News:Valtteri Filppula is moving to center for Thursday's game against San Jose, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: With just nine goals over the team's last six games, head coach Mike Babcock continues to make adjustments to the lineup. Valtteri Filppula will center Damien Brunner and Daniel Cleary to begin Thursday's game against the Sharks.
News:Valtteri Filppula, who has just 13 points in 29 games this season, is not in talks with the Wings about a contract extension at this time, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Based on his 66-point season in 2011-12, there may be suitors out there in free agency willing to outbid the Wings. If Valtteri Filppula opts to move on this summer, it would open up a prominent role for one of the organization's promising young forwards next season.
News:Valtteri Filppula (shoulder) potted a power-play goal and fired four shots while seeing 15:51 in his return to the lineup Wednesday night.
Analysis: Pushed back into a top-six role, Valtteri Filppula was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise poor showing against the Flames on Wednesday night. Filppula skated with Henrik Zetterberg and Damien Brunner in his return.
News:Valtteri Filppula (shoulder) says he will play Wednesday against the Flames, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Assuming that holds, Valtteri Filppula -- who has notched 10 points in 19 games to date -- will be making his first appearance in the Detroit lineup since February 24.
News: Wings head coach Mike Babcock expects Valtteri Filppula (shoulder) to be ready for Wednesday's game against Calgary, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Presumably, Valtteri Filppula will be activated from IR prior to game time, and it's unclear what the corresponding move will be to open up his roster spot.
News:Valtteri Filppula (shoulder) skated with the Wings last week and may return for the upcoming road trip to western Canada, the Detroit News reports.
Analysis: The trip kicks off Wednesday in Calgary with a stretch of three games in four days as the Wings will visit Edmonton on Friday before a trip to Vancouver on Saturday night.
News:Valtteri Filppula (shoulder) will not play in any of the Wings' next three games, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: The hope is that he will be able to play when the Wings begin a trip to Western Canada on March 13, but Valtteri Filppula has been ruled out through Sunday's game against Columbus.
News:Valtteri Filppula (left shoulder) skated Monday, mlive.com reports.
Analysis: That represents some progress for Valtteri Filppula, but the forward is still not expected to play this week.
Red Wings' Filppula (Shoulder) Not Expected To Play Tuesday Or Thursday
News:Valtteri Filppula (shoulder) is not expected to play Tuesday or Thursday, Ansar Khan of MLive.com reports.
Analysis:Valtteri Filppula remains day-to-day with a sore left shoulder, but he looks unlikely to play in the Red Wings' next two games, as he has been unable to skate in a week.
News:Valtteri Filppula (shoulder) will not play Sunday, MLive.com reports.
Analysis:Valtteri Filppula will sit for the third game in a row and he remains day-to-day.
News:Valtteri Filppula (sore shoulder) is expected to miss Wednesday's game against Los Angeles and Thursday's game against San Jose, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: Johan Franzen will return from a hip flexor injury to take Valtteri Filppula's place in the lineup with Henrik Zetterberg and Damien Brunner. Filppula is considered day-to-day heading into Sunday's game against Chicago.
News:Valtteri Filppula is dealing with a sore left shoulder, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: As a result, Valtteri Filppula will be out for Wednesday's game against the Kings and is iffy for Thursday's tilt against the Sharks as well. On the plus side, Filppula noted that an MRI revealed no significant damage, and the forward doesn't believe he'll be out for long.
News: Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock called out Valtteri Filppula for his poor performance in Friday's loss to Anaheim, the Detroit Free Press reports. "Fil wasn't good enough last night, wasn't competitive enough, and he's gotta be way better than that," Babcock said. "We need him. He's a significant player for us. He's gotta play better than he has."
Analysis: With just three points (1 G, 2 A) in his last eight games, Valtteri Filppula's lack of secondary scoring has been an Achilles heel for the Wings. After skating with Henrik Zetterberg and Damien Brunner during practice Saturday, Filppula will likely open in that spot in Sunday's game against Minnesota.
News:Valtteri Filppula scored two goals in Tuesday's win over the Stars for his first two goals of the season.
