Babcock: Filppula has been Wing's top forward

[kook_10 1,705]

http://www.freep.com/article/20091016/SPOR...0387/1053/rss17

I have been a fan of Fils since the beginning purely because he was Finnish. There have been a lot of naysayers around here about him (much of it valid), but he definitely has been skating his ass off so far. If everyone had the hustle and defensive responsibility he has showed, many of the team's problems would be cured. That having been said, I still find myself frustrated with some of the aspects of his play. It drove me crazy how many times he reversed the puck and also curled up along the half boards instead of going to the net last night. It seems like he has a lot of good ideas, but a lot of his passes have been just a little bit off and have ultimately caused turnovers or at least broke the momentum of the breakout or zone entry. Is this just nit picking? Is the puck reversal just a concerted effort to regroup? Or does he really need to sack up, head north up the ice and get a nose for the net?

[thedisappearer 291]

Good thing.

[dat's sick 1,002]

He's skating his ass off and looks much stronger than before. but he still needs to get better at going to the net and taking shots instead of looking for the pass all the time.

I agree that he's been our best forward so far though, and it's definitely a good thing.

We need him to step up. Datsyuk and Zetterberg will dominate games too, but they can't do it all all-the-time.

Solid contributions from among others Val and Ville are a must if the Wings are going to survive without Franzen, and so far so good.

[Guest Four]

Best forward, now all he needs is to relax and cash some goals. If he has a goalscorer with him and Leino, it would be FIRE. Dats or Hank with Leino and Filp would be awesome

[Buppy 1,720]

I've noticed he's going to the net a lot more without the puck, which I think is a more important advancement in his play. Not so sure I want him taking the puck into traffic too aggressively. His curls and point passes are a bit too predictable, but he and Leino are pretty much the only forwards that seem to generating a decent cycle right now. Our defensive system relies on that cycling, so I wouldn't want him to change much.

That said, Flip being our best forward so far (I agree, with Leino not far behind) says a lot more about how Datsyuk and Zetterberg have been. All due respect to Flip, but if he stays our best, we're in big trouble.

[BigE 0]

If Franzen cashed in on the open net passes from Datsyuk early on in the season, Datsyuk would be leading this team in scoring. #1 priority on this team is finding someone that can hit the back of the net, reliably. People expecting Datsyuk to score 45 goals are in for a surprise.

[b.shanafan14 733]

Good thing, because he really has played incredible so far. Sad commentary, because he is one of few who looks like they came ready to play.

[Z and D for the C 712]

I knew Filpulla was going to be a hit since he bacame a wing. Glad to see he's working so hard out there so far this season. By the end of the year he'll be looking even better with the experience he gets that he lacks right now and in the playoffs he'll stun. I did see last game he was shooting a bit more which makes me happy.

He'll be our most improved player this season.

When franzen gets back:

Zetterberg Datsyuk Cleary

Franzen Filppula Leino

Will be magical.

Edited October 16, 2009 by Z and D for the C

[dropkickshanahans 463]

I've noticed he's going to the net a lot more without the puck, which I think is a more important advancement in his play. Not so sure I want him taking the puck into traffic too aggressively. His curls and point passes are a bit too predictable, but he and Leino are pretty much the only forwards that seem to generating a decent cycle right now. Our defensive system relies on that cycling, so I wouldn't want him to change much.

That said, Flip being our best forward so far (I agree, with Leino not far behind) says a lot more about how Datsyuk and Zetterberg have been. All due respect to Flip, but if he stays our best, we're in big trouble.

I agree. This was a problem in the Finals as well and if our best players aren't our best players as Babs has said, then we won't be a very strong team.

But anyway, I like the potential between Flip and Leino. They look like our future eurotwins.

[b.shanafan14 733]

Zetterberg Datsyuk Cleary

Franzen Filppula Leino

Will be magical.

Exactly the lines they should have had to start the season, but preferred to continue the failed split-up Z and Dats experiment, as well as the failure that is the Bertuzzi experiment.

[Ozzie30 170]

Exactly the lines they should have had to start the season, but preferred to continue the failed split-up Z and Dats experiment, as well as the failure that is the Bertuzzi experiment.

Agreed.

Holmstrom - Williams - Bertuzzi

[LidstromIsASuperhero 29]

A line of Holmstrom Williams and Bertuzzi is just too ugly. I think it's the reason why Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Filpula were split up down the middle 1, 2, 3. You need that speed and defense to make a good line. You'd pretty much either need to do that or see if Helm, Abdelkader, or Draper could develop some offenisive chemistry playing on one of those bottom 6 lines.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

It's a good thing; the rest can follow his lead.

[bonan78 1]

As others have said, it's a good thing because he is developing a physical side to his game that we have never seen before (i.e the Ovechkin hit), but at the same time it's a sad commentary because the forwards that are supposed to be our best (Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen) have been battling injuries, or just haven't really found their game yet.

