Hank. Captain, Conn Smythe, better playoff performer, gave everything he had to the team, and didn’t walk out on his contract (I don’t blame Datsyuk for that one bit, but it kind of applies here).
Hodgewald
Probably Z, but Datsyuk is still my favorite. He was so entertaining and quietly dominated every shift.
Celestial_Mycology
Hank, and he’s also my fav Wing of all time 😊
Savvy_chipmunk
Pav and Hank are a package deal, I refuse to answer the question.
buckshotbill83
Impossible.
Donnysmokescigs
They’re a package deal and I can’t see it any other way. The Euro Twins both meant so much to the organization and were the face of the team for a decade.
fliporflop47
Hank is my favorite player behind Lidstrom. Still feel like this is a 51/49 situation…
TrentUlyssesCooper
Pavel
EarthenChild
False Dichotomy.
Also, my cat is named Pavel, so there’s that.
Mcferguson
Datsyuk had more pure talent, but Zetterberg wore the C.
Datsyuk is my favorite player between the 2 but their contributions to the Wheeled Wing were ultimately equal.
markkusmad
To answer the quest, Zetterberg meant more. No doubt in my mind
Having said that, I always liked watching Datsyuk play more. In that sense, he was a more special player. I think he was more talented than Zetterberg and played the game very differently than most any other player I’ve seen. But despite being a uniquely special player, Zetterberg delivered in ways Datsyuk didn’t and he carried the franchise through the cap championship and through the post Lindstrom era…one of the toughest guys any great player could have drawn.
I would imagine their numbers will go up to the rafters together…if in a world were I had to pick if only one could go up, it’s Zetterberg
AlwaysInfluenced
I’ll be the outlier here and go with Magic Man. 3x Selke 4x consecutive Lady Byngs. Fans remember his magic, but he was doing all that while always responsible on the other end also. Triple Gold club, NHL Top 100 player if all time and a high PPG than Z. Sold tickets like nobody’s business and arguably shaped the game with his stick handling. I love Z but this is 13 all day.
Taking care of your kid will never lose you points in my book.
Tojuro
Their careers lined up so closely that it’s hard to separate them. When it comes to Detroit sports duos, they are up there with Trammell and Whitaker.
justino
You can’t separate euro twins
Wallawalla1522
It’s like peanut butter and jelly, the sum was greater than the parts.
TheBonePoet
Zetterberg
markcubin
Zetterberg did more for Detroit, but Datsyuk pushed the game of hockey forward as a whole more than almost anybody of his time.
ImAnIdeaMan
Stupid question – though I knew what the question was just from the title.
Throwawaydontgoaway8
Bs datsyuk meant so much more
laker9903
Due to where I live, other than nationally broadcasted games, I pretty much missed Datsyuk’s time with the team. I was able to catch Z’s last few seasons with the team, so he means more to me personally. I do, however, recognize Dat’s contribution to the team.
jackstalke
The answer is Yes.
I_see_something
This is a stupid question
nate68978263
Z did more for the team as a leader and captain, but Datsyuk was the highlight reel and ‘X Factor’ any time you ever thought the Wings were out of it.
imyourzer0
👍🏻
No disrespect to Hank, who is a HoFer himself, but Pavs was among the best two-way players ever. Like he was “they-should-rename-the-Selke-after-him” type good. Hank was awesome, but it’s not close between which of those two meant more to the team, or to hockey in general.
Ok_Ice_6254
I guess I would say Z since he spent his whole professional career as wing and Pav Played 5 or 6 years in Russia after he left….not that I blame him at all but if I was to choose between the two thats the only downside I see to either.
Unstep-in-Time
Noooo! Both legends, both equally as important..+
M3merCS
Package deal. That being said, Z has been my hero since I was a kid
ashes1032
There is no Shepard without Vakarian.
