Confirmed Signing with Link: [DET] Valtteri Filppula signs with the Red Wings (2 years, $3M AAV)

[BelovedIsles]

Lou wanted Filp back, not at that price. Stevie Y knows an aging vet, as he was once one. Savvy, skilled, poised, good fit for a young team. There were so many smart breakouts this year that Filp led.

 

[Hasa92]

I feel as if this deal was only done to let Filppula have an epic retirement at his ”hometown”.

 

[Sergei DRW]

Ok, I am sold on bringing Datsyuk back, if all veterans are coming home.

 

[LaMasquerade]

I feel as if this deal was only done to let Filppula have an epic retirement at his ”hometown”.

Yep, and there'll be at least something to celebrate in Detroit next season as he plays his 1000th NHL game.

 

[newfy]

Apparently he had really good zone entry stats last year and scored 17 goals. Not horrible for a third line center and in 2 years young guys will be ready to take over for him

 

[obey86]

He was being boosted by the Sedins iirc. Went on to produce 4 points in 30 games for us, so clearly we were right to be upset about his return, no?

He played mostly on the Panthers the year before he came to the Red Wings. He put up 28 points in 48 games. Obviously, the Sedins didn't play on the Panthers.

And he had injury issues once he signed with the Wings which caused him to miss a bunch of games and play poorly. That's a separate issue from him being a worthless player at the time of signing though.

 

[obey86]

Stevie must really have a thing for Flip. Brought him down to Tampa and brings him back here.

None of the moves today are going to make any team shake in their skates...I really don't care. Build this team up slowly and steadily...don't throw away money in free agency like that gentleman that now works in Edmonton.

Ken Holland didn't do that once the Wings missed the playoffs/started rebuilding. It's not fair to compare Holland's situation as a playoff team to the Wings situation now as a bottom feeder. Obviously, the moves made aren't going to be similar. Holland probably would have made this exact same signing if he was still in Detroit right now.

 

[obey86]

At the time Samuelsson's contract was signed (12-13)... we were still a playoff team. We still had 32 year old Z, 34 year old Pavs, etc. and were still ostensibly trying to compete.
At the time Filppula's contract was signed (today)... we just were fourth worst in the NHL and look to be at about that level for 19-20 as well.

The two situations aren't remotely comparable and it's got nothing to do with who is sitting in the GM's seat. We didn't need "mentorship" and good pros to help young players develop in 2012 FA. We need a guy who could be effective secondary scoring. Samuelsson failed miserably at that. Filppula is literally a stopgap signing so we don't HAVE to have Veleno come up and suck on a really bad team.

Yeah, the contract ended up being bad because Samuelson was injured all the time in Detroit and therefore unproductive. Doesn't mean it was a stupid signing at the time it was made though. Samuelsson was a solid, productive player at the time he was signed.....it just didn't work out due (mostly) to injuries. You're conflating the two things.

 

[ShelbyZ]

IMO, the gist of this signing is most likely replacing Vanek's role as a middle-6 stop gap mentor/leader with a guy that can do all of the same things, but also kill penalties, take some faceoffs and actually play in his own zone.

While the Red Wings have a lot of center depth, Larkin and Nielsen were the only ones that can provide some offensive acumen while also being able to fulfill all the duties of a player at that position:

Larkin - Good #1C/PK/PP
Nielsen - Good #3C/OK #2C/PK/PP
AA - Can play C, but probably better suited at wing
Glendening - Solid #4C/Can fill in at #3C, but not ideal/PK
De La Rose - Good #4/5C, didn't look great when moved up the line-up and on the PP, might be better suited at wing
Ehn - Good #4/5C with upside, but probably needs more time as a top center in the AHL, or on the wing in the NHL
Helm - Can fill in as a bottom 6 center, but really hasn't played the position much in the past 6 seasons...
Abdelkader - Can fill in as a bottom 6 center, but really hasn't played the position much at all in the past 6 seasons...
Rasmussen - Not ready to take on a regular role as a C in the NHL, needs to either play the position in the AHL, or more time at wing in the NHL
Turgeon - Likely a Cory Emmerton 2.0 passable #4/5C fringe NHL guy
Veleno - Probably needs a full season in the AHL before he's considered for a spot in the NHL

Yzerman has already come out and said AA will play wing, so they needed somebody to fill the gap between Nielsen and Glendening, and be able to move up to a #2C spot and center a PP if Nielsen or Larkin get hurt.

Filppula and Nielsen will probably get juggled around as 2C and 3C and centering the PP when Larkin isn't out there.

Maybe they'll also alternate wearing #51?

 

[LarKing]

He played mostly on the Panthers the year before he came to the Red Wings. He put up 28 points in 48 games. Obviously, the Sedins didn't play on the Panthers.

And he had injury issues once he signed with the Wings which caused him to miss a bunch of games and play poorly. That's a separate issue from him being a worthless player at the time of signing though.

My mistake on the Sedins part, should’ve looked it up.

Not really, considering he was 35 coming off groin injuries in the 2011 playoffs and 2012 season. Everyone and their dog knew he had injury problems.

Also, let’s not forget we were contending then AND we gave him a NTC. If we would’ve signed today’s Filppula in 2012, I would be upset. We’re in a completely different spot now though. We can likely flip him for a pick in his last year here as well.

 

[Go Wings]

And a plus 19 hell yeah filpulla was great

Fipulla has never been great

 

[Sticksandsun]

Quick photoshop I made of Filppula in a Wings jersey:

Clearly shopped

 

[Sentinel]

Hate this signing.