I hope Filppula continues to play well, especially with Leino, those two seem to have a sixth sense for each other out there, much like Datsyuk and Zetterberg have had, but I recognize that for the Red Wings to be successful, Datsyuk and Zetterberg have to step up and play like the MVP candidates they are capable of being.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

Exactly the lines they should have had to start the season, but preferred to continue the failed split-up Z and Dats experiment, as well as the failure that is the Bertuzzi experiment.

Bertuzzi has been one of our best forwards in this young season idiot

[Guest Shoreline]

Wasn't long ago that posters who said Flip was one of this team's top forwards was ridiculed. Eat it.

And it's funny how a very few amount of games have been played and Bert is already being called a failed experiment and being shat on (its the new Lilja bashing fad all over again). I hope people don't ever try to have kids with this sort of attitude about success and failure.

Edited October 16, 2009 by Shoreline

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

Wasn't long ago that posters who said Flip was one of this team's top forwards was ridiculed. Eat it.

And it's funny how a very few amount of games have been played and Bert is already being called a failed experiment and being shat on (its the new Lilja bashing fad all over again). I hope people don't ever try to have kids with this sort of attitude about success and failure.

Its possible to be playing well and still ridiculed. I don't think I've ever bashed Fil directly, it was always directed at the idiots who think he'd score 80 points for the next few seasons. I am still fairly confident he'll never break 80, but he has been playing well. People need to stop overhyping him and holding him to such high expectations. This guy will not be the next Zetterberg or Datsyuk, but what he will be is a quality second liner who is defensivily responsible, akin to Brendan Morrison or Handzus in their prime.

[tommingthepuck96 1]

He led wings fowards in ice time according to the FSN west broadcast, and rightly so. Seeing him out there on that 5 on 3 says alot about what babcock thinks of him.

[Guest Shoreline]

Its possible to be playing well and still ridiculed. I don't think I've ever bashed Fil directly, it was always directed at the idiots who think he'd score 80 points for the next few seasons. I am still fairly confident he'll never break 80, but he has been playing well. People need to stop overhyping him and holding him to such high expectations. This guy will not be the next Zetterberg or Datsyuk, but what he will be is a quality second liner who is defensivily responsible, akin to Brendan Morrison or Handzus in their prime.

True enough. I doubt he will get 80 points, but will be a surprise that's for sure if he does. But with the Bert and Lilja thing it really doesn't have to do with hype as it does the popularity of s***ting on players. It's always been this way.

[b.shanafan14 733]

Bertuzzi has been one of our best forwards in this young season idiot

Based on what? Are you watching the same games as I? One good backcheck a game doesn't make up for 5 instances of fumbling the puck instead of doing something with it. Funny you went straight to idiot though, you Bertuzzi's dad?

Everyone is praising Bertuzzi when he has done exactly dick.

[xBrave_Heartx 0]

I loved Val. i got his jersey 2 years ago

also; the Eaves - Helm - Abelkader line.. is awesome

[Motown4013 350]

I was one of the "idiots" that predicted that Val would have a big year this year. I didnt claim he'd score 80 points but I did say a 60-65 point season is very possible for him. Night after night I have watched him step up. He is skating hard, making good decisions with the puck, really taking the body and getting physical and there is a confidence about him that I havent seen in the past.

Some guys wither under pressure of being asked to step up but since Franzen went down but he has really taken his play to a different level...and its not always about goals...his defensive play has improved and his face offs have as well. Its good to see him on the power play.

The points will come but I agree with babs....in the 1st five games, he has been one of the best OR the best forward on the ice.

Way to go flip

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Flip is playing with confidence right now and it's doing wonders for his game. He's being more assertive, he's playing in all situations and he's making the most of the chances Babcock is giving him. It's great that he's able to play on a line with a fellow countryman and the two have great chemistry. He played almost 23 minutes against Los Angeles, now if that's not a sign of a player who has the confidence of his coach then I don't know what it. Keep it up Flip, you're doing great.

[topsideplaya 0]

Flip is playing with confidence right now and it's doing wonders for his game. He's being more assertive, he's playing in all situations and he's making the most of the chances Babcock is giving him. It's great that he's able to play on a line with a fellow countryman and the two have great chemistry. He played almost 23 minutes against Los Angeles, now if that's not a sign of a player who has the confidence of his coach then I don't know what it. Keep it up Flip, you're doing great.

Flip playing 23 minutes against LA is more a sign that Datsyuk was out then having confidence from the coach

[Finnish Wing 110]

Flip playing 23 minutes against LA is more a sign that Datsyuk was out then having confidence from the coach

Part of it, yes. However, Zetterberg played two minutes less than Filppula. I would think many coaches would have played Zetterberg a lot more than Filppula.