Babcock: Filppula has been Wing's top forward

[topsideplaya 0]

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.

I'm not disagreeing that Flip isn't sweet but just wish he would pot a few more goals and more points. His line seems to play really well but so far it hasn't showed up on the score sheet.

[b.shanafan14 733]

I'm not disagreeing that Flip isn't sweet but just wish he would pot a few more goals and more points. His line seems to play really well but so far it hasn't showed up on the score sheet.

This is my biggest concern. No one is really putting the puck on net. That line, Filppula and Leino especially, hold onto the puck so well and can really skate circles around the opposition in the offensive zone at times. But if no one is going to shoot the puck and seize the scoring chances, thats all they're really doing: skating in circles.

Sometimes watching the Finn Twins control the puck, I wish I had the NHL10 ability to tap the right bumper and make them put the puck on net.

[Finnish Wing 110]

I'm not disagreeing that Flip isn't sweet but just wish he would pot a few more goals and more points. His line seems to play really well but so far it hasn't showed up on the score sheet.

True.

[kook_10 1,705]

That is kind of what I was thinking. Is it such a great thing that our top forward at the moment is optimistically expected to score 20 goals this season? I think its great that he is playing well and skating his ass off but, correct me if I'm wrong, isn't that what they're all paid to do? Since when does the team hand out blue ribbons for skating well? Ten years ago the Wings won games by outskating, outhustling and outbattling the other teams in addition to having a wealth of talent. I understand that they're a more finesse squad these days, but is that an excuse to be outskated or outhustled?

[Z and D for the C 712]

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

Pretty sure he meant that Flip has growing confidence in himself (which he should) rather than the coaches, anyway.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

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?

This is a great thing for Val and the third line. It's a terrible thing for the Wings because it means Datsyuk and Zetterberg are underperforming.

[gcom007 1,465]

This is a great thing for Val and the third line. It's a terrible thing for the Wings because it means Datsyuk and Zetterberg are underperforming.

Game 7. I take it all with a grain of salt at this point. Datsyuk and Z have both been troubled with injuries early on but we all know by the end of the season they'll be the offensive leaders (by miles) on this team.

[Z and D for the C 712]

This is a great thing for Val and the third line. It's a terrible thing for the Wings because it means Datsyuk and Zetterberg are underperforming.

Just for the record, I do agree with this. I think Z looks great for sure, but Pav really needs to step it up.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Just for the record, I do agree with this. I think Z looks great for sure, but Pav really needs to step it up.

To be fair Z looked as off as Dats until the last two games. So maybe Dats would've looked better too if he weren't hurt. Well he'll definitely be back for Thursday's game (or he's much more injured than we've been lead to believe) so I'll reserve my judgment for then

Overall, I can't be too disappointed in the Wings tonight given that they're missing Datsyuk and Franzen. Having Dats missing is hard enough, but when your #1 AND #3 forwards are out it's tough to look good.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Game 7. I take it all with a grain of salt at this point. Datsyuk and Z have both been troubled with injuries early on but we all know by the end of the season they'll be the offensive leaders (by miles) on this team.

Oh I agree man. I'm not worried right now. I'm actually ok with tonight's game. We ended up going 100% on the PK (which is HUGE for the Wings right now) and even though it's a tough loss they did manage to get a point out of it. Plus Dats is out at the moment, which is a much tougher thing to bear when your #3 forward is gone until February-March.

[zettie85 106]

What would be great to see is an aggresive gameplay when we have the lead. We dominate when playing aggresive and in need of a goal but once we are in the lead we sit back. I'd rather give up a 2 on 1 pressureing heavily, then giving up 2 on 1's while sitting back, which we do. When the boys are left to pressure freely and attack they all look great. There's not only 1 player that stands out. They all seem too. When sitting back everybody is standing still watching the other team pass it around, espcially in the defencive zone. I love defencive hockey but we don't eem to be able to play it right now.

Edited October 18, 2009 by zettie85