Update on Filppula/Chelios

[up2here 41]

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/det080716.html

I honestly thought Chelios was done here,but I guess not.

[Guest Dump-N-Thump]

good good

[P. Marlowe 748]

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/det080716.html

I honestly thought Chelios was done here,but I guess not.

That's only what the fans have been talking. Holland's said all summer that Chelios will be signed. I thought that it would've happened after the training camp, but I guess not then.

[Louisville 112]

I just remembered Filp scored 19 goals last season, not too shabby, maybe he could hit 30 playing with Hossa...

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I just remembered Filp scored 19 goals last season, not too shabby, maybe he could hit 30 playing with Hossa...

More likely, maybe Hossa could hit 50 playing with Filppula. If those two are paired with Franzen I expect massive assist numbers from Filppula. Think about the scorers he'll have alongside him.

Edited July 16, 2008 by Never Forget Mac #25

[Slave 31]

if we could get fil locked up for like 5-6 years at 2-3 mil a season i think it would be great, i can only see his impact on this team going up, hell even after hossa bolts when we win him the cup we could have a franzen hudler, fil line that could still put up numbers. i think the longer we wait to get hm a long term deal the more it will cost us. if we sign him 1 year now and he puts up 90 points playnig with hossa this year then next year we are f##$ed anyways

[UKWING 8]

More likely, maybe Hossa could hit 50 playing with Filppula. If those two are paired with Franzen I expect massive assist numbers from Filppula. Think about the scorers he'll have alongside him.

word - which is why a long term deal for flip would be preferable for the wings.

similarly, i think they need to sign franzen to a long term extension sooner rather than later too as his value is likely to go only one way from here.

[b.shanafan14 733]

More likely, maybe Hossa could hit 50 playing with Filppula. If those two are paired with Franzen I expect massive assist numbers from Filppula. Think about the scorers he'll have alongside him.

I agree completely, I'd love to see Fil sign long-term ASAP and I truely believe him when he says money isn't the main concern, especially when you see Holland prolly offered him a two-year for the sake of fitting under the cap now and earning a bigger pay later, but instead Val is looking for long-term, and if Holland is interested its going to be for less I believe.

I just hope our top two lines remain the same with Hossa replacing Samuelsson on the other wing on Filppula and Franzen's line, I think that line would be the top line with 90% of the teams in the league, and having them play equal time to the DZH top line would be a ridiculus scoring threat combined with equally ridiculus two-way play. Is it October yet?

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I'm wary of the Wings signing Flip to a long-term contract. He could be just as much a bust offensively (topping out as a 45-50 pt guy) as he could be a boom. As long as its a typical "underpaying on the long-term" contract, then I'll be fine with it.

[norrisnick 1]

More likely, maybe Hossa could hit 50 playing with Filppula. If those two are paired with Franzen I expect massive assist numbers from Filppula. Think about the scorers he'll have alongside him.

Hossa is not going to play on a line with two guys that had a combined 28 assists last year. You don't add an elite goal-scoring winger and hope the center magically turns into a playmaker. Or think that because he's putting up assists via osmosis that that's a good thing.

Marian will be on the wing of one of our big boys. Likely Pavel. Anything else would be a waste.

[SnipeShow 0]

Hossa is not going to play on a line with two guys that had a combined 28 assists last year. You don't add an elite goal-scoring winger and hope the center magically turns into a playmaker. Or think that because he's putting up assists via osmosis that that's a good thing.

Marian will be on the wing of one of our big boys. Likely Pavel. Anything else would be a waste.

Holmstrom - Datsyuk - Hossa

Franzen - Zetterberg - Filppula

or something like that?

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Hossa is not going to play on a line with two guys that had a combined 28 assists last year. You don't add an elite goal-scoring winger and hope the center magically turns into a playmaker. Or think that because he's putting up assists via osmosis that that's a good thing.

Marian will be on the wing of one of our big boys. Likely Pavel. Anything else would be a waste.

Initially thats what I was thinking as well, but if the other line that Z centers struggles, I can absolutely see Filppula centering the aforementioned line. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand the lack of assists Val has put up over the course of his career, but if he can prove capable there's no need to break up the ZDH line.

[norrisnick 1]

I think Fil will be used as our 3rd center with the two of Sammy, Cleary, and Hudler that don't make the top 2 lines.

[Zion 93]

I like those lines, but I'm a ***** for chemistry on the top line. Obviously, we'll see combinations, but I think the one above is a winner.

[norrisnick 1]

Initially thats what I was thinking as well, but if the other line that Z centers struggles, I can absolutely see Filppula centering the aforementioned line. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand the lack of assists Val has put up over the course of his career, but if he can prove capable there's no need to break up the ZDH line.

What makes you think a line with Z in the middle is any more likely to struggle than one with Fil in the middle?

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Chelios's salary better be near the league minimum, since it sounds like they're hiring a part time D-man.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

What makes you think a line with Z in the middle is any more likely to struggle than one with Fil in the middle?

Nothing, and I never said it would. I said, "If". On top of that, the lines would be different. Z would have Franzen and Filppula on the sides, while Dats would have Hossa and Homer. If Z was on the top line, Hossa would be on the second giving Filppula more options than what Z would have if he played with Franzen and Val.

