Let's talk about Filppula

[CloneHakanPlease*]

I know he may be nursing a knee injury right now, but even with that I can't be the only one who has been disappointed with him. He's looked invisible more often than not, isn't as strong defensively compared to last year. Even in his "breakout" year I felt a lot of his points were artificially inflated due to his line and secondary assists.

Do you guys think that last season was somewhat of an anomaly?

Will he ever be a consistent 60 point guy?

Do you want to resign him, and if so, for how much? Honestly, I feel like if he wants more than 4.25 million, he can take a hike if other FA targets still remain.

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[silkyjohnson50]

Very disappointing, no question. I hope for our future sake that he's still healing and that's the reason.

Completely disagree with his points being inflated last season. He was great on the puck last season and IMO one of the biggest reasons to that line's success. If you go back and watch, Filppula's skating was what gained the zone for that line most of the season. At times he carried that line with the skating of the other two.

But this season he's slower, softer on the puck, and not able to get any separation on guys. He needs to be better.

 

[RedMenace]

I know he may be nursing a knee injury right now, but even with that I can't be the only one who has been disappointed with him. He's looked invisible more often than not, isn't as strong defensively compared to last year. Even in his "breakout" year I felt a lot of his points were artificially inflated due to his line and secondary assists.

It really looks like that knee is worse than anyone's letting on; with this season being what it is, I'd consider going ahead and getting whatever it is fixed... though it is a contract year, so he likely won't.

[Hudler] Wait, how could Hudler's AND Filppula's totals be inflated due to their linemates? [/Hudler]

Do you guys think that last season was somewhat of an anomaly?

No. See: knee comment.

Will he ever be a consistent 60 point guy?

I'd say ~50 is more likely, just like HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED, but I think he can consistently reach that as long as his role is also consistent.

Do you want to resign him, and if so, for how much? Honestly, I feel like if he wants more than 4.25 million, he can take a hike if other FA targets still remain.

I'd love to keep him around, but I really think $4m should be the upper limit, especially with the cap going down.

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

I don't know what to think of Fil. He's been silent all season. I think his knee is bothering him, I mean he's not even practicing.

 

[detredWINgs]

Since he entered the league, it was obvious that he doesn't have the offensive IQ to be a consistent producer. And I've been saying it since then, all the while laughing at the folks who called him "the next Zetterberg" and/or "a future perennial 60-70 point foward."

Last year was a career year - not a breakout year. The only way he puts up 60 points is if he's riding shotgun alongside Zetterberg or Datsyuk. Anyone thinking he can be the Wings next #1 center is going to be mightily disappointed. He is a supporting player only and will look like a fish out of water if asked to be more.

I was calling for Holland to trade him in the off-season while his value was sky high. He could've landed young but established defenseman a la Bogosian. In fact, I'd still like to see him traded if the value is there. Whatever he ends up being paid next year, he won't be worth half of it without Datsyuk, Zetterberg, or a player of similar calibre to carry his offense.

 

[joe89]

Probably wanna see him finish this season first. Started cold, then hot, now is cold again. Not liking him at center, and as a playmaking winger you have to wonder how much he's worth to this team. At the same time, I don't see how we are better off without him. No doubt would other teams throw money at him in free agency.

 

[Heinz84]

Do you want to resign him, and if so, for how much? Honestly, I feel like if he wants more than 4.25 million, he can take a hike if other FA targets still remain.

I would love him to stay as I also blame his knee for the current slump, but I still believe he will struggle to ever be a consistent 60 Point scorer, even if hes healthy. He reluctance to shoot the puck has been quite frustrating again this season.

The Red Wings will propably make a push for a Top-Defensemen at the trade deadline, and they will have to put a roster player into the package. I think Filpulla may be a great asset at this time. We have plenty of skilled forward prospects in the system who should be able to replace him and who will eventully just need a fair chance for a roster spot.

 

[Flowah]

Give him to Zetterberg. He went super hot playing with Z last year. Both Filp and Z made each other better when they played together. Why are we not trying that again?

 

[CloneHakanPlease*]

The Red Wings will propably make a push for a Top-Defensemen at the trade deadline,

God, I really hope they do not. This team isn't winning a championship this year. I'd really not want to waste assests acquiring a player unless that player is in the team's future plans and is acquired when their value isn't the highest.

 

[detredWINgs]

Probably wanna see him finish this season first. Started cold, then hot, now is cold again. Not liking him at center, and as a playmaking winger you have to wonder how much he's worth to this team. At the same time, I don't see how we are better off without him. No doubt would other teams throw money at him in free agency.

We're better off without him if we use him as trade bait for something we do need. Like you said, hes not a good center in an offensive role, and while hes good as a playmaking winger, we have depth in that area. After the way he looked tonight, and with 4 points in 6 games, its arguable Tatar could take over Filppula's playmaking winger role and we wouldn't miss a beat.

 

[Motown Beatdown]

This is like the 3rd or 4th year we've heard Flip is going to "break out" It simply isn't happening. He's a bad 2nd line center and wont be worth the money Holland is going to pay him this off season.

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

This is like the 3rd or 4th year we've heard Flip is going to "break out" It simply isn't happening. He's a bad 2nd line center and wont be worth the money Holland is going to pay him this off season.

