Is Hank too slow and ineffective to play center?

[unsaddleddonald 357]

He can't seem to carry rushes. In fact, it seems like rushes die when he carries the puck through center. He can't forecheck and can't seem to backcheck either.

Don't have the stats, but it seems like he is pretty bad in the circle too. Ottawa tied it up on a clean faceoff win against him.

I feel like playing the wing would be better for him at this point, ESPECIALLY considering it seems he never really gets premium chances. He as 16 goals and has scored in only 13 games of 73. 1 goal in his last 24.

The assists are still there, but the eye test is telling me that he has been ineffective for too many stretches.

[ShanahanMan 473]

He's done. Combination of old age and back issues have pretty much ended his career.

[Z and D for the C 712]

It's horrible to say but he's pretty ineffective at this point. I don't know if he's just been in a horrible slump or it's just the twilight of his career. He was having a good year up until the past month.

Maybe we should just put him on Datsyuk's wing.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

He can't seem to carry rushes. In fact, it seems like rushes die when he carries the puck through center. He can't forecheck and can't seem to backcheck either.

Don't have the stats, but it seems like he is pretty bad in the circle too. Ottawa tied it up on a clean faceoff win against him.

I feel like playing the wing would be better for him at this point, ESPECIALLY considering it seems he never really gets premium chances. He as 16 goals and has scored in only 13 games of 73. 1 goal in his last 24.

The assists are still there, but the eye test is telling me that he has been ineffective for too many stretches.

Z is still above 50% on faceoffs for the season, but it does seem like he's been on the losing end the last couple months. The whole team has really.

He still does an impressive job hanging on to the puck in traffic but he does look so labored out there. I don't know if it's injury, or age, or what, but it's depressing to see.

[number9 3,297]

He hasn't looked any worse than the rest of the team lately

[unsaddleddonald 357]

Z is still above 50% on faceoffs for the season, but it does seem like he's been on the losing end the last couple months. The whole team has really.

He still does an impressive job hanging on to the puck in traffic but he does look so labored out there. I don't know if it's injury, or age, or what, but it's depressing to see.

It really is hard to watch some times; when he's backchecking, he puts his head down and skates as hard as he can...he just doesn't go anywhere.

[Crashnburnluder 385]

Everyone is having a terrible month and our schedule is awful right now. A game every night means 0 rest plus back to backs sprinkled in. He is worn down, and sadly we pissed away our breathing room to rest him.

[toby91_ca 620]

Hard to say whether it's age catching up to him or not. Not unusual for any player to go into a slump like this, but I do worry as it would make sense to be age and health related as well....later in the season....number of games catching up to him, etc. I'll assume slump for now though, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried at all.

He has been terrible on the draw the past 10 games, that for sure. Prior to that, he's been better than ok for the majority of games.

[number9 3,297]

Everyone is having a terrible month and our schedule is awful right now. A game every night means 0 rest plus back to backs sprinkled in. He is worn down, and sadly we pissed away our breathing room to rest him.

Squeakin in, only to be gassed, leading to a first round exit. The retool continues.

[Dave 324]

He hasn't looked any worse than the rest of the team lately

So he's at least terrible? Honestly I don't think Z is the problem. He can't carry the team anymore, but he's still effective.

[chaps80 1,591]

I dunno, but i'm pretty sure he won't play out the rest of his contract. I think some people simply forget his age and injury history. He was a rookie in 2002, cup win was in 2008. That's awhile ago now. Far from the same player. He had a good run.

[number9 3,297]

So he's at least terrible? Honestly I don't think Z is the problem. He can't carry the team anymore, but he's still effective.

Totally agreed

I dunno, but i'm pretty sure he won't play out the rest of his contract. I think some people simply forget his age and injury history. He was a rookie in 2002, cup win was in 2008. That's awhile ago now. Far from the same player. He had a good run.

Keep dreamin

[chaps80 1,591]

Keep dreamin

True enough. Even if he can't walk he can still sit on LTIR and collect his millions. Least his $6+ million cap hit (even when he's only earning $1 million in his final two years) won't count if he does though.

[number9 3,297]

True enough. Even if he can't walk he can still sit on LTIR and collect his millions. Least his $6+ million cap hit (even when he's only earning $1 million in his final two years) won't count if he does though.

I highly doubt Zberg doesn't play out his contract. Maybe that's just me though...

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

Zetterberg has been struggling. Yet, he's still leading the team in points so those saying he's done are just ridiculous. Him on wing is an interesting idea, though to give him some help. I think a part of his struggles has been the fact that he's played often with Nyquist who has been also slumping hard. Him, Abby and Cole were working, but he was relied upon to be the creative one there and he was adding to the assist column, but not goals. I still think that would be a good line if we get healthy.

Zetterberg's always been streaky - Let hope this bad stretch is over with.

[Pat 44]

Babcock refuses to play Datsyuk and Zetterberg on the same line except the PP and I think it's a major reason why Zetterberg has been struggling of late. Before Babcock would put Zetterberg and Datsyuk out there just to generate spark on the team but now he is shying away from that. I think we need to see more Zetterberg and Datsyuk together going forward if we want to turn this season around.

