48 replies to this topic

[RedWingsDad]

If you called Franzen a soft Euro, I'd agree with you. But Filppula is not soft. He plays hard and busts his ass every shift. He is a very good 3rd line center that the Wings have to sometimes use on a 2nd line, because they don't have anyone else.

 

I think we have different definitions of soft. I am not referring to effort or effectiveness, but rather his grit, tenacity, gusto, strength on the puck. Heck, it's a joke between me and my wife how easily Filppula falls down all the time (somewhere a bunny sneezed, and Filppula fell down!), though he seemed to get a hare better in that area towards the end of last season.

Edited by RedWingsDad, 25 January 2013 - 04:20 PM.

[wingsfan4795]

Franzen-datsyuk-filppula
Brunner-Zetterberg-omark
Samuelsson-helm-Cleary
Tootoo-abdelkader-bertuzzi

Datsyuk can make the streaky franzen better
The second line could potentially have insane chemistry
Hard working 3rd line
Mean and tough fourth line that can score
2nd line would be the 2 kids and a goat line part 2!
I like.

[The Axe]

If you called Franzen a soft Euro, I'd agree with you. But Filppula is not soft. He plays hard and busts his ass every shift. He is a very good 3rd line center that the Wings have to sometimes use on a 2nd line, because they don't have anyone else.

Agreed. Hes a bargain right now.

[Carman]

Filpulla a 3rd line center? lol

 

You do know he scored the 12th most points for a center last year right? I guess Brad Richards, Couture, Krejci, Weiss and Getzlaf are 3rd line centers too.

[FireCaptain]

Since they already have an arena - 

 

Kansas City Kupcakes!

 

Portland Pillows

[ogreslayer]

Filpulla a 3rd line center? lol

 

You do know he scored the 12th most points for a center last year right? I guess Brad Richards, Couture, Krejci, Weiss and Getzlaf are 3rd line centers too.

And you know he did the vast majority of that playing on Zetterberg's wing last year right?

[Carman]

And you know he did the vast majority of that playing on Zetterberg's wing last year right?

Fair enough, still .82 PPG still puts him well within the top 50 for forwards, quite clear his is a legitimate top 6 player.

[Johnz96]

Fair enough, still .82 PPG still puts him well within the top 50 for forwards, quite clear his is a legitimate top 6 player.

Considering that there are 90 first liners in the NHL, that's pretty good for a top 6 player

[T.Low]

Franzen-datsyuk-filppula
Brunner-Zetterberg-omark
Samuelsson-helm-Cleary
Tootoo-abdelkader-bertuzzi

Datsyuk can make the streaky franzen better
The second line could potentially have insane chemistry
Hard working 3rd line
Mean and tough fourth line that can score
2nd line would be the 2 kids and a goat line part 2!
I like.

 

 

I can appreciate your thought process on this, but I think you are missing one very important element:  go back and look at the highlights of BZO in the Swiss Cheese league; you'll be hardpressed to see one hit on them, let alone any real contact whatsoever.  

 

Zetterberg would simply have too much puck responsiblity with both Brunner and Omark on his line.   

 

I really like Bert in the top 6.  Granted he was never the quickest guy in the league, and now he's even lost a step from that, but he is still a great (and effective) combination of size, strength, instincts, vision, hands, and grit.   He can play outside the circles, behind the net, or in front of the crease.  You don't lose anythng defensively like you would by adding Omark.  Then add to the equation Bertuzzi's years of experience in the league vs Omark's  steep  learning curve.

 

Omark may have a spot on another grit heavy underskilled team (is Radulov playing with Nashville again this year?) but he would greatly unbalance the Wings.

 

We need to find a young Zach Kassian type like Gillis traded Cory Hodgson to Buffalo for.  That guy is going to be the DIet Coke of Bertuzzi in his prime.