Edited July 16, 2008 by Never Forget Mac #25

[b.shanafan14 733]

I think what you have to look at here is that Val is our most skilled center outside of Z and Pav, and is due to have a more productive season. Last year he was playing with Samuelsson and Franzen, both lacking a scoring touch until Franzen became Mr. Hyde at the end of the season. Having a full year with wingers of Hossa and newly dominant Franzen's caliber will have all three seeing career years. Filppula's lack of assists stems more from lack of finishing wingers rather than lack of playmaking ability. At the very least, I think we should start out with DZH and Franzen-Filppula-Hossa and see where the chemistry goes. I think it best if we're giving Filppula a long-term contract for him to keep getting the minutes and wingers of a second line center instead of keep demoting him to our second tier linemates on the third line.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I like those lines, but I'm a ***** for chemistry on the top line. Obviously, we'll see combinations, but I think the one above is a winner.

Filppula either centers the third line or he tags along on a line with an elite center (Datsyuk, Zetterberg) and a winger that has proven he can pot 25-30 goals (Hossa, Franzen, Homer).

You don't give a player who has proved nothing more offensively other than that he can get the bulk of his goals off the rush/breakaway in a defensive role the responsibility of centering elite goal scoring talents.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I'm a little surprised so few people are considering Cleary as a candidate for the second line. He had a great season, putting up 42 points in 63 games. He never quite got back to that level after he broke his jaw though. Hopefully he will this year.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I think what you have to look at here is that Val is our most skilled center outside of Z and Pav, and is due to have a more productive season. Last year he was playing with Samuelsson and Franzen, both lacking a scoring touch until Franzen became Mr. Hyde at the end of the season. Having a full year with wingers of Hossa and newly dominant Franzen's caliber will have all three seeing career years. Filppula's lack of assists stems more from lack of finishing wingers rather than lack of playmaking ability. At the very least, I think we should start out with DZH and Franzen-Filppula-Hossa and see where the chemistry goes. I think it best if we're giving Filppula a long-term contract for him to keep getting the minutes and wingers of a second line center instead of keep demoting him to our second tier linemates on the third line.

QFT

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I'm a little surprised so few people are considering Cleary as a candidate for the second line. He had a great season, putting up 42 points in 63 games. He never quite got back to that level after he broke his jaw though. Hopefully he will this year.

I think more people would have had Hossa not been added. That being said, he did phenomenal on the shutdown line and if there top two lines perform, why would he be bumped up if it isn't needed.

Besides, which Winger would you demote to the third line if Cleary is moved up? Homer is most certainly not a shutdown line type of player, Hossa obviously isn't going anywhere near that line, and Franzen showed a phenomenal touch from March through the rest of the season. Obviously Filppula won't play on a line with Draper given their current positions, so I guess I'm a little confused by what spot you feel he should have on the top two lines.

[norrisnick 1]

I think what you have to look at here is that Val is our most skilled center outside of Z and Pav, and is due to have a more productive season. Last year he was playing with Samuelsson and Franzen, both lacking a scoring touch until Franzen became Mr. Hyde at the end of the season. Having a full year with wingers of Hossa and newly dominant Franzen's caliber will have all three seeing career years. Filppula's lack of assists stems more from lack of finishing wingers rather than lack of playmaking ability. At the very least, I think we should start out with DZH and Franzen-Filppula-Hossa and see where the chemistry goes. I think it best if we're giving Filppula a long-term contract for him to keep getting the minutes and wingers of a second line center instead of keep demoting him to our second tier linemates on the third line.

So you've got Z, Pavel, and Fil. That smells like 3rd line center to me.

Filppula does not have NHL level scoring line playmaking ability. If it were a matter of wingers he'd be on the 2nd PP, but he's not (unless someone ahead of him is hurt). Fil is a defensive center that can carry the puck very well, but his offensive instincts are lacking. He can handle a 2on1 fairly well, but offensive zone passing when it's set up and knowing when to pass or when to shoot, just isn't there.

Sure he'll put up points on a stacked line, but said stacked line would be far better off with a center that can maximize the offense.

[norrisnick 1]

I think more people would have had Hossa not been added. That being said, he did phenomenal on the shutdown line and if there top two lines perform, why would he be bumped up if it isn't needed.

Besides, which Winger would you demote to the third line if Cleary is moved up? Homer is most certainly not a shutdown line type of player, Hossa obviously isn't going anywhere near that line, and Franzen showed a phenomenal touch from March through the rest of the season. Obviously Filppula won't play on a line with Draper given their current positions, so I guess I'm a little confused by what spot you feel he should have on the top two lines.

Fil centers #3 and Draper centers #4.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I'm a little surprised so few people are considering Cleary as a candidate for the second line. He had a great season, putting up 42 points in 63 games. He never quite got back to that level after he broke his jaw though. Hopefully he will this year.

He never quite got back because he was stuck with a huge cage on his face that made it difficult for him to see the puck. Kronwall was similarly atrocious when he had the cage on his face after getting his nose nearly chopped off. That has to be taken into account.