Filppula poised for breakthrough season

[Buppy 1,720]

More like 2A, 2B, and 2C. With Zetterberg and Datsyuk split up, you have an above average 2nd line, but a below average first.

You think an average top line is better than Franzen-Datsyuk-Homer?

[dropkickshanahans 463]

You think an average top line is better than Franzen-Datsyuk-Homer?

I think it's an above average scoring line but still one of the best compared to others. I believe last year with Hossa on the top line working with Dats we weren't as effective 5 on 5 as in recent years, but our PP was great. I expect the same this year if Babs does reduce time on our first two lines like the other poster mentioned he would do.

As for Flip, he's reached 20 goals before I believe, and if there's good chemistry between him and Leino I could see a 20g 30a season from Flip give or take.

[gcom007 1,465]

Everyone was saying this last year too.

I definitely predict a breakthrough that centers around Flip, but it'll have far more to do with fan-perception of him on LGW when they realize that he's not even a future star let-alone a superstar in the making like some suggest.

Considering that last year was supposed to be his breakout season and your comment that his "point totals have gone up every year," I'm kinda humored. He went from 36 points to 40 points. He scored less goals last year as well and once again was incredibly inconsistent in terms of producing points. Even in his so-called "great" playoff outing, he still only put up 3 goals.

A snakebit Hossa that everyone wanted to throw under the bus put up 6 goals.

He's a solid player but he doesn't have the hands, the shot, the vision, etc...etc...etc...he doesn't have the skill set to do what so many of you expect him to do. He is not a guy who creates plays let alone is he too good at finishing them. He's a solid, dependable, defensively-responsible 3rd line center. He's not going to score a lot of goals and he'll likely max out at 50 points in a really good year, but he likely won't ever play that poorly and he thinks team defense. That ain't half bad and requires no whimsical fantasizing.

Again, I like Flip enough for what he is, but way too many people have hopes that are too high. You're bound to be disappointed when you expect too much out of a guy. All it leads to is him becoming the next guy to hate on and blame for all the Wings problems. Sure, I'd love to be wrong, but I don't think I will be, and unlike many of you, I won't be disappointed either way it goes.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Everyone was saying this last year too.

I definitely predict a breakthrough that centers around Flip, but it'll have far more to do with fan-perception of him on LGW when they realize that he's not even a future star let-alone a superstar in the making like some suggest.

Considering that last year was supposed to be his breakout season and your comment that his "point totals have gone up every year," I'm kinda humored. He went from 36 points to 40 points. He scored less goals last year as well and once again was incredibly inconsistent in terms of producing points. Even in his so-called "great" playoff outing, he still only put up 3 goals.

A snakebit Hossa that everyone wanted to throw under the bus put up 6 goals.

He's a solid player but he doesn't have the hands, the shot, the vision, etc...etc...etc...he doesn't have the skill set to do what so many of you expect him to do. He is not a guy who creates plays let alone is he too good at finishing them. He's a solid, dependable, defensively-responsible 3rd line center. He's not going to score a lot of goals and he'll likely max out at 50 points in a really good year, but he likely won't ever play that poorly and he thinks team defense. That ain't half bad and requires no whimsical fantasizing.

Again, I like Flip enough for what he is, but way too many people have hopes that are too high. You're bound to be disappointed when you expect too much out of a guy. All it leads to is him becoming the next guy to hate on and blame for all the Wings problems. Sure, I'd love to be wrong, but I don't think I will be, and unlike many of you, I won't be disappointed either way it goes.

When Hossa signed, only the foolish thought last season was going to be his breakthough.

Ahhh the good old Hossa scored more than Flip. Oh wait a sec, Filppula had more points than the superstar Hossa.....

