kook_10 1,705 Report post Posted January 13, 2012 I guess the question now is- will Flip outscore Zata this year? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lonewuhf 47 Report post Posted January 13, 2012 I guess the question now is- will Flip outscore Zata this year? Sure as hell seems like it. Dunno if that's a good thing or a bad thing though :-X Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted January 13, 2012 That slap shot is the punctuation mark to the statement, "I'm Val Filppula and I've changed for the better!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockey Convert 55 Report post Posted January 13, 2012 That slap shot is the punctuation mark to the statement, "I'm Val Filppula and I've changed for the better!" Yeah, seriously. He's definitely playing well lately, but that tonight was about an elite play as you'll see in the NHL; it made me sit up like I'd been electrocuted. Just take the puck and BAM- TOP SHELF, motherf***er. (I'm pretty sure there's an expression like that in Finland.) 1 Red Wings Addict reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie_Wing 354 Report post Posted January 13, 2012 Far out he's insane this year. He's such an effortless skater, creates so many chances because of his stride and vision. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted January 13, 2012 Sure as hell seems like it. Yeahp. Nobody on the team seems to think about points too much. It seems like Z won't score much more than at the pace he's at right now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted January 13, 2012 That slap shot is the punctuation mark to the statement, "I'm Val Filppula and I've changed for the better!" Except he really hasn't changed. He's always been this player but had his priorities to play defense first and second. Now he just has offense as his second priority instead of it being halfway down his list. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
St. Michael (the Red Wing) 422 Report post Posted January 13, 2012 Really impressed with Flip. Finally the break out year we've all waited for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted January 13, 2012 Except he really hasn't changed. He's always been this player but had his priorities to play defense first and second. Now he just has offense as his second priority instead of it being halfway down his list. I agree with most of what you said except I believe he really has changed in terms of confidence on the offensive end. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted January 18, 2012 Tied his career high (40 points) last night. 1 Rick D reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted January 23, 2012 I never seem to have confidence in him when it comes to shootout situations. He capitalized on this one so good for him. And yeah I was wrong about him tying his career high in points. I don't know what happened there. Maybe I was looking at someone else's stats on the chart, probably Franzen's. Sorry Hockey Gods! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danielsm 244 Report post Posted January 23, 2012 I have been calling him out for a breakout year since not this past playoffs, but the year before. Finally it looks like I am right Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest irishock Report post Posted January 23, 2012 Filppula has come a long way to becoming the player he is right now. I think he's a definitely a legit top 6 forward who we shouldn't give away in a trade for someone like Ryan, etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
b.shanafan14 733 Report post Posted January 25, 2012 http://www.freep.com/article/20120124/SPORTS05/120124044/red-wings-angry-birds-pavel-datsyuk Funny tid-bits from the Free Press involving Filppula and Zetterberg And here's that licorice update everyone has been anticipating: After finding out, thanks to a release from Panda licorice, that the Finnish product is a favored snack of NHLer Teemu Selanne, the question was put to the Wings' Finn, Valtteri Filppula, whether he, too, likes to indulge.Locker stall neighbor Henrik Zetterberg overhead the question and broke in laughing. "Yes, he does, because Fil likes anything Teemu Selanne likes. If Selanne does it, Fil does it." Filppula said he does, in fact, eat Panda licorice. When asked whether he also enjoys Angry Birds (also a Finnish export), Zetterberg interjected, "Yes, because there's not a lot of things you can do in Finland. Just eat licorice and play Angry Birds." Great to see Filppula coming into his own. Skating great, playing his usual good defense, gaining confidence along with points and ice time. Keep it up, and pick up the pace, I want 70 points and at least 25 goals . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted January 25, 2012 Haha... 'Nothing else to do in Finland except eat licorice and play angry birds'. Love the Nordic rivalry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted January 25, 2012 "If Selanne does it, Fil does it." Haha, classic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted January 26, 2012 I bet some years ago Stevie said in a similar sentiment, "If Forsberg does it, Z does it." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted February 1, 2012 Ok NOW he has tied his career high in points. Currently on pace for 64 points. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted February 13, 2012 Some great quotes about Filppula from Selanne. "I am very happy for him," Selanne said. "I always know that he has all the tools -- he can skate, he can pass, he's strong. His shot could be better, I think, but that's the only thing that I think of that he could be better. The players who they have had here, it has been hard to break into the first two scoring lines. Now that he is there, it's all about confidence and believing he can do it, and expecting yourself to be good offensively. That's what Valtteri is doing."http://www.freep.com/article/20120211/SPORTS05/202110379/Teemu-Selanne-compliments-fellow-Finn-Valtteri-Filppula?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s “I don't think this place has been easy to break into the top two lines because they have such great players,'' Selanne said. “But now, finally, he's in the top two lines and now it's time for him to expect of himself that he can do that ... After that everything is about confidence. When you get that, there's no limits. I'm so happy for him. I've been waiting for a long time because this guy has everything you need to be at the superstar level.''Selanne said switching Filppula from center to wing might have helped.“His mindset is more about passing than shooting, maybe that changes his mind to be a little more aggressive with the shooting and challenging the goalie,'' Selanne said. “But I think the main thing for him now is he's expecting himself to do damage offensively.'' http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2012/02/breakout_season_for_red_wings.html He broke out of his pointless streak with an assist on Z's goal last night. It's a good sign for him if he can keep whatever pointless streaks he may have to 2-3 games instead of last year's lengths. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted February 29, 2012 Too bad we can't see who voted for what. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
b.shanafan14 733 Report post Posted February 29, 2012 Great to see Filppula's effort night in, night out. I've said it before, but this guy brings it as consistently as anyone in the league. He is tenacious every game and make the team better, even when he isn't showing up on the scoresheet. To date he is on pace for 64+ points and 24+ goals. As the team pushes towards the playoffs and gets healthy, its conceivable that his score pace picks up even more. Just like Z, I see him scoring closer to 70 points by the end of the season. Points aside, he brings more than most. Good on ya, Fil :clap: 2 Aussie_Wing and DatsyukianDangles122 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted February 29, 2012 I'd still be happy with a 52-55 point season. 2 b.shanafan14 and DatsyukianDangles122 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
P. Marlowe 748 Report post Posted February 29, 2012 Filppula has now scored 50 points for the first time in his career and he did it in 63 games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NorwegianWing 24 Report post Posted February 29, 2012 Great stuff. Love it when guys like that develop inside the system and the Red Wings. Longevity and patience pays off. Let's hope he brings it in the playoffs - it's not like he hasn't before. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FinWing 26 Report post Posted February 29, 2012 This is when his contract is really starting to look like a bargain. 1 P. Marlowe reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites