Filppula following similar path to Datsyuk...?

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

You act like it's common for a player to leave a franchise to play over seas for more money in the prime of his career.

You act like it is rare for people in business to make sound financial decisions.

[Carman 387]

You act like it is rare for people in business to make sound financial decisions.

Fair enough. I suppose 99% of all NHLers are making poor financial decisions.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Fair enough. I suppose 99% of all NHLers are making poor financial decisions.

Considering Hudler would be allowed to be back in Europe, be paid 5 mil untaxed for two years, and still come back to Detroit without going to a competitor, I would say there is nothing wrong with his decision. It makes sense.

[Carman 387]

Considering Hudler would be allowed to be back in Europe, be paid 5 mil untaxed for two years, and still come back to Detroit without going to a competitor, I would say there is nothing wrong with his decision. It makes sense.

Doesn't mean I can't hold it against him=(

I just think there was another way around the situation than going to the KHL. It's such a privlege to play in the NHL, not to mention the best franchise in the league. Guess I'm just irrational.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Doesn't mean I can't hold it against him=(

I just think there was another way around the situation than going to the KHL. It's such a privlege to play in the NHL, not to mention the best franchise in the league. Guess I'm just irrational.

Sure, he could have gone to another NHL team for more money.

[Carman 387]

Sure, he could have gone to another NHL team for more money.

Better for the league.

[Paul MacLean's Mustache 44]

Filppula is doubtlessly #2 on the wings in terms of crafty moves out on the ice. But no player in the league can do what Datsyuk does.

But really, these past few games have made me start to wonder. I mean, what if Flip has in him what NONE of us have thought he could possibly do? 80 points? 90 points? I'm not saying he'll get that much but 8 points in 3 games is no fluke.

It should be an interesting year next year. And and interesting playoffs.

I think that's the big difference right there. When Datsyuk isn't a Red Wing anymore will be a very, very sad time.

[wingsownnhl43 14]

Ooooooh... King of the Filppula slappies versus the King of the Hudler slappies well Happy Birthday to me...

Haha. This made me laugh so plus 1 for you.

[wingsownnhl43 14]

Hudler, playing top-six minutes at even strength with top-six linemates, would likely produce a higher points-per-minute rate at even strength. If you simply project out what Hudler did (29 points in an average 10:37) to an average 15:00, his even strength production jumps to 43 points. That 43-28 ratio is comparable to what most of the league's top scorers, guys who are scoring better than a PPG, have been producing at.

This is why I find it amusing that people think Filppula is comparable to Hudler offensively. Filppula is getting Hudler's PP minutes and playing most of his ES time in the top six, yet he's on pace to score, if hes lucky, about what Hudler did last season.

Probably saying Flip will peak at 55 is a little low, maybe 60-65 is more accurate. But regardless...Hudler in the NHL given the same kind of chance Filppula is getting WILL be a PPG player with 90-100 point potential, if not more. That's not a maybe.

Now, with my mention of Hudler I didn't intend to drag this off topic, simply to show that Filppula's production compared to Datsyuk's was not "Look it's so close, Flip will be a 90-point player and a Hart and Selke candidate but rather to show that while he is developing well, he's probably NOT going to be a superstar, but rather simply a very good two-way forward and strong second line center (possibly first, if the team doesn't have a higher-end center) relied upon by whatever team he plays for to provide secondary playmaking skill and to buffer the PK unit along with the defensive specialists.

Hudler, OTOH, will either develop into a top-scoring center with average or slightly above average defensive skills, or he will be one of if not THE the league's top scoring wingers, with teams hesitating to pay him what his numbers would suggest simply because of his size.

Both have strong careers ahead of them in different roles, and it's quite possible that both will remain with Detroit their entire careers. But Filppula's offense won't match what Hudler produces.

I have no problem with this argument. I dont think there are many people that would argue that Filppula is a better offensive player than Hudler. That is why Hudler is so much more succesful on the powerplay.

I think FIlppula has a 65-70 point potential, and Hudler is about 70-75, so it isnt drastic. I really think Hudler is a powerplay specialist and a great assett on the top powerplay unit. With that being said, I dont think theres a GM in the league that would take Hulder over Flip in 5on5 play.