[KrazyGangsta 79]

^^^ Agreed with Aussie.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

50 pts is where I have him pegged too. Should be a good season for him with his increased responsibility. He managed to put up some good numbers in the preseason and stay among the team leaders in points per game (the only fair comparison for everyone since some guys got 6-8 games and some only played 1):

Zetterberg-- 2.00 ppg (1 g 1 a)

Datsyuk-- 1.33 ppg (1 g 7 a)

Franzen-- 1.20 ppg (4 g 2 a)

Williams-- 1.20 ppg (3 g 3 a)

Leino-- 1.17 ppg (2 g 5 a) (only 13:37 in average ice time, in line with his regular season ice time)

Filppula-- 0.67 ppg (2 g 2 a)

Cleary-- 0.67 ppg (0 g 2 a)

The 20:14 Filppula averaged in ice time isn't really a notable indicator for the regular season when you consider that Datsyuk played 6 of 9 games and Zetterberg only played 1. There's no question that he won't average that much in the regular season, especially since Babcock still thinks the Zetterberg-Datsyuk split is smart (putting aside the evidence of Cup wins).

[Drake_Marcus 890]

When Hossa signed, only the foolish thought last season was going to be his breakthough.

Ahhh the good old Hossa scored more than Flip. Oh wait a sec, Filppula had more points than the superstar Hossa.....

That's not true at all. He was still in the top 6 in forward ice time all season. Hossa was signed to play the wing and Filppula's a centre so that signing had no effect on his ice time what-so-ever unless you assume he was going to play the wing (unlikely given how defensively responsible he is and the fact that the Wing like him as a centre). You'll say his PP time was effected but he lost that on his own when Babs gave him almost double the PP time in 06-07 but he couldn't put up enough points to keep him in the top 6 scorers. He didn't play more than a minute on the PP because he wasn't one of the six best forward options on the PP. He wasn't the year before Hossa came and he couldn't elevate his offensive game enough to push Hudler out of the PP. There's no shame in that-- Filppula doesn't play the kind of game that makes him an ideal PP option.

gcom007 has far, far, far more honest, realistic expectations of Filppula than 80% of the users here. He won't be disappointed because his expectations are in line with Filppula's skill-set and his proven playing ability. People are hoping for a Franzen-like explosion but all it took was putting Franzen in the top 6 (as soon as it happened in the 07-08 preseason Franzen exploded). Filppula's been getting time on the top 2 lines since 06-07, with serious time given in 07-08 when he started the season as the 2nd line centre and couldn't carry the line on his own (which is fine since he's young and doesn't project as a huge points generator anyway).

Like I said-- he's a 50 pt type guy.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Flip is a very valuable player, and he will demonstrate just that this season.

He demonstrated it in 07-08 and all the way through 08-09 (especially in the playoffs when he stepped up during Datsyuk's injuries).

[Buppy 1,720]

People who thought Flip would break out last year most likely expected him to center the 2nd line with Franzen and Hossa on his wings. On the few occasions he did get that opportunity, he produced. He's a playmaker, just not an elite one (and no one is suggesting that he is). That means his production is heavily bound by the talent of his line mates, but he definitely has the skills to be a solid point producer. The coach and his fellow players (even some from other teams) all believe that as well.

But Babs likes to play both Pav and Hank at center, which could keep Flip on the third line for as long as he's with the Wings. That will probably keep him in the 40-50 point range. It would also probably mean he leaves the Wings when his contract is up, or sooner, unfortunately.

[Finnish Wing 110]

We can argue as much as we want about Flip's points, but one thing for sure: he's definitely worth that 3M he's getting. I remember when everyone said that the Wings overpaid Flip. I wouldn't rate even 4M for him that high in terms of overpaying compared to many other cases in the league.

Edited October 2, 2009 by Finnish Wing

[Drake_Marcus 890]

We can argue as much as we want about Flip's points, but one thing for sure: he's definitely worth that 3M he's getting. I remember when everyone said that the Wings overpaid Flip. I wouldn't rate even 4M for him that high in terms of overpaying compared to many other cases in the league.

During the first half of the regular season last year he was overpaid. The second half he was ok for the money. In the playoffs the 3 million dollar deal looked like a bargain