The Zermanator
In Yzerman We Trust
- Jan 21, 2013
- 3,395
- 1,207
Something I've thought of a lot recently is what a unique and extremely rare experience Datsyuk had coming into the league as a rookie. I became a Wings fan when I was about 11 during the '01-'02 season. Yzerman was my favourite player growing up. Had the pleasure of watching the Cup run in '02.
Enough has been said about the '02 team as a whole, but imagine it from Datsyuk's perspective. You're a rookie from deep in Russia, small but offensively talented with unique playing style/skills, coming to North America to play with this:
Yzerman
Lidstrom
Fedorov
Hull
Larionov
Shanahan
Chelios
Robitaille
Hasek
I mean, just in terms of role models, unbelievable.
And then there's these guys to leave their own impressions on a rookie:
Draper
Maltby
McCarty
Holmstrom
Talk about a unique environment for a rookie, especially a dynamically skilled one, to get his start. Not to mention he was playing under one the most legendary coaches in league history.
Does Datsyuk become the player he did (or similar to it) without these influences? Obviously Bowman would have had an influence as the coach but specifically the players, did that experience mould him? Or would he have become the Magic Man anyway?
Enough has been said about the '02 team as a whole, but imagine it from Datsyuk's perspective. You're a rookie from deep in Russia, small but offensively talented with unique playing style/skills, coming to North America to play with this:
Yzerman
Lidstrom
Fedorov
Hull
Larionov
Shanahan
Chelios
Robitaille
Hasek
I mean, just in terms of role models, unbelievable.
And then there's these guys to leave their own impressions on a rookie:
Draper
Maltby
McCarty
Holmstrom
Talk about a unique environment for a rookie, especially a dynamically skilled one, to get his start. Not to mention he was playing under one the most legendary coaches in league history.
Does Datsyuk become the player he did (or similar to it) without these influences? Obviously Bowman would have had an influence as the coach but specifically the players, did that experience mould him? Or would he have become the Magic Man anyway?
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