on his ass more last year than every season prior combined.

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

I agree, I think Nielsen is at worst a side grade of what we would've seen from Pavel this season. Pav was on his ass more last year than every season prior combined.

And still our best player

 

[Ezekial]

And still our best player

I don't think that would've been the case in the coming season.

 

[WingedWheel1987]

I don't think that would've been the case in the coming season.

I don't agree with that. Datsyuk wasn't fully recovered from his surgery when he came back and had no training camp to get back into shape and ended up being one point away from leading the Wings in points.

Now he's over a year removed from his surgery and will have training camp to get back up to speed.

 

[Ezekial]

I don't agree with that. Datsyuk wasn't fully recovered from his surgery when he came back and had no training camp to get back into shape and ended up being one point away from leading the Wings in points.

Now he's over a year removed from his surgery and will have training camp to get back up to speed.

And even he didn't think he could handle the grind of an NHL season.

 

[HockeyinHD]

I don't agree with that. Datsyuk wasn't fully recovered from his surgery when he came back and had no training camp to get back into shape and ended up being one point away from leading the Wings in points.

Now he's over a year removed from his surgery and will have training camp to get back up to speed.

If there's one guy who we should've really trusted to stay healthy and effective all year, it's the guy who has missed 26, 12, 1 (of 48), 37, 19 and 16 games the past 6 years.

 

[jkutswings]

Number of games played and best player are not necessarily related. I'd take 60 games of Datsyuk over 82 games of most of the current roster.

 

[WingedWheel1987]

If there's one guy who we should've really trusted to stay healthy and effective all year, it's the guy who has missed 26, 12, 1 (of 48), 37, 19 and 16 games the past 6 years.

Datsyuk doesn't need 82 games to be the Wings best player.

60 games of Datsyuk>82 of Nielsen

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

And even he didn't think he could handle the grind of an NHL season.

That was a storyline created here. I've never heard Dats allude to anything about not being able to handle the grind of an NHL season. Unless you have a source?

 

[Ezekial]

That was a storyline created here. I've never heard Dats allude to anything about not being able to handle the grind of an NHL season. Unless you have a source?

Sorry I guess I'll rephrase that:

Evidence of the last few seasons has shown his body couldn't handle the grind of another NHL season.



I think at this point I'd take a 32 year old Nielsen over a 38 year old Datsyuk. If you disagree fine, tell me when the speculation ends and it's disproven.

 

[iDangleDangle]

Sorry I guess I'll rephrase that:

Evidence of the last few seasons has shown his body couldn't handle the grind of another NHL season.



I think at this point I'd take a 32 year old Nielsen over a 38 year old Datsyuk. If you disagree fine, tell me when the speculation ends and it's disproven.

Funny that a 38-year old Datsyuk still managed to score nearly the same amount of points as a 32-year old Nielsen while playing 15 games less.

I also believe Dats' PPG ratio was better than what Nielsen has ever had. I like the signing, but Nielsen isn't even in the same echelon as Datsyuk, even a one riddled with injuries.

 

[lomekian]

Datsyuk is a genius and was a genuine franchise player, but was slowing down year after year. Dats in 16-17 would probably put up more points than Nielsen, but maybe not be more effective defensively anymore due to diminishing strength and speed.

But of course, Dats is at that age where he could fall off a cliff phyiscally relatively quickly. He'll be missed massively, but its done now.

 

[Ezekial]

Funny that a 38-year old Datsyuk still managed to score nearly the same amount of points as a 32-year old Nielsen while playing 15 games less.

I also believe Dats' PPG ratio was better than what Nielsen has ever had. I like the signing, but Nielsen isn't even in the same echelon as Datsyuk, even a one riddled with injuries.

Funny, Datsyuk played more ES+PP minutes than Frans Nielsen (1291:38 to 1274:09) even playing 15 less games and Nielsen scored 50 points (18-32) to Datsyuks 49(16-33). Nielsen also played on the PK for 161:10 and potted 2 goals. Datsyuk put up 5:36 (0)

 

[Cursed Lemon]

My issue with this signing is that of all the positions we needed to lock up for a few years, is 2C one of them?

 

[Frk It]

Datsyuk is a genius and was a genuine franchise player, but was slowing down year after year. Dats in 16-17 would probably put up more points than Nielsen, but maybe not be more effective defensively anymore due to diminishing strength and speed.

