Should Valtteri Filppula be traded?

[RedWingAbner 13]

I would agree with that. With talk that Zetterberg and Datsyuk are going to be split the rest of the way, it worries me a little. Unless they put Z on the wing....now that I think about that, it could be a killer line

Zetterberg-Filppula-Franzen

(However it would probably be more likely that Mule is put on the first and Cleary/Bert on the 2nd)

Why would we do this to Franzen....do we want to infect his game? He's working well on the Datsyuk line.

[Finnish Wing 110]

Zetterberg is a better Center than Flip, no ifs, ands or buts about it.

Yea, but Zetterberg can also play on the wing. That's the point.

Lines for ya:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Bertuzzi-Filppula-Franzen

Miller-Williams-Cleary

Draper-Helm-Eaves

+ Maltby

I dunno why are you making this so hard everyone. No trades, no nothing. This works.

[Shaman 713]

Yea, but Zetterberg can also play on the wing. That's the point.

Lines for ya:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Bertuzzi-Filppula-Franzen

Miller-Williams-Cleary

Draper-Helm-Eaves

+ Maltby

I dunno why are you making this so hard everyone. No trades, no nothing. This works.

I think you'll see a trade long before you see these lines, no way ZDH will be a fixture in Detroit after the break.

[RedWingAbner 13]

Yea, but Zetterberg can also play on the wing. That's the point.

Lines for ya:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Bertuzzi-Filppula-Franzen

Miller-Williams-Cleary

Draper-Helm-Eaves

+ Maltby

I dunno why are you making this so hard everyone. No trades, no nothing. This works.

The only problem with those lines is you have a 3rd line center playing on the 2nd line. When the Wings were wracked with injuries and we had Filppula back, it didn't inspire much confidence to have him there then, either. I know that he had like a 7 game point streak or whatever, but come on guys, give it up.

[Guest DatsyukianDeke13]

Why would we do this to Franzen....do we want to infect his game? He's working well on the Datsyuk line.

Read what I wrote below that

[Guest DatsyukianDeke13]

The only problem with those lines is you have a 3rd line center playing on the 2nd line. When the Wings were wracked with injuries and we had Filppula back, it didn't inspire much confidence to have him there then, either. I know that he had like a 7 game point streak or whatever, but come on guys, give it up.

Funny thing is the Coaching Staff and GM thinks he is a second line center..hmmmmmm

[stevkrause 1,247]

I had a 3rd going back to Detroit, forgot to add that in. Lebda is in there just because the wings need to lose his salary.

I think Olesz is a push with Fil offensively and is a downgrade defensively... I just don't like that proposal...

now if you want to start talking blockbuster (not actually suggesting this, just using it as an example)

Valteri Filppula, Jakub Kindl, 1st round pick(2011), 3rd round pick(2012)

to FLA for

Nathan Horton, Keaton Ellerby, 4th round pick(2011)

then I'd be more open to the idea

Edited February 12, 2010 by stevkrause

[Finnish Wing 110]

The only problem with those lines is you have a 3rd line center playing on the 2nd line. When the Wings were wracked with injuries and we had Filppula back, it didn't inspire much confidence to have him there then, either. I know that he had like a 7 game point streak or whatever, but come on guys, give it up.

You give it up. Babcock knows.

[Shaman 713]

I think Olesz is a push with Fil offensively and is a downgrade defensively... I just don't like that proposal...

now if you want to start talking blockbuster (not actually suggesting this, just using it as an example)

Valteri Filppula, Jakub Kindl, 1st round pick(2011), 3rd round pick(2012)

to FLA for

Nathan Horton, Keaton Ellerby, 4th round pick(2011)

then I'd be more open to the idea

Hes most comparable to Franzen, but with better passing ability. I think with some training in Detroit's defensive system he could be a very sound 2 way player.

[RedWingAbner 13]

Funny thing is the Coaching Staff and GM thinks he is a second line center..hmmmmmm

Or is it that they really have no other choice for him/the team? I'm sure, as Babcock has stated he prefers, that they would like Datsyuk to be 1 center, Zetterberg to be another. Which one is 1, which is 2, I don't know. But where does that leave Flip? He's a #3-- higher than Helm, lower than the other two.