Analysis: Both goals were assisted by Pavel Datsyuk. If Valtteri Filppula can continue to ride shotgun with Datysuk, the scoring chances should be plentiful.
Wings' Filppula Rests Saturday; Should Play Sunday
News:Valtteri Filppula was held out of Saturday's practice for rest, but is expected to play Sunday against the Blackhawks, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Knee issues were a problem for Valtteri Filppula in Finland during the lockout, but his absence Saturday appears to be preventative maintenance more than anything else.
News:Valtteri Filppula snagged three assists in Friday's victory over Minnesota, his first points of the season.
Analysis:Valtteri Filppula noted earlier in the week that he'd been hampered by a knee injury he suffered while playing in his native Finland during the lockout, but appeared fine on Friday. Expect Filppula to be a bit streaky, as he has in the past, but he's a solid playmaker that can be a source of secondary scoring on your roster.
News:Valtteri Filppula is still being bothered by a knee injury suffered while playing in Finland during the lockout, Ted Kulflan of the Detroit News reports.
Analysis:Valtteri Filppula has played in each game and does not expect the injury to cost him any action moving forward, but he did note that he expected his leg to feel better by now. Fantasy owners should not be immediately concerned about Filppula's sore knee, but it is something to keep an eye on in the near future.
News:Valtteri Filppula (knee) is expected to be ready for the start of training camp Sunday, MLive.com reports.
Analysis:Valtteri Filppula has been able to skate for the last week, so barring a setback during the weekend, he appears to be well on his way to centering the team's second line on Opening Night.
News:Valtteri Filppula (knee) will center the Wings' second line to begin the season, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: Joining him on the second line will be Johan Franzen and Mikael Samuelsson to begin the season. With Valtteri Filppula, the assignment is not completely unexpected, but his health is the only issue to be concerned about at the present time as he's still making his way back from a knee injury suffered overseas during the lockout. For now, Filppula is expected to be ready for Opening Night.
News:Valtteri Filppula has resumed skating in Finland and could be ready when the Red Wings' season begins in the next couple of weeks, MLive.com reports.
Analysis:Valtteri Filppula's agent, Bill Zito, said that he would likely be day-to-day if he's not 100 percent ready to roll for the opener. With the NHL and the NHLPA agreeing to a new CBA early Sunday morning, regular season games could begin as early as January 15.
News:Valtteri Filppula sprained his MCL Tuesday while playing for Jokerit of Finland, mlive.com reports.
Analysis: The immediate details of Valtteri Filppula's injury are not known, as Jokerit is waiting for the results of an MRI. Filppula had recorded six goals and 15 points in 15 games for Jokerit prior to the injury.
News:Valtteri Filppula's injury was officially diagnosed as a sprained right knee, which will keep him out six-to-eight weeks, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis:Valtteri Filppula sustained the injury while playing for Jokerit in his native Finland, and would be eligible to return with the Red Wings to rehab if the season resumes. If healthy, Filppula is a top-six forward for the Red Wings, as evidenced by his 23 goals and 43 assists last season.
News:Valtteri Filppula will play with Jokerit of Finland during the NHL lockout, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: While the players' union and owners look to reach a resolution to the lockout, Valtteri Filppula will look to stay sharp in his native Finland. Filppula, who scored 66 points last season, is entering the final year of a five-year, $15 million contract with the Wings.
News:Valtteri Filppula set up three goals against Carolina on Saturday night. The points move him into a two-way tie with Henrik Zetterberg for the team lead in scoring.
Analysis: Both men have 62 points. Valtteri Filppula had always been considered ripe for a breakout; this season surely cements him as an offensive mainstay in Detroit. Roll him with confidence.
News:Valtteri Filppula scored in the first period of Saturday's game at San Jose, giving him 17 points (7G, 10A) in his last 16 games.
Analysis: He's quietly put together a remarkable season that can accurately be described as a breakout. He's poised to post 65 or so points and a solid +/- rating over the course of the campaign.