But of course, Dats is at that age where he could fall off a cliff phyiscally relatively quickly. He'll be missed massively, but its done now.

All of Datsyuk's possession numbers were fantastic (relative to the rest of the team), even at the very tail end of his career.

 

[Frk It]

My issue with this signing is that of all the positions we needed to lock up for a few years, is 2C one of them?

Unfortunately, probably.

Not sure Sheahan can be more than a good 3C. I'd like to believe Athanasiou or Svech can play 2C within the next few years, but I'm not sure that the Wings see either as a solution at center with the precedence they put on two way play.

 

[HockeyinHD]

Datsyuk doesn't need 82 games to be the Wings best player.

60 games of Datsyuk>82 of Nielsen

Yeah, no.

 

[HockeyinHD]

Number of games played and best player are not necessarily related.

But number of games missed is sort of at least tangentially related to a discussion on the health of a player, right? Which is what I was talking about, right? Number of games played is also not particularly relevant to how well they drive a bulldozer, either... but since I wasn't talking about bulldozers, let's just not mention that, eh?

I'd take 60 games of Datsyuk over 82 games of most of the current roster.

A) I would agree probably everywhere but Larkin, Nielsen, DK, Green (need), and Mrazek.

B) It's possible he would decline to the point where we'd need to add Tatar and Nyquist to that list.

C) Why do you think he'd play 60 games?

 

[jkutswings]

But number of games missed is sort of at least tangentially related to a discussion on the health of a player, right? Which is what I was talking about, right? Number of games played is also not particularly relevant to how well they drive a bulldozer, either... but since I wasn't talking about bulldozers, let's just not mention that, eh?

The original mention was in regards to 'best player', not 'healthiest player'. I understand that 'best' is a subjective term, but to me, that is a measure of talent, not a measure of attendance.

A) I would agree probably everywhere but Larkin, Nielsen, DK, Green (need), and Mrazek.

B) It's possible he would decline to the point where we'd need to add Tatar and Nyquist to that list.

That's fine, but that is in agreement with my comment of Datsyuk still being better than most of the roster.

C) Why do you think he'd play 60 games?

I took the average of the 6 years you listed, which is a pace of 63.5 games played, and I rounded down, both because 60 is a nice round number for approximations, and I figured I'd err on the side of Datsyuk missing more than his recent average number of games at this stage of his career.

 

[WingedWheel1987]

Yeah, no.

Ummm yeah.

Career best 58 point forward is suddenly better than Datsyuk...lol

I take it you think Valtteri Filppula is also better than Datsyuk?

 

[Ezekial]

Ummm yeah.

Career best 58 point forward is suddenly better than Datsyuk...lol

I take it you think Valtteri Filppula is also better than Datsyuk?

You can't differentiate between a 38 year old Datsyuk, not surprising.

Give me the player that scored at a similar clip last season and killed penalties over 82 games. 1/4 of the season doesn't matter

 

[WingedWheel1987]

You can't differentiate between a 38 year old Datsyuk, not surprising.

Give me the player that scored at a similar clip last season and killed penalties over 82 games. 1/4 of the season doesn't matter

I'll take Datsyuk's elite vision over Nielsen.

But you will see when the regular season starts.

Elite talent makes life easier for everyone. Even if they are 38.

 

[Ezekial]

I'll take Datsyuk's elite vision over Nielsen.

But you will see when the regular season starts.

Elite talent makes life easier for everyone. Even if they are 38.

Sweet if he only plays 60 games you're missing his elite vision for a quarter of the season.

Edit: Why is it that you always seem to take positions in which you can't be proven wrong (or right) - We won't see when the regular season starts; Datsyuk will be in Russia in an inferior league. You can't show how he would've looked on the team this year.

You'll see you were wrong about Nielsen when the season starts, bruh.

 

[HockeyinHD]

Ummm yeah.

Career best 58 point forward is suddenly better than Datsyuk...lol

A 38-9 year old Datsyuk that's been on a steady decline for a couple years that's highly unlikely to be available for more than 60ish games, maybe less, and likely also limited even within the games he's available?

Uh, yeah.

I take it you think Valtteri Filppula is also better than Datsyuk?

By saying I think one forward is better than Datsyuk I am obviously saying I think every forward in the NHL is also better than Datsyuk.

Man, so glad Datsyuk is gone. We can feature Glendening more!