RonBurgundy449
My heart says Zetty, my eyes say Dats
cody4king
Literally named my first born son Henrik because of this… so gotta vote Zetterberg.
burnmenowz
Pav was able to crack the 2002 all star lineup and impress several hall of famers. That says something.
Karanoch
I think Z meant more to the Red Wings as a cohesive team, but Datsyuk meant more as an iconic Red Wing to the league as a whole.
32 Comments
Hank. Captain, Conn Smythe, better playoff performer, gave everything he had to the team, and didn’t walk out on his contract (I don’t blame Datsyuk for that one bit, but it kind of applies here).
Probably Z, but Datsyuk is still my favorite. He was so entertaining and quietly dominated every shift.
Hank, and he’s also my fav Wing of all time 😊
Pav and Hank are a package deal, I refuse to answer the question.
Impossible.
They’re a package deal and I can’t see it any other way. The Euro Twins both meant so much to the organization and were the face of the team for a decade.
Hank is my favorite player behind Lidstrom. Still feel like this is a 51/49 situation…
Pavel
False Dichotomy.
Also, my cat is named Pavel, so there’s that.
Datsyuk had more pure talent, but Zetterberg wore the C.
Datsyuk is my favorite player between the 2 but their contributions to the Wheeled Wing were ultimately equal.
To answer the quest, Zetterberg meant more. No doubt in my mind
Having said that, I always liked watching Datsyuk play more. In that sense, he was a more special player. I think he was more talented than Zetterberg and played the game very differently than most any other player I’ve seen. But despite being a uniquely special player, Zetterberg delivered in ways Datsyuk didn’t and he carried the franchise through the cap championship and through the post Lindstrom era…one of the toughest guys any great player could have drawn.
I would imagine their numbers will go up to the rafters together…if in a world were I had to pick if only one could go up, it’s Zetterberg
I’ll be the outlier here and go with Magic Man. 3x Selke 4x consecutive Lady Byngs. Fans remember his magic, but he was doing all that while always responsible on the other end also. Triple Gold club, NHL Top 100 player if all time and a high PPG than Z. Sold tickets like nobody’s business and arguably shaped the game with his stick handling. I love Z but this is 13 all day.
Taking care of your kid will never lose you points in my book.
Their careers lined up so closely that it’s hard to separate them. When it comes to Detroit sports duos, they are up there with Trammell and Whitaker.
You can’t separate euro twins
It’s like peanut butter and jelly, the sum was greater than the parts.
Zetterberg
Zetterberg did more for Detroit, but Datsyuk pushed the game of hockey forward as a whole more than almost anybody of his time.
Stupid question – though I knew what the question was just from the title.
Bs datsyuk meant so much more
Due to where I live, other than nationally broadcasted games, I pretty much missed Datsyuk’s time with the team. I was able to catch Z’s last few seasons with the team, so he means more to me personally. I do, however, recognize Dat’s contribution to the team.
The answer is Yes.
This is a stupid question
Z did more for the team as a leader and captain, but Datsyuk was the highlight reel and ‘X Factor’ any time you ever thought the Wings were out of it.
👍🏻
No disrespect to Hank, who is a HoFer himself, but Pavs was among the best two-way players ever. Like he was “they-should-rename-the-Selke-after-him” type good. Hank was awesome, but it’s not close between which of those two meant more to the team, or to hockey in general.
I guess I would say Z since he spent his whole professional career as wing and Pav Played 5 or 6 years in Russia after he left….not that I blame him at all but if I was to choose between the two thats the only downside I see to either.
Noooo! Both legends, both equally as important..+
Package deal. That being said, Z has been my hero since I was a kid
There is no Shepard without Vakarian.
My heart says Zetty, my eyes say Dats
Literally named my first born son Henrik because of this… so gotta vote Zetterberg.
Pav was able to crack the 2002 all star lineup and impress several hall of famers. That says something.
I think Z meant more to the Red Wings as a cohesive team, but Datsyuk meant more as an iconic Red Wing to the league as a whole.