News:Valtteri Filppula had a goal and two assists Friday night as Detroit got by Los Angeles 4-3.
Analysis: He's on fire right now with 11 points (5G, 6A) over his last six games. Valtteri Filppula is having a breakout year and has already bested his career high for points in a season by 17 points.
News:Valtteri Filppula posted a goal and an assist in Tuesday's win over Columbus, giving him three goals in the last three games.
Analysis:Valtteri Filppula has six points over the last five contests and remains one of the Wings' top options after the Datsyuk-Zetterberg duo. You could do much worse than having 50 points in 63 games on your roster.
News:Valtteri Filppula recorded a shorthanded goal in Saturday's loss to Edmonton.
Analysis: This is one of those goals that you have to apologize for; Valtteri Filppula whiffed on a shot, but Edmonton's Ryan Whitney knocked the puck into his own net. Still, shorties are so rare that this one's an incredibly valuable commodity if your league counts them as a separate scoring category.
News:Valtteri Filppula scored a power-play goal and added an assist against Chicago on Sunday.
Analysis:Valtteri Filppula has 14 goals and 35 points in 40 shots,and he is a plus-11 as well. He's having quite a nice season as a secondary scoring option for Detroit, and he could be a good fantasy option.
News: Filpulla had a goal and two assists in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Stars.
Analysis: That gives the red-hot Valtteri Filppula seven points in his last five games. He combined with Henrik Zetterberg and Jiri Hudler to have the best line on the ice Tuesday night.
News:Valtteri Filppula tallied two goals in Monday's 4-1 win over Nashville, his first goal in six games.
Analysis:Valtteri Filppula had struggled much the last six games with just one assist over that span. He has a solid 28 points in 36 games and remains a solid source of secondary scoring for both your roster and the Wings.
News:Valtteri Filppula (leg) will rejoin the lineup Thursday against the Coyotes, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: He missed Tuesday's game against the Blues after suffering a cut in Sunday's loss to Colorado, but fortunately the injury isn't too serious and he'll be able to replace Cory Emmerton in the lineup after missing just one game.
News: The severity of Valtteri Filppula's leg injury remains unclear after he was cut by a skate blade in Sunday's loss to the Avalanche, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: The Wings are back in action Tuesday night, while the team should disclose more information after head coach Mike Babcock meets with the media Monday. Owners in weekly leagues should consider the likelihood that Valtteri Filppula will miss some time in the coming days. If he's lost for a significant period of time, it would be a tough blow for the Wings given that Filppula has played extremely well since getting placed on Henrik Zetterberg's line a few weeks ago.
News:Valtteri Filppula left Sunday's game with a lower body injury, the Red Wings' official site reports.
Analysis:Valtteri Filppula will not return to the game. His status going forward is unknown, but we will provide updates ahead of the team's next game, Tuesday at St. Louis.
News:Valtteri Filppula powered the Wings to a 4-1 win over the Predators on Saturday. He scored two goals and added an assist.
Analysis: One of the goals came on the power play. He's riding a three-game goal-scoring streak (four goals) and has 19 points in 22 games this season. That moves him into a tie for second on the Wings' scoring list with Pavel Datsyuk. Use him well.
News:Valtteri Filppula's point streak stands at four games after he picked up two assists in Saturday's win over the Stars.
Analysis: He's the sizzle and the steak right now -- he has six points and is plus-8 in that span. And he sits second on the team scoring list with 13 points in 15 games.
News:Valtteri Filppula picked up a goal -- his third of the season -- in Friday's win over Edmonton.
Analysis: He now has 11 points (3 G, 8 A) in 14 games this season and is still being asked by head coach Mike Babcock to develop more of a presence in front of opposing netminders. Nevertheless, he's on pace to reach the 60-65 point range and continues to see heavy minutes at even strength and on both special teams units.
Detroit's Filppula Picks Up Four Points In Win Friday
News:Valtteri Filppula had a goal and three assists Friday night as Detroit downed Columbus, 5-2.
