Ah thanks, was looking at the wrong year. Edited my original post
Well, if anything that strengthens the argument for Datsyuk a bit. There's a significant goal gap (23rd vs 58th) that competition can't account for.
I can certainly see the argument, but the following is also worth noting:
2008-2009 Detroit scored 295 goals.
1992-1993 Toronto scored 288 goals.
Datsyuk’s 32 goals ranked third on Detroit.
Gilmour’s 32 goals ranked second on Toronto.
Datsyuk contributed to 32.9% of Detroit’s offense.
Gilmour contributed to 44.1% of Toronto’s offense.
Detroit had 7 other players who totaled at least 50 points.
Toronto had 2 other players who totaled at least 50 points.
Datsyuk led his closest teammates by 24 and 26 points.
Gilmour led his closest teammates by 53 and 62 points.
I vote Gilmour myself and I certainly don’t begrudge anyone picking Datsyuk, but there’s a difference in those squads, to the point where Detroit managed to score more goals in less games in a league where the scoring environment was 25% lower.
This is a good versus battle either way.