NHL'S Top 10 most likely breakout players

[tommingthepuck96 1]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=457926

5. Valtteri Filppula, Detroit -- The Wings believe all that held Filppula back from a breakout season in '08-09 was his place on the depth chart. Then again, he notched 16 points in 23 playoff games despite not having a top-six role. With Marian Hossa (and possibly Jiri Hudler) gone, Filppula will be playing with better players (Johan Franzen? Henrik Zetterberg? Pavel Datsyuk?). His stats should soar along with his responsibilities.

[titanium2 867]

He better if the Wings plan to make up for those 80 something goals.

[KrazyGangsta 79]

I'd have to agree with them. Fil is going to x-plode this year.

[gcom007 1,465]

I'll be shocked if he breaks 50 points.

[MadMan Mark 0]

Wings are going more D-minded. If he increases his production, that will help off-set the loss of O from Hossa, Hudler, and Sammy. With a more intense D and a better PK (please), we probably won't have to replace 80 goals. Plus, factor in O by Helm and Leino and the amount to replace has become much smaller.

[egroen 384]

I'll be thrilled if he reaches 50 pts as well.

I'm just not sold on his offensive potential yet, and hopefully he surprises me.

Edited July 31, 2009 by egroen

[RedFX 48]

I could very well see this. He has shown over the past couple of years how good he can be when he plays with good talent around him. I think back to the end of '08 when Franzen started getting more top-6 ice time

[tommingthepuck96 1]

I'll be thrilled if he reaches 50 pts as well.

I'm just not sold on his offensive potential yet, and hopefully he surprises me.

He shows the skill, but the confidence is often not there, if and when he gets his confidence, and shoots the puck more often, he could be a real star. We'll see who he plays with next year..

[xBrave_Heartx 0]

He'll be back on the top 2 scoring lines, and he'll be mature enough to handle the minutes unlike two years ago.

I think he has to breakout.

[AtomicPunk 296]

I hope they sent him away for the summer with a message of SHOOT THE PUCK. SHOOT THE PUCK.

[titanium2 867]

He'll be back on the top 2 scoring lines, and he'll be mature enough to handle the minutes unlike two years ago.

I think he has to breakout.

Hopefully the addition of a full time Helm means that Babs is done playing Fil as the third line center.

I hope they sent him away for the summer with a message of SHOOT THE PUCK. SHOOT THE PUCK.

Anybody got Game 2 against Vancouver in 2002? Extract the part where fans got really pissed off and then make it into an alarm sound for Fil.

EDIT: Actually, how does one say, "Shoot the puck!" in Finnish?

Edited July 31, 2009 by titanium2

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=457926

5. Valtteri Filppula, Detroit -- The Wings believe all that held Filppula back from a breakout season in '08-09 was his place on the depth chart. Then again, he notched 16 points in 23 playoff games despite not having a top-six role. With Marian Hossa (and possibly Jiri Hudler) gone, Filppula will be playing with better players (Johan Franzen? Henrik Zetterberg? Pavel Datsyuk?). His stats should soar along with his responsibilities.

Hate to Nitpick but ever since Mike Brown's hit on Hudler which ended the Hudler-Filpulla-Sammy's line production, He played the rest of the playoffs in the top 6, generally with either Datsyuk or Franzen and Hossa.

He was in the Top 6 more then he wasent.

[Konnan511 1,736]

He'll finally get consistent PP time. I'll be shocked and amazed if he does not get at least 50 points. If you don't think he won't get at least 50 points from playing on the PP and being on the second line then you must have some serious grudge against him or some ill-fated hate for him for some reason. 25 goals and 40 assists are my guesses.

[kook_10 1,705]

EDIT: Actually, how does one say, "Shoot the puck!" in Finnish?

ammu! saatana mulkku! [with color added] as my former Finn teammates used to say amongst other things

[egroen 384]

He'll finally get consistent PP time. I'll be shocked and amazed if he does not get at least 50 points. If you don't think he won't get at least 50 points from playing on the PP and being on the second line then you must have some serious grudge against him or some ill-fated hate for him for some reason. 25 goals and 40 assists are my guesses.