Regarding the other post-- I read what you wrote first, but I figured you meant that Z-F-Franzen would be the top line. I think Z has more chemistry with Datsyuk.

[stevkrause 1,247]

Hes most comparable to Franzen, but with better passing ability. I think with some training in Detroit's defensive system he could be a very sound 2 way player.

He's also not as fast as Fil and not enough of a game changer in my mind to make it worht it... it's really all a matter of opinion, but I just don't like the Olesz for Fil proposal... to each their own...

[gcom007 1,465]

To those thinking we don't have a goal scoring problem:

I don't think anyone within the NHL or the Wings organization will suggest that we didn't have a scoring problem since July 5th or so??? Williams, Eaves and Bert were nice pickups in a pinch, but they've acknowledged all along that our biggest weakness is goal scoring.

What so many don't account for is that goal scorers often help goal scorers. People are getting all pissed at Dats and Z for lower production, but what do you expect? The idea that you can just pull out 3 guys who combined for 80 goals and expect there not to be a major difference bringing up a bunch of kids and 3 gambles is crazy. Aside from just guys being on the ice together that are known to produce, when you're scoring more goals, you've got momentum on your side which helps you keep scoring more goals. And when you set a team up centered around the scoring of 3-4 guys, it's a lot easier for teams to stifle that offense than an offense that has more balanced scoring prowess.

The thing about stats is that they can be as telling as they are useless if you only observe them from the surface. The actual GAME that goes on in which these stats are produced must be accounted for on a deeper level to understand what the stats can actually tell us. And looking at the stats at a more holistic level is also incredibly important. Cherry-picking stats accomplishes nothing, and that's why so many are still surprised that the Wings have a scoring issue.

Simply adding up goals and assuming guys will do more with more ice time is utterly and completely a misguided approach to analyzing the situation.

[stevkrause 1,247]

Or is it that they really have no other choice for him/the team? I'm sure, as Babcock has stated he prefers, that they would like Datsyuk to be 1 center, Zetterberg to be another. Which one is 1, which is 2, I don't know. But where does that leave Flip? He's a #3-- higher than Helm, lower than the other two.

Regarding the other post-- I read what you wrote first, but I figured you meant that Z-F-Franzen would be the top line. I think Z has more chemistry with Datsyuk.

it puts Fil on the wing... where he should be...

[TheOwl 77]

He shouldn't be traded. If we did trade him, we would have 2 of the worst 3rd and 4th lines in the league. I'm not so crazy about Cleary anymore, or Bertuzzi (although his salary is very fair).

The Wings really need to clear house, and how they do that depends on whether Lidstrom sticks around. Rafalski really would be a dream to get rid of, if he would waive his NTC. Stuart is pretty expendable, I'd rather have Lilja take his spot. The entire 3rd and 4th lines need re-tooling. Hopefully Draper, Maltby retire (I love them, but their not useful anymore). Helm and Aby need a better 3rd guy, Flipulla? That'd be a good line. Eaves is pretty good, he should stay. Next season we for sure need another top 6 forward. Cleary isn't a top 6 forward, neither is Flipulla really.

Edited February 12, 2010 by TheOwl

[gcom007 1,465]

You give it up. Babcock knows.

Yeah, Babcock knows alright. That's why he said last night that moving forward: Dats - 1st, Z - 2nd, Flip - 3rd, Helm - 4th.

[Guest DatsyukianDeke13]

Or is it that they really have no other choice for him/the team? I'm sure, as Babcock has stated he prefers, that they would like Datsyuk to be 1 center, Zetterberg to be another. Which one is 1, which is 2, I don't know. But where does that leave Flip? He's a #3-- higher than Helm, lower than the other two.

Regarding the other post-- I read what you wrote first, but I figured you meant that Z-F-Franzen would be the top line. I think Z has more chemistry with Datsyuk.

Centers are versatile players. You can put them anywhere. You could even put Filppula on the Wing with Datsyuk and Franzen/Bertuzzi/Holmstrom. They tried Fil on Pav's wing and it had pretty good success.

