Filppula signs 5-Year, $15M contract

[gcom007 1,465]

I'm not too thrilled about the signing.

Guarantees Franzen will ask for quite a bit more, Hudler for around the same and Samuelsson for slightly less.

Tells me Hudler is gone, and I think he is a much better player than Filppula (on a team where two-way forwards are a dime a dozen). If there is not another large cap jump Hossa or Franzen will be gone as well.

I am probably just bitter about what this means for Hudler, as he is one of my favorite players, and in the end this will probably be a very good deal, just because management has a pretty damn good track record lately, but I just do not see that much offensive potential from Filppula.

I don't have any sort of emotional attachment to Hudler, at least any more so than anyone else on the team, but I think given time and potential, I'd rather have him on the team than Flip if I had to choose between the two. I just feel like Flip doesn't have the tenacity mentally or physically to become a big-time player. I think Hudler has the potential to get there and I think he'd be less money. So to me, that says Flip walks if he wants more than $2 million and give Hudler $2 million or less maybe even for 2-3 years and I think he stays and develops. Meanwhile, more money to throw at a game in, game out elite game-changer in Hossa. Let's hope Zetts is doing the Datsyuk deal and maybe Hossa buys into it as well. $6.7 million all around!

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I'm mixed on this.

He had a bad regular season considering he was a top 6 forward on the best team in the league, but he had a good playoff. I guess only time will tell.

I was also hoping he'd sign for less, but considering how much other free agent's were overpaid, this shouldn't surprise anyone.

[therock48880 14]

I'm happy with this because I really like Flip and think it has the potential to be a great deal in years to come.

My only question is what will this do for Mule's upcoming contract negotiation? I have read many times on TGW that people think he signs for $3-3.5M per year. Do you think that this will up his price as well?

[Edit] My point is that people talking about not being able to afford Hossa next year may end up being more because we will have to pay Mule more than was thought before this signing. BUT again I still really like this signing and think there might be a chance we still get to keep Hossa.

These were my first thoughts as well. This contract probably drives up Franzen's price next year, which makes a Hossa re-signing more unlikely, imo.

This deal seems risky, but to be fair to Kenny, I thought Datsyuk's contract was risky too. I was way wrong on that one and I hope I'm wrong on this one too.

[Phazon 24]

Like Game 5 of the 2007 WCF?

(Couldn't resist.)

even the best players make mistakes. Sakic had some horrible turnovers that led to goals vs minnesota in this years playoffs.

[therock48880 14]

I don't have any sort of emotional attachment to Hudler, at least any more so than anyone else on the team, but I think given time and potential, I'd rather have him on the team than Flip if I had to choose between the two. I just feel like Flip doesn't have the tenacity mentally or physically to become a big-time player. I think Hudler has the potential to get there and I think he'd be less money. So to me, that says Flip walks if he wants more than $2 million and give Hudler $2 million or less maybe even for 2-3 years and I think he stays and develops. Meanwhile, more money to throw at a game in, game out elite game-changer in Hossa. Let's hope Zetts is doing the Datsyuk deal and maybe Hossa buys into it as well. $6.7 million all around!

Huh???? You'd rather have Hudler than Flip? You don't think he's physical enough to be a big time player? I agree, he's not out there dishing out hits, but when he has the puck or when he's pursuing it, he doesn't shy away from anything. The kid's been crushed quite a few times along the boards only to get back up and battle for the puck.

[gcom007 1,465]

I'm mixed on this.

He had a bad regular season considering he was a top 6 forward on the best team in the league, but he had a good playoff. I guess only time will tell.

I was also hoping he'd sign for less, but considering how much other free agent's were overpaid, this shouldn't surprise anyone.

I really am surprised. I certainly feel like this is a reaction signing considering what others are being paid, but I'm still surprised. I don't feel like this fits in with the Wings business-model which isn't good for future negotiations.

I didn't like the deal for Kronwall and he had a lot of upside. He's come into his own in this last year, but even so, who's to say he won't have another injury-ridden year next year? Even with the upside coming, it's when he plays, and that hasn't been as much. So was it such a good deal after all? I'm not so sure. Flip has less upside if you ask me and he just got the same deal. So I don't like it. If it said 5 years $2 million, I'd be cool. Fair enough. In this system, 5 years at $3 million quite simply is not so cool, so yes, it very much is surprising.

