Detroit Red Wings
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Pavel Datsyuk the Wizard
of Detroit? When Pavel Datsyuk was drafted 171st overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the Wings they had high hopes that he would somehow find a niche on a then very talented Stanley Cup Championship team. Little did they know that in the not so distant future their 6th round pick would blossom into the playmaker he has become today. He is for all practical purposes the new Wizard of Detroit, a dream come true, for the Wings, their fans and for Pavel as well. Today the 25-year-old Red Wing center is leading the NHL in points, with 37. After getting off to a somewhat slow start he has recently exploded offensively including 2 goals and 2 assists against the Washington Capitals. While some fans have knocked him for not being physical enough for this size, he has quickly quieted such criticism by providing offensive entertainment of late that might be referred to as "Gretzky like" in nature. Brett Hull recently summed up his play of as nothing less than "awesome," exclaiming that he might be the most talented playmaker in the league right now? While that remains to be seen, right now, today, on this Red Wing team he is deserving of the recognition he is getting both in the press and from his teammates. To Pavel Datsyuk congratulations on a job well done. Keep up the effort and fashion us Wing fans a potion that will help the Wings advance far into the playoffs and perhaps bring home another Stanley Cup to Hockeytown in 2004? |
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Revised: December 16, 2000