As I pointed out in another thread, Filppula has received more than a fair shake on the power play and done very little with it.

Even without bringing in another free agent, I would not be surprised if Leino and Cleary end up ahead of Filppula for power play minutes.

My doubts with Filppula come from watching him, not from any sort of a grudge - I like him a lot.

But he is not a goal scorer - and rarely puts the puck where he wants it when carrying it at speed.

And he is not much of a playmaker - just take a look at the playoffs where he led the team in assists: Most of those assists were secondary, passing to Hudler or a defenseman who then set up the goal scorer; or from simply give-and-gos to Franzen and Hossa who then did their thing.

So I have doubts that Filppula will ever amount to what many of you think he can, offensively - but I am certainly rooting for him to prove me wrong.

[bonan78 1]

Hate to Nitpick but ever since Mike Brown's hit on Hudler which ended the Hudler-Filpulla-Sammy's line production, He played the rest of the playoffs in the top 6, generally with either Datsyuk or Franzen and Hossa.

He was in the Top 6 more then he wasent.

IIRC he was not moved up to the 2nd line until the Chicago series, when he centered Franzen and Hossa for a couple of games, then he stepped into Datsyuk's spot while he was out of the lineup.

Either way, it was no more than 50/50 top 6 time in the playoffs.

[kook_10 1,705]

I would love to see Fils break out and I think he will, but remember the last guy they told to shoot more became the Logohunter. We haven't seen enough of his shot to really know what he can do.

[numberthirtynine 0]

Fil to me looks like the most likely candidate on that list. He's got the best supporting cast of anyone on there and the best chance to do something. The rest seem like they're a year or two off or won't make the jump Fil will. the media is usually off by a year or so on these guys anyway.

[Z and D for the C 712]

Flip played about half of the games on the third line, the other on the second. It will be a great year for Flip.

Edited July 31, 2009 by Z and D for the C

[BeeRYCE 2]

Filppula, ahh maybe. His role is more important this season (obviously), and the weight will be on his shoulders. In a full 82 game schedule, I predict 60-65 points. This season I think will be his strongest thus far, but enough to be widely known as a breakout "star"? We'll have to see.

I'm sold on Stamkos though. The last third of the season, he was hella strong. He has what it takes to be a 100 point player? Will he do it this season? Meh, probably not... But he'll hit 90 or close.

[kook_10 1,705]

I was a little surprised to not see TJ Oshie on that list.

[Snazzy 0]

I've been saying all along that Flip will have a break out season when he gets a legit chance. He'll be a force! Mark my words.

[gcom007 1,465]

As I pointed out in another thread, Filppula has received more than a fair shake on the power play and done very little with it.

Even without bringing in another free agent, I would not be surprised if Leino and Cleary end up ahead of Filppula for power play minutes.

My doubts with Filppula come from watching him, not from any sort of a grudge - I like him a lot.

But he is not a goal scorer - and rarely puts the puck where he wants it when carrying it at speed.

And he is not much of a playmaker - just take a look at the playoffs where he led the team in assists: Most of those assists were secondary, passing to Hudler or a defenseman who then set up the goal scorer; or from simply give-and-gos to Franzen and Hossa who then did their thing.

So I have doubts that Filppula will ever amount to what many of you think he can, offensively - but I am certainly rooting for him to prove me wrong.

I agree. I've got nothing against the guy and I think he's a solid player, but I don't think he's going to be the player many around here are expecting. We're on the same page on this one.

[ben_usmc 253]

Flip the next Datsyuk PROMISE

[RedWingedKitten 9]

I think he has shown many glimpses of what he can do... much like two other Europeans who once showed flashes of brilliance.