[gcom007 1,465]

He's not done. That's absurdity. He's just not going to be an elite force on anything close to a consistent basis anymore. Doesn't mean he doesn't still bring value. Doesn't mean he doesn't have heart. Doesn't mean he's not a great leader. He's just been through too much at this stage in his career to continue to be a dominant force for this team at either end of the ice. It is what it is. Newer, younger guys need to rise up and help carry the load.

Edit: As far as I'm concerned, the most important player on this team at this point is without a doubt Datsyuk. He can still turn a game on it's head almost singlehandedly, and you can count on him to do so far more often than Z. He's not the type to wear the C, but from a heart and soul and "engine" standpoint, Dats is the leader of this team.

Edited April 3, 2015 by gcom007

[wings_fanatic 677]

Babcock refuses to play Datsyuk and Zetterberg on the same line except the PP and I think it's a major reason why Zetterberg has been struggling of late. Before Babcock would put Zetterberg and Datsyuk out there just to generate spark on the team but now he is shying away from that. I think we need to see more Zetterberg and Datsyuk together going forward if we want to turn this season around.

I completely agree. This late in the season, you gotta change things up to create a spark. Pav and Hank are always magic together and we can still have balanced scoring.

[unsaddleddonald 357]

He's not done. That's absurdity. He's just not going to be an elite force on anything close to a consistent basis anymore. Doesn't mean he doesn't still bring value. Doesn't mean he doesn't have heart. Doesn't mean he's not a great leader. He's just been through too much at this stage in his career to continue to be a dominant force for this team at either end of the ice. It is what it is. Newer, younger guys need to rise up and help carry the load.

Edit: As far as I'm concerned, the most important player on this team at this point is without a doubt Datsyuk. He can still turn a game on it's head almost singlehandedly, and you can count on him to do so far more often than Z. He's not the type to wear the C, but from a heart and soul and "engine" standpoint, Dats is the leader of this team.

Totally agree, this team lives and dies with Pav.

It's an interesting thing to see here as age seems to be catching up much quicker with Hank than Pav. Pav has lost a step, but he's still an absolute difference maker.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Totally agree, this team lives and dies with Pav.

It's an interesting thing to see here as age seems to be catching up much quicker with Hank than Pav. Pav has lost a step, but he's still an absolute difference maker.

It's not totally surprising given the different ways they play the game. Datsyuk largely succeeds by slowing the game down, making people miss. His ability to undress people backs them off. Even defensively, he's more of a pickpocket than anything else.

Zetterberg both offensively and defensively seems to succeed by sheer will. He's obviously skilled and crafty, but he protects the puck more by battling through guys. Scores by going to the hard areas of the ice. It's part of why he's been so successful in the playoffs. And defensively he's physically all over the other player.

Hopefully he's just slumping in the goal scoring department. It's hard to know when he's injured because his skating style so often looks labored.

He is leading the team in points so it's not like he's having a horrible year. Actually looking back at the last several years his production is not that far off what he's been doing. He's just been quiet when the team could really use him.

[Motown4013 350]

I also think that we are so used to Zetterberg going into complete beast mode this time of year that it just magnifies his struggles. No one who lave guessed that Abby would have six more goals than Zetterberg..... And Glenny would have 5 less- those are some disturbing facts.

The guy has been so clutch for so long that you always expect him to get the GWG and put this team on his back as he has always done and that just hasn't happened so far this year.

Whether it's fatigue, an injury or just a terrible slump, it's obviously a factor. All I know is that Zetty has the heart of a lion and we will claw his way into the last 6 games.

I agree that putting him with Pavel is the right move.....get him going and u least the beast

[themcityblues 249]

Z was always a physical grinder and Dats was a world class calibre finesse player. I would've expected Dats to have a better twilight than Z. Even with his recognition, Dats' skill is still understated. Even when he's not scoring points, he's basically always owning and humiliating people. Throw Dats with Z because Z needs some help.

Edited April 3, 2015 by themcityblues

[kickazz 5,459]

Z's always been a pretty below average skater even in his prime. I wouldn't read too much into his "puts his head down and skates as hard as he can on rushes, slowly". Often times people forget that Z is a natural left wing forced to play center. Babs got to put Z with D to get him going again. Z never been much of a goal scorer as a centermen. Most of his goals came playing on the wing with dats.

I don't necessarily agree with some of the opinions of who is the "engine" and "heart and soul" of this team. I think it's undeniable that both Z and D are the heart and soul. 2013 and 2014 Z was carrying the team on his back more so that Pav was. Currently Pav is more effective and I give this year to him. Lets wait (and hope) till the playoffs and see if Z is truly kicked the bucket. Who knows? We might see playoff mode Z coming out and displaying his reserve energy.

Edited April 5, 2015 by kickazz

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Zetterberg is not a natural winger. He is a center. When he's with Datsyuk he lines up on the wing but they switch back and forth as the flow of the game goes during play.

Babcock has them split to increase the scoring depth. If they were together right now they'd have one good line.

[number9 3,297]

Zetterberg is not a natural winger. He is a center. When he's with Datsyuk he lines up on the wing but they switch back and forth as the flow of the game goes during play.Babcock has them split to increase the scoring depth. If they were together right now they'd have one good line.

Zetterberg is a natural winger