Mats Sundin was not named as the best player to wear #13, it went to Pavel Datsyuk
- Thread starter LeafsNation75
- Start date
I'm torn on this. I think what Pavel Datsyuk did in his career earns him a nod over Mats. The cups, the small stature and the advanced hockey sense. My favorite player of all time!
Golden_Jet
Registered User
- Sep 21, 2005
- 22,588
- 10,997
LeafsNation75
Registered User
I know that Datsyuk has two Stanley Cups, three Selke Trophy's, and four Lady Byng Trophy's. However in terms of their overall NHL stats Sundin was the better player.
Sundin career totals: 564 Goals, 785 Assists, and 1349 Points.
Datsyuk career totals: 314 Goals, 604 Assists, and 918 Points.
LeafsNation75
Registered User
Selanne only had #13 in Winnipeg. In Anaheim he had it for the 2005-06 season and switched to #8 which they retired. Plus when he played in Colorado and San Jose he also wore the #8.
Buds17
Registered User
- Nov 29, 2015
- 8,237
- 3,357
That's a close competition. I'd say Sundin was the better player offensively. Conversely, I would give Datsyuk the nod defensively. Checking any bias at the door as best as I could, I'd probably disagree with the result. I'd reiterate that it is close.
Golden_Jet
Registered User
- Sep 21, 2005
- 22,588
- 10,997
BertCorbeau
F*ck cancer - RIP Fugu and Buffaloed
Tough call. Datsyuk has the hardware, but Sundin has the longevity (particularly in a lower scoring era).
Edge goes to Datsyuk but it's closer than some may realize.
Edge goes to Datsyuk but it's closer than some may realize.
Sundin has the longevity for whatever that's worth, but Datsyuk was better at playing hockey.
If you're picking teams and you want to win, you take Datsyuk everytime.
If you're picking teams and you want to win, you take Datsyuk everytime.
Selanne almost scored half of Datsyuk's career goals in his 231 games (less than 3 full seasons) with Winnipeg.
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
- 73,611
- 38,971
LeafsNation75
Registered User
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
- 73,611
- 38,971
LeafsNation75
Registered User
Sundin's PPG is 1.00 and Datsyuk's PPG is 0.96, so they were close.
Mats Sundin Stats | Hockey-Reference.com
Pavel Datsyuk Stats | Hockey-Reference.com
Primary Assist
The taste of honey is worse than none at all
- Jul 7, 2010
- 5,958
- 5,846
Captain Mats is my favorite player of all time - if we go strictly by the NHL then the Magic Man edges out Sundin. But if we look internationally then Sundin is a clear class above Datsyuk. If Sundin played on those Detroit teams then I bet they easily have the same success, while if Datsyuk played for Toronto I doubt he'd have the numbers Sundin put up - Dats played with much better offensive threats, not the least of whom patrolled his blueline for almost his whole career.
If Datsyuk played for Team Sweden then I don't think Tre Kronor is guaranteed to have won that Gold in Torino - Sundin was huge that tournament on all sides of the puck. But what do I know?
If Datsyuk played for Team Sweden then I don't think Tre Kronor is guaranteed to have won that Gold in Torino - Sundin was huge that tournament on all sides of the puck. But what do I know?
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
Basically where I fall.
I think one could actually make a very reasonable case for Sundin, but its fair to give it to Datsyuk.
Problem i think is in a player v player comparison, the fact that Datsyuk was on some cup winning teams helped to elevate the reputation. I think Sundin some years was expected to carry a bigger workload too which was a hindrance to him
LeafsNation75
Registered User
I know Datsyuk was on the Red Wings team that won the Cup in 2002, however I don't think he was considered to be a main reason why they won that year. Looking at his playoffs stats in 2002 he had 3 Goals and 3 Assists in 21 playoff games.
BertCorbeau
F*ck cancer - RIP Fugu and Buffaloed
Yep good points. I think in their prime, Datsyuk was superior too (not by a lot). He broke into the league late though and his actual breakout season was at age 25. By that age Sundin had four PPG seasons, a 47 goal campaign, and three additional 30+ goal seasons.
But once Dats got rolling he was a force in the league (ages 27 to 31) .. then progressively declined. Whereas Sundin was a solid near PPG player through his 30's, remaining one of the leagues best centres in the dead puck era.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 78,398
- 52,586
But if we want to be super nitpicky, Selanne actually switched to 8 whilst in Winnipeg in 1995, so he only wore 13 for 2 seasons there.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 78,398
- 52,586
If Datsyuk had hung on for an extra couple of seasons, and gotten comfortably over 1000 games and 1000 points, slightly under PPG I would have signed off on Datsyuk over Sundin with very little hesitation. But Sundin put in almost 393 extra games of prime hockey with a half season of trash in Vancouver, plus he's a personal favorite, so it's a little more difficult to decide.
Last edited:
Coachcorner
Senor Martinez
- Sep 28, 2017
- 6,285
- 4,989
I agree its closer than many think, but I like that the cup winner datsyuk took this one. Sundin was one of the most superiour players I witnessed play back with Quinn etc. He was like a bear. Reminded of jagr in the corners, sundin was even heavier looking. None of those suckas could get the puck off that fool. I always waited with a passion to see sundin play. He really made all of us tik and tok. Bout that life and ice hockey. What a leader, also vocally and leader wise sundin was better than datsyuk, but the stanley cup was the only thang that was missing. Sundin was a bear inside of a lion's mouth. None of those fools could drop him. He destroyed ottawa, always.
Maple Leaf
VIP
- Sep 18, 2009
- 8,749
- 4,170
Sundin slaps it top corner all game and after game
Mickey Marner
Registered User
Sundin is probably a more famous #13, but Datsyuk was a better hockey player.