Here's what won't surprise me now...bye bye Hossa and Franzen next year. That sucks. This should've been Franzen's deal and I think it'd be possible and we'd be lucky, but it'll be real tough now. Again, even if Flip becomes a player worth $3 million a year, I still think it's better to do whatever you can to keep Franzen and Hossa in the system. Those two have 10X the upside compared to Flip at a million...

[Frozen-Man 144]

Lol. Filppula is earning more than Zetterberg this year.

Actually, this is not technically correct. Although the cap hit for the year is $3M, Flip's salary is only $2M this year, $2.5M next year and then $3.5 the final three years. Averaged out the cap hit on Flip's contract is more ($3M) but he will only earn $2M this year which is less than what Z will make.

This does make it a little different I think that Flip is worth $2M next year which is what he is going to get paid. Hopefully, he will improve and be worth more than $2.5M the year after and worth more than $3.5M for the three years after that. Therefore, to me it looks like he signed for what he is worth this year and hopefully will be a bargain in the final 4 years. I hope so! I know it looks bad and cap-wise still costs $3M next year but that is not the salary that he is getting and that does matter.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...048/1048/SPORTS

Edited July 30, 2008 by Frozen-Man

[gcom007 1,465]

Huh???? You'd rather have Hudler than Flip? You don't think he's physical enough to be a big time player? I agree, he's not out there dishing out hits, but when he has the puck or when he's pursuing it, he doesn't shy away from anything. The kid's been crushed quite a few times along the boards only to get back up and battle for the puck.

I believe I said that I don't think he has the mental tenacity. Physical might've been in there too, but I was primarily thinking mentally. And it's hard to explain why I feel that way, but I've watched hockey for a long time and I've got a pretty good sense about guys. You can just kinda tell who's going to really step out. I by no means think Flips bad. He's not. Generally speaking, I like him as a player. But I like him at $1.5-2 million at this point. And even if he becomes a player that deserves to make $3 million (more than Cleary or Holmstrom) as a Wing, I still think it's a bad deal for the whole.

Hudler comes in because I like him at $1.5-2 million far more than Flip at $3 million. Again, it's not so much that it's really that awful of a deal, but it changes the playing field for signing guys like Franzen and Hudler and it's going to box Hossa out. And I'm of the mind that you send Flip packing if it means keeping Hossa. Again, what bothers me most about this deal is how it affects the big picture of the Wings system financially. That part I don't like at all.

[therock48880 14]

I really am surprised. I certainly feel like this is a reaction signing considering what others are being paid, but I'm still surprised. I don't feel like this fits in with the Wings business-model which isn't good for future negotiations.

I didn't like the deal for Kronwall and he had a lot of upside. He's come into his own in this last year, but even so, who's to say he won't have another injury-ridden year next year? Even with the upside coming, it's when he plays, and that hasn't been as much. So was it such a good deal after all? I'm not so sure. Flip has less upside if you ask me and he just got the same deal. So I don't like it. If it said 5 years $2 million, I'd be cool. Fair enough. In this system, 5 years at $3 million quite simply is not so cool, so yes, it very much is surprising.

Here's what won't surprise me now...bye bye Hossa and Franzen next year. That sucks. This should've been Franzen's deal and I think it'd be possible and we'd be lucky, but it'll be real tough now. Again, even if Flip becomes a player worth $3 million a year, I still think it's better to do whatever you can to keep Franzen and Hossa in the system. Those two have 10X the upside compared to Flip at a million...

Why would Hossa and Franzen be gone next year? Franzen's price may have gone up some, but there should be money to sign one of the two. Signing both just got more difficult, though.

[therock48880 14]

I believe I said that I don't think he has the mental tenacity. Physical might've been in there too, but I was primarily thinking mentally. And it's hard to explain why I feel that way, but I've watched hockey for a long time and I've got a pretty good sense about guys. You can just kinda tell who's going to really step out. I by no means think Flips bad. He's not. Generally speaking, I like him as a player. But I like him at $1.5-2 million at this point. And even if he becomes a player that deserves to make $3 million (more than Cleary or Holmstrom) as a Wing, I still think it's a bad deal for the whole.

Hudler comes in because I like him at $1.5-2 million far more than Flip at $3 million. Again, it's not so much that it's really that awful of a deal, but it changes the playing field for signing guys like Franzen and Hudler and it's going to box Hossa out. And I'm of the mind that you send Flip packing if it means keeping Hossa. Again, what bothers me most about this deal is how it affects the big picture of the Wings system financially. That part I don't like at all.

I'm not a fan of this contract, either, but I just don't think it's right to question his mental or physical tenacity after he played two rounds of playoff hockey on one good knee.

[gcom007 1,465]

Why would Hossa and Franzen be gone next year? Franzen's price may have gone up some, but there should be money to sign one of the two. Signing both just got more difficult, though.

I'm not saying it's impossible. I was playing off the "surprise" idea. I was surprised at this deal. I won't be surprised next year if we can't keep Hossa or Franzen. I think a Franzen deal will have to happen ASAP if he's going to stay because if he has another great year, then he's likely gone. I was really hoping they could get him signed 5 years at $3 million as opposed to Flip. Then Hossa at around $7 million/year. It's still all possible, but it's going to be a lot harder as said and all I'm saying is that given that it'll be harder now, I wouldn't be surprised if they were both gone.

[gcom007 1,465]

I'm not a fan of this contract, either, but I just don't think it's right to question his mental or physical tenacity after he played two rounds of playoff hockey on one good knee.

We're probably thinking about this in different ways. When I say it, I look at guys like Zetts and Dats who when watching them play even before they really became superstars, you knew that they were going to get there. They had the talent and they had a certain confidence and commitment to becoming the best. Nothing was going to stop them. I have felt that way for awhile about Franzen as well and was saying it before just about anyone. I don't see that in Flip.

It's ambiguous I know, but I'm just saying. When they were at Flips point, they weren't getting deals this good when you had to know they were only going huge. I think it's fair to say that Flip most likely won't be reaching that point, so I ask why in this instance is he getting better money? I'm not saying he doesn't have heart, isn't a good kid, doesn't like winning, etc...I'm saying I don't think he has the tools (generally speaking) to become a great player and at this point, I wouldn't put someone like that in a Wings jersey for 5 years at $3 million per year.

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

This is a good deal. Granted it does make it tough on us next year, but then it gets better and better for the next four. The only way to keep the core of the team together is like this. If we do short term deals eventually we just run out of room. I like Hudler, but Filppula has the size and more upside.

[Konnan511 1,736]

We're probably thinking about this in different ways. When I say it, I look at guys like Zetts and Dats who when watching them play even before they really became superstars, you knew that they were going to get there. They had the talent and they had a certain confidence and commitment to becoming the best. Nothing was going to stop them. I have felt that way for awhile about Franzen as well and was saying it before just about anyone. I don't see that in Flip.

It's ambiguous I know, but I'm just saying. When they were at Flips point, they weren't getting deals this good when you had to know they were only going huge. I think it's fair to say that Flip most likely won't be reaching that point, so I ask why in this instance is he getting better money? I'm not saying he doesn't have heart, isn't a good kid, doesn't like winning, etc...I'm saying I don't think he has the tools (generally speaking) to become a great player and at this point, I wouldn't put someone like that in a Wings jersey for 5 years at $3 million per year.

I mean no disprect I swear, but you may not see that in Flip, but I trust Kenny and Jim and Hakan over anybody.

[Doc Holiday 0]

I'm not saying it's impossible. I was playing off the "surprise" idea. I was surprised at this deal. I won't be surprised next year if we can't keep Hossa or Franzen. I think a Franzen deal will have to happen ASAP if he's going to stay because if he has another great year, then he's likely gone. I was really hoping they could get him signed 5 years at $3 million as opposed to Flip. Then Hossa at around $7 million/year. It's still all possible, but it's going to be a lot harder as said and all I'm saying is that given that it'll be harder now, I wouldn't be surprised if they were both gone.

I do not believe Hossa will be coming back next year. Franzen is a perfect player for the Wings and getting rid of him will be incredibly dumb. His post season dominance proved that well enough.