Uhhh... he broke out last year.

 

[WingedWheel1987]

The term fluke is starting to creep into my vocabulary for Flip.

 

[silkyjohnson50]

The term fluke is starting to creep into my vocabulary for Flip.

Shocker.

It has to be an injury. He's probably still trying to get the previous knee injury back to 100%. It's not like he's gone back to the pre-2011 Filppula. He's playing some of the worst hockey of his career right now. The Filppula before last season would often look good and show flashes of brilliance, he just wasn't consistently producing enough. This Filppula is not noticeable in a good way. He's been invisible outside of two games, the two games Datsyuk was brilliant (Bertuzzi and Filppula's 2 goal games.) Datsyuk was also really strong against Edmonton, but his linemates didn't stick out at all.

 

[Kronwalled55]

Should've moved him when he peaked in value. Said it last offseason.

At least he's bringing his own price down.

 

[PullHard]

While I admire his work ethic, he is really predictable offensively. I would be licking my chops if I knew I would be given the assignment to cover his line + his side of the ice.

 

[Frk It]

He's hurt this year so that makes him a fluke?

You guys have seen how much better Hank looks this year when he's the healthiest he's been in awhile?

Fil will be fine. Once he re-gains his skating and plays on the wing with some good linemates he will go back to being one of the best offensive players on the team. You guys need to relax.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

While I admire his work ethic, he is really predictable offensively. I would be licking my chops if I knew I would be given the assignment to cover his line + his side of the ice.

He's such a weird player, because he skates so well, he's pretty damn strong, can stop and start with the best of em, and has excellent stickhandling skills... and yet he manages to get almost nothing done. I'd question his hockey sense, but he seems to have it on the defensive side of things.

I know the claim is supposed to be that he's so defensively responsible playing center that he gives up on offensive chances, but I haven't seen a ton of that either. It plainly just looks like he doesn't know what to do with the puck a lot of the time.

 

[14ari13]

To me he does not seem like he skates as he used too. I believe there must be some kind of minor injury which bothers him.

 

[joe89]

We're better off without him if we use him as trade bait for something we do need. Like you said, hes not a good center in an offensive role, and while hes good as a playmaking winger, we have depth in that area. After the way he looked tonight, and with 4 points in 6 games, its arguable Tatar could take over Filppula's playmaking winger role and we wouldn't miss a beat.

Nyquist also playmaking winger. Jarnkrok, Sheahan playmaking centers. Which is why I'm doubtful to his long term value, even if he's a 55-60 point winger(with Z or D anyway). It would be different if he could show that he is capable of being a 55-60 point center.

That said, if we want to use him in a trade we have to sign him first. I definitely see his agent wanting a NMC though..

 

[crashman]

In no way am I trying to imply that his injury is a positive thing, it's not, but it might allow us to re-sign him a bit cheaper than we would have had he been healthy.

I think Filppula is a very solid player and still has a bright future with the Wings, he's just being hampered by injury at the moment. I think re-signing him should be high on Holland's to-do list.

 

[JPE123]

His game depends a lot on his speed and he looks slower this year. I'll give him a pass because of the knee but he's definitely down. I'd hate to give up on him yet

 

[Henkka]

Who would be the best comparable in contract negotiations?

With fast look, he is on average:

75 games, 18+32=50 point player.

2/3 points per game the last 3 seasons + current season. Solid defensively, not special teams spesialist (borderline 2nd PP player, ~3rd pair PK). +50% at faceoffs, but not any kind of specialist.

 

[InjuredChoker]

While I admire his work ethic, he is really predictable offensively. I would be licking my chops if I knew I would be given the assignment to cover his line + his side of the ice.

Hockey sense. I don't think he's great in that area. Come down the left wing, put on the brakes and turn around, look for an opening.

To me he does not seem like he skates as he used too. I believe there must be some kind of minor injury which bothers him.

He did torn his MCL around 2 months before the season started.

Who would be the best comparable in contract negotiations?

With fast look, he is on average:

75 games, 18+32=50 point player.

2/3 points per game the last 3 seasons + current season. Solid defensively, not special teams spesialist (borderline 2nd PP player, ~3rd pair PK). +50% at faceoffs, but not any kind of specialist.

R.J Umberger, Ruutu, Fleischmann, Laich look to be around the same.

 

[sepster]

I've been saying he should be moved for a couple years now. Not because I don't like him or think he's bad but because with Zetterberg and Datsyuk around, Flip is redundant and this team has more glaring needs. Plus, Flip shouldn't be counted on to "be the next Zetterberg" because 1) he doesn't have the mentality to be a go-to, high end game changer like Z has and 2) they're too close in age anyways. So, Z is signed until he's 40, when he retires the Wings are going to hand the reigns over to a 36 year old Filppula? No, they're going to have Tatar, Nyquist, Pulkkinen, Jurco or Jarnkrok to choose between for that role.

This team needs a legit #1 d-man and a true power forward, if Flip can be used in a package to get either one of those, I would do that in a heartbeat. Those are glaring needs for this team and 5'10", 185 lbs playmaking/skill forwards the Wings have in abundance. Move something of abundance to fill a need.