Anyone else besides Wings fans see what Datsyuk is doing?

[Kyle]

Was just looking through team stats. He's on pace for over 30 goals which would be his highest total since the 2008-09 season. The guy is 36 too which is impressive. I know there tends to be a bias toward Russians for their perceived moodiness and indifference but I've never felt like he was any of that at all. I have to think that if he were born in Manitoba or Minnesota his hobby status would double what it is now which is a shame because he's one of the most talented players I've ever seen.

 

[99goals]

I'd say Pavel doesn't suffer that tag mentioned above. He has plenty of hobby love...

 

[golgo13]

I'd say Pavel doesn't suffer that tag mentioned above. He has plenty of hobby love...

Disagree......put him on Montreal or Toronto (almost puked thinking about that) and watch his values rise. Although he definitely has some "hobby love"

 

[Kyle]

I'd say Pavel doesn't suffer that tag mentioned above. He has plenty of hobby love...

I didn't say he doesn't have any. I said it would probably be far more than what it is now.

 

[g-force]

Disagree......put him on Montreal or Toronto (almost puked thinking about that) and watch his values rise. Although he definitely has some "hobby love"

I used to think that but I'm not so sure anymore. Who on Toronto gets any hobby love? Kessel is an annual allstar who consistently produces every year but gets no hobby love.

 

[NNeves]

I think what the OP is referring to is that Datsyuk should be one of the top few collected players and he is not. Not only is he a great player and highly skilled but he's very humble and universally respected by fans and players. I agree 100%.

 

[FrozenInferno]

I think what the OP is referring to is that Datsyuk should be one of the top few collected players and he is not. Not only is he a great player and highly skilled but he's very humble and universally respected by fans and players. I agree 100%.

This. Has anyone heard a single negative thing about Datsyuk? Ever? Players have nothing but praise to offer, he's never gotten into trouble on or off the ice, and he quietly goes about his business without seeking any limelight. The ultimate professional and one of the purest skill sets in the game.

 

[dismonkey1]

The arguement of hobby love and value of cards in regards to nationality and where a player plays is an interesting one to me. Lets take 2 American born young players- Johnny Gaudreau and Tyler Johnson (this takes the Canadian born player aspect out it). Gaudreau is having a really good rookie season (15G 29A- 44points) while Tyler Johnson is having an outstanding second full year (23G 36A- 59points). However, Gaudreau's YG sells for more than twice Johnson's even though Gaudreau's YG has been dropping and Johnson's has been rising slightly. The only real reason why Tyler Johnson hasn't skyrocketed is that he plays in Tampa instead of Calgary.

As for Datsyuk, he probaby would sell better if he was located on a Canadian team especially if he helped them win cups (or even playoff games); however, IMO the value of European born players' trading cards in general tends to be lower than NA born players (especially Canadian born) regardless. I am sure some people would disagree but that is just the way I see it.

To use Toronto as an example- Look at Doug Gilmour vs. Mats Sundin (comparable statistics) or even Mats Sundin vs. Wendel Clark (not even close statistically except he had a ton of PIMs)...the difference in hobby love isn't even close.

 

[Superdoup]

According to many nhl players, Datsyuk is on the top 5 if not the top player!
it was on a survey last year.

 

[timber09]

The arguement of hobby love and value of cards in regards to nationality and where a player plays is an interesting one to me. Lets take 2 American born young players- Johnny Gaudreau and Tyler Johnson (this takes the Canadian born player aspect out it). Gaudreau is having a really good rookie season (15G 29A- 44points) while Tyler Johnson is having an outstanding second full year (23G 36A- 59points). However, Gaudreau's YG sells for more than twice Johnson's even though Gaudreau's YG has been dropping and Johnson's has been rising slightly. The only real reason why Tyler Johnson hasn't skyrocketed is that he plays in Tampa instead of Calgary.

I think you are making a fair point - in that geography certainly helps to determine overall marketability of a player and, in turn, how collected they are.

That being said - the comparison between Gaudreau and Johnson is pretty flawed. While they both were on WJHC Gold Medal teams - Gaudreau did it in spectacular fashion, scored some huge goals and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Johnson had a good showing but was more on the role-player end of the spectrum.

Gaudreau was highly touted in college and won the Hobey Baker Award - certainly Johnson had a nice career with Spokane and made his own waves but never to the extent that Johnny Hockey did.

I guess my point is that there is more than simply market that is driving the difference between these two players. Gaudreau had people looking for his rookies immediately upon release - Johnson was in the dollar bin and is now clawing back to relevancy.

To the OP - Datsyuk has never gotten the accolades he should but I think that every hockey fan and hockey mind knows that he has been constantly one of the best two way players in the game and a sure fire Hall of Famer.

 

[newfiecomicguy1]

Playing in Canada don't really equal lots of hobby love. Toronto fans throw money at former stars and I see similar things in Detroit. Yzerman and Howe are a few Detroit guys who didn't struggle from hobby love playing for the wings, they are still big sellers. I think Dats is doing alright, as good as any current Leaf.

 

[habscards]

Not to bash the Leafs but the reason as to why they tend to sell so low is because they have had a losing team for quite some while. They have made the playoffs once over the last decade. It is kinda hard to collect a team that was not really going anywhere.

If you look at what Rielly cards sell for he has a following. When Kadri broke out two years ago his cards sold for good prices. When Riemer started playing his rookies were going for good prices. The Leafs have proven to sell well but then drop off once the collectors get fed up with the team. What will Nylander sell for next year? My guess is pretty good.



Back to the OP. Datsyuk should sell for a lot higher of prices.

 

[FrozenInferno]

Not to bash the Leafs but the reason as to why they tend to sell so low is because they have had a losing team for quite some while. They have made the playoffs once over the last decade. It is kinda hard to collect a team that was not really going anywhere.

If you look at what Rielly cards sell for he has a following. When Kadri broke out two years ago his cards sold for good prices. When Riemer started playing his rookies were going for good prices. The Leafs have proven to sell well but then drop off once the collectors get fed up with the team. What will Nylander sell for next year? My guess is pretty good.



Back to the OP. Datsyuk should sell for a lot higher of prices.

Im a Leafs fan, I don't collect Leafs. Why? Everybody is disposable. We haven't had a bonafide star player since Sundin left. When a team is constantly turning over its roster there's not much incentive to pick up cards of a guy that will be gone within a year or two. Losing - and the media crapstorm that comes with it - doesn't help matters either.

I envy fans of teams with great franchise players who are helping the team win over the long term. We need one of those players again, preferably a guy we can draft and develop at home.

Kessel is the closest thing we have to a star player now but he's not going to carry us to a Cup any time soon.