[therock48880 14]

I do not believe Hossa will be coming back next year. Franzen is a perfect player for the Wings and getting rid of him will be incredibly dumb. His post season dominance proved that well enough.

I agree. I was just asking him why he had written that both Franzen AND Hossa would be gone next year. I can see one or the other being gone, but not both.

[norrisnick 1]

I do not believe Hossa will be coming back next year. Franzen is a perfect player for the Wings and getting rid of him will be incredibly dumb. His post season dominance proved that well enough.

Nothing you wrote about Franzen doesn't also apply to Hossa.

[Guest Crymson]

It's ambiguous I know, but I'm just saying. When they were at Flips point, they weren't getting deals this good when you had to know they were only going huge. I think it's fair to say that Flip most likely won't be reaching that point, so I ask why in this instance is he getting better money?

He's getting better money because salaries have gone up A LOT since then.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Nothing you wrote about Franzen doesn't also apply to Hossa.

Wow that was hard to understand. Silly double negatives. Anywho, who would you rather keep after the year? Franzen (gives us more cap space for a great second liner) or Hossa (less cap space, chemistry, possible chance to leave when a bigger offer comes in).

[Guest Four]

A little bit more money than I had hoped.

[norrisnick 1]

Wow that was hard to understand. Silly double negatives. Anywho, who would you rather keep after the year? Franzen (gives us more cap space for a great second liner) or Hossa (less cap space, chemistry, possible chance to leave when a bigger offer comes in).

Hossa quite easily. He's every bit as good as Z and Pavel. You do anything in your power to keep a guy like that.

People need to remember that Franzen hasn't even broken 40 points in a season. Hossa has averaged 80 points over the last 7 seasons.

[gcom007 1,465]

Hossa quite easily. He's every bit as good as Z and Pavel. You do anything in your power to keep a guy like that.

People need to remember that Franzen hasn't even broken 40 points in a season. Hossa has averaged 80 points over the last 7 seasons.

Right on the money.

[chrisdetroit 189]

Hossa quite easily. He's every bit as good as Z and Pavel. You do anything in your power to keep a guy like that.

People need to remember that Franzen hasn't even broken 40 points in a season. Hossa has averaged 80 points over the last 7 seasons.

How many Selke nominations does he have? How many Selke trophys does he have? How many Stanley Cup Rings does he have? How many Conn Smyths has he won?

And let's see, he's about the same age and has played on pretty good Ottawa teams most of his career.

He's NOT as good defensively as either Pav or Z and that is what wins Cups.

[gcom007 1,465]

I mean no disprect I swear, but you may not see that in Flip, but I trust Kenny and Jim and Hakan over anybody.

I don't think they see it either. I don't think this deal would've been done if both parties didn't agree that ultimately he's an average player worth around $3 million per season. If they believed otherwise, this would've been a short term deal for around the same as they wouldn't go further at more money and Flip wouldn't sign for so long for so little. That said, my beef is that when Hossa and Franzen are up next year and after Z, it should be all about keep them as opposed to wasting cap space on average guys. If Franzen has another big year, I think it's very possible that both he and Hossa price themselves out of Detroit. I can't see Detroit putting up Datsyuk/Zetts money for Franzen after a year of this and someone else will and he'll likely take it. And in the same breath, they'll likely lose Hossa for similar reasons if they don't play their cards right.

I trust the management more often than not. I'm not a Holland-hater like many here. I've applauded nearly all of his moves through the years. I'm not big on this just as I wasn't big on the Kronwall deal and I'm still not big on the Kronwall deal even after this year. I don't really like these longer-term, mid-level gambles. Even though it's not huge money, save it to throw at a guy you're 100% sure is going to make a difference every game like Hossa.

[gcom007 1,465]

How many Selke nominations does he have? How many Selke trophys does he have? How many Stanley Cup Rings does he have? How many Conn Smyths has he won?

And let's see, he's about the same age and has played on pretty good Ottawa teams most of his career.

He's NOT as good defensively as either Pav or Z and that is what wins Cups.

I think you're going to change your tune after this year unless you're just a sentimental slappy.