Analysis: With two goals and five assists through the first five games of the season, Valtteri Filppula is having one of the best starts to a season of his career. While he doesn't get as many minutes as some of the other Detroit forwards, he's making the most of them.
News:Valtteri Filppula potted a goal and set up two others in the Wings' shootout win over Chicago on Sunday night.
Analysis: He was a disappointment for the Wings last season, and a sprained knee in February certainly didn't help his chances of rebounding during the second half. At 26, he could still have the breakout we've been waiting for during the last two seasons, especially if he ends up on a line with Henrik Zetterberg or Pavel Datsyuk for a prolonged stretch this season. For now, the Wings are using him as a winger on a line with Zetterberg and Johan Franzen, which will bode very well for his production if he's more willing to fire the puck on net than he has been in recent seasons.
News: Filppula had a goal and an assist in Tuesday's Game 6 win over San Jose.
Analysis: Filppula picked up an assist on Detroit's first goal by Henrik Zetterberg and then tallied the game-winner less than two minutes later off a brilliant feed from Pavel Datsyuk. The goal was just his second of the playoffs.
News: Filppula found the back of the net and added an assist Monday versus the Penguins.
Analysis: Filppula has 16 goals and 36 points through 62 games this season. He's been a bit of a disappointment, but he has four points in his last four games, so he may be worth monitoring.
News: Filppula (knee) was back in the Wings' lineup for Saturday's win over Buffalo.
Analysis: He played 16:37 and finished plus-1 with a shot on goal. Filppula was heating up a bit in January and early February before getting derailed by the injury, so you may want to consider picking him up if you need help at center down the stretch.
News: Filppula (sprained left knee) will return to the Detroit lineup Saturday in Buffalo, Detroit News reports.
Analysis: Filppula won't play Thursday against Dallas, but it looks like Detroit will get both him and Mike Modano back Saturday.
News: Filppula (knee) is not expected to be available Thursday, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: The Red Wings recalled Jan Mursak from AHL Grand Rapids for Thursday's game, but remain hopeful that Filppula will be available Saturday.
News: Filppula (knee) will return to the lineup Thursday or Saturday barring a setback, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: With Patrick Eaves ruled out for at least Thursday's game, the Wings will recall a forward from Grand Rapids if Filppula isn't quite ready to play against Dallas.
News: Filppula (knee) skated again Friday and remains on track to return to the lineup next week, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Once he's back the Wings may have to squeeze Kris Draper or Patrick Eaves from the regular rotation, but injuries have kept that from happening since the early weeks of the regular season with many of the team's forwards missing time at some point in the last couple of months.
News: Filppula (sprained left MCL) skated Thursday, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: "It doesn't feel that good yet, but it felt better," said Filppula, who noted that starting and stopping is still difficult for him. The report adds that Filppula is not likely to return until Tuesday against the Sharks, at the earliest.
News: Filppula (knee) won't play Thursday against the Lightning, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: He may return to practice during the upcoming road trip, but Filppula isn't going to play until next week at the earliest. We still can't rule out the possibility of a retroactive placement on IR.
News: Filppula (knee) rode a stationary bike Saturday, but hasn't been cleared to resume skating yet, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: The initial one-week timetable for his return appears to be too optimistic, so don't be surprised if Filppula is retroactively placed on IR in the coming days if the Wings' upcoming evaluations reveal that he's not ready to resume skating in the near future.
News: Filppula will undergo an MRI on his left knee and will not play against Nashville on Wednesday, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: There's not much use in guessing a prognosis until the MRI results are back, but Filppula is someone Detroit can use in the lineup. He's got 31 points (12 goals) through 50 games this year.
News: Filppula has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL and he's expected to miss at least one week, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: "He won't be available for three games, then we'll re-evaluate him," general manager Ken Holland said. "He's week to week, minimum seven days. You don't know how these things heal. We'll see where he's at Monday or Tuesday." Since the Wings are welcoming Tomas Holmstrom back into the lineup Wednesday, no roster move will be made to account for Filppula's absence.
News: Filppula left Monday's game against the Rangers after taking a hit from Brandon Dubinsky that appeared to be knee-on-knee.
