Thoughts on Valterri Filppula

[shortstopguy12]

I am very biased since I collect him, but what do you guys think of him. since Zetty has been hurt he has been playing 17 minutes or so a game and is actually putting up some numbers during that time. Will his recent play keep him getting the same minutes even when Zetterberg returns, or will he go back down to the 4th line. i think this guy could be a decent NHL player, and could really be a sleeper in the hobby. I do not expect his cards to sky rocket, but they have no where to go but up right now. I think he is a pretty decent investment. Well, investment isn't the right word, but you guys know what I mean. What are your thoughts?

 

[suitman19]

He played exceptionally strong tonight - and has shown that he will become at least a 3rd liner if not better next year or the year after. But in all honesty - there is just not room for him to play that much unless injury troubles continue.

Here you go:
First line: Zetterberg Datsyuk Holmstrom
Second Line: Bertuzzi Lang Calder
Third Line: Samuelsson Hudler Cleary
Checking Line against other teams #1 line: Franzen Draper Maltby

If Filppula continues his strong play he may replace Hudler, but still when you add in penalties and the like the 3rd line is going to have trouble finding 10 minutes oer game in the post-season. Perhaps if Babcock decides rto not play Calder with Bertuzzi and switches Hudler with Bertuzzi like the line-up tonight where Hudler, Lang and Calder were very strong.

Also expect as Zetterberg gets heathy to see him and Datsyuk do some double shifting UNLESS the flow of the game is disrupted by penalties. To sum it up - the Detroit line-up features something it lacked for the past 3 years - GRIT on more than one line. Kyle Calder was a HUGE addition to the Wings - and as much as i liked Williams - his game was no match for what Calder brings to the line-up. Chalk up another Detroit addition that will be easy to re-sign next year to a home in Detroit.

bruce

 

[canadianrover]

I was watching a Wings game on Centre Ice earlier some time last month and the commentators mentioned that Holland named him as an untouchable inregards to the trade deadline. Goes to show what the Wings brass think of him.