[stevkrause 1,247]

Centers are versatile players. You can put them anywhere. You could even put Filppula on the Wing with Datsyuk and Franzen/Bertuzzi/Holmstrom. They tried Fil on Pav's wing and it had pretty good success.

I think that's back where he should go...

[gcom007 1,465]

it puts Fil on the wing... where he should be...

So put a guy on the Wing who can't score goals to save his life and pay him $3 million to boot? Really? Have you seen how he plays along the boards??? You know that thing about him falling all the time in the offensive zone and in the process botching rushes? That's what happens with Flip on the boards. He's had more success taking it down the middle. He's not strong on the boards, let alone his skates, at all.

And at center his defensive ability is better utilized anyways, and generally he's been pretty good on the face-off, though it has been an issue lately.

[e_prime 1,936]

Centers are versatile players. You can put them anywhere. You could even put Filppula on the Wing with Datsyuk and Franzen/Bertuzzi/Holmstrom. They tried Fil on Pav's wing and it had pretty good success.

This is why I voted No -- we should wait to see his potential. I don't think it would hurt to put him back on as a winger and see what he can do.

[Finnish Wing 110]

So put a guy on the Wing who can't score goals to save his life and pay him $3 million to boot? Really? Have you seen how he plays along the boards??? You know that thing about him falling all the time in the offensive zone and in the process botching rushes? That's what happens with Flip on the boards. He's had more success taking it down the middle. He's not strong on the boards, let alone his skates, at all.

And at center his defensive ability is better utilized anyways, and generally he's been pretty good on the face-off, though it has been an issue lately.

I lol'd hard. Have you even watch the games? He's better on the boards than Zetterberg for god's sake.

[Pucks 66]

If your going to trade flip, then you better be getting back a young, big, right handed goal scorer or forgetaboutit.

[Yellowknife Redwing 57]

If we're sending Filppula to Florida, I would love to see him go with a minor salary dump (Lebda, Meech, something in this neighbourhood) for David Booth.

Booth is 25 years old, scored 31 goals last year, has a laser of a wrist shot, is locked into his contract for a few years and is Detroit born. He's an ideal fit for both the area and the situation that the Wings are in with needing a pure goal scorer.

Franzen/Dats/Homer

Booth/Z/Bert

Draper/Helm/Eaves

Malts/Miller/whoever

looks pretty good to me

Edited February 12, 2010 by Yellowknife Redwing

[greene709 27]

Wow. Just relegate Cleary to a fourth line whoever role? Surprising.

If we're sending Filppula to Florida, I would love to see him go with a minor salary dump (Lebda, Meech, something in this neighbourhood) for David Booth.

Booth is 25 years old, scored 31 goals last year, has a laser of a wrist shot, is locked into his contract for a few years and is Detroit born. He's an ideal fit for both the area and the situation that the Wings are in with needing a pure goal scorer.

Franzen/Dats/Homer

Booth/Z/Bert

Draper/Helm/Eaves

Malts/Miller/whoever

looks pretty good to me

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Until he learns how to shoot the puck, he'll never be all that special and irreplaceable to this team.

His wristshot is a freaking joke.

[stevkrause 1,247]

If we're sending Filppula to Florida, I would love to see him go with a minor salary dump (Lebda, Meech, something in this neighbourhood) for David Booth.

Booth is 25 years old, scored 31 goals last year, has a laser of a wrist shot, is locked into his contract for a few years and is Detroit born. He's an ideal fit for both the area and the situation that the Wings are in with needing a pure goal scorer.

Franzen/Dats/Homer

Booth/Z/Bert

Draper/Helm/Eaves

Malts/Miller/whoever

looks pretty good to me

this is the only way I'd be ok with moving Flip, is if it was for a bonafide scorer, who ALSO hasn't peaked... but even this move couldn't get made without moving someone like Williams as well, as we'd need to free up more cap then just Lebda... also... you're leaving out Cleary...

Booth-Datsyuk-Bertuzzi

Franzen-Zetterberg-Holmstrom

Cleary-Helm-Eaves

Miller-Draper-Maltby

I'd be ok with that...

Edited February 12, 2010 by stevkrause