Analysis: The Versus crew pronounced it a lower-body injury and said he wouldn't return. Filppula is in the midst of the most productive season of his career so far, scoring 31 points in 49 games.
News: Filppula (flu) grabbed the game-winning goal Wednesday in the victory over New Jersey.
Analysis: Filppula finished off a nifty string of passes from his teammates, putting the Wings ahead for good. He has 12 goals on the season while playing a variety of roles for Detroit.
News: Filppula will not play Saturday against Chicago due to the flu, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: In his absence, 22-year-old Cory Emmerton has been called up from Grand Rapids to make his NHL debut. The Wings won't play again until Wednesday, so Filppula should be healthy enough to play again by then.
News: Filppula (groin) played 12:56 and was scoreless in his return to action Monday in Colorado.
Analysis: He's back a few days earlier than expected and health permitting, should resume his increased production with Pavel Datsyuk (wrist) on the shelf. Feel free to return Filppula to your lineup if you were profiting from him prior to the injury.
News: Filppula (groin) skated Monday and may be back in the lineup Monday against Colorado, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: This is earlier than expected if he's able to return Monday, so we advise waiting if you're in a daily league, while those in weekly formats need to weigh the risk of a partial week against the alternatives available to replace him on the bench.
News: Filppula (groin), who missed his second straight game Saturday against Vancouver, could return Friday against Columbus, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: Owners in weekly leagues should probably go ahead and stash him away on the bench in case there is a setback, but Filppula appears as though he'll avoid IR with this ailment as the Wings are suddenly saturated with a variety of injuries.
News: Filppula (groin) will not play Friday against Calgary, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: With Filppula out, Johan Franzen is expected to center the team's second line. He's considered day-to-day for now, but his status for Saturday's game is now in doubt as well. Filppula has two goals and five assists over his last six games, so the injury has come at a bad time as he's been producing in the absence of Pavel Datsyuk.
News: Filppula did not practice Thursday because of a sore groin, the Detroit News reports.
Analysis: That said, Filppula, who has a six-game point streak, expects to take part in the Wings' morning skate and play in Friday's game against Calgary.
Detroit's Filppula Extends Scoring Streak to Four Games
News: Filppula scored once and added an assist in Friday's 4-0 shutout win over the host Ducks.
Analysis: Filppula has now tallied three times and chipped in with three helpers over the last four games. He is making good on the second scoring line.
News: Filppula scored the eventual game-winning goal and added an assist in Friday's 2-1 win over the host Blue Jackets.
Analysis: Filppula is a 40-point guy and is on pace to produce similar numbers again this season. If that warrants fantasy ownership, then go get him.
Detroit's Filppula Helps Spoil Hawks' Banner Night
News: Filppula lit the lamp twice in Detroit's 3-2 win at Chicago on Saturday. His third-period game-winner came on the power play.
Analysis: The Blackhawks unfurled the Stanley Cup Banner before the game, but Filppula stole the night with his second and third points of the young season. As we have suggested before, wise fantasy owners are already onto the young Finn's promise; we foresee a noticeable increase in his productivity this season.
News: Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock still believes that Filppula can be a 20-goal, 70-point player as the team's second-line center, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: He's a good two-way player at even strength and key member of the penalty-killing unit, but Babcock wants to see Filppula make more of an impact at the offensive end. He averaged a career-high 2.07 shots per game last season, but the coaching staff would still like to see Filppula take more of them going forward. Keep in mind that he was slowed by a wrist injury last season, so there could be significant uptick in production here if he starts to see more time on the man advantage.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula scored a goal, tallied an assist and finished at plus-2 on Monday against the Penguins. Detroit failed to take advantage of two power plays in the first period, but Filppula took advantage of a scoring opportunity at 19:03, beating Marc-Andre Fleury's blocker after Todd Bertuzzi made a cross-ice pass. It was his ninth goal and second in as many games.
Analysis: Filppula has produced nine points (three goals) in 11 games since the Olympic break. He has 24 points (seven goals) in his last 31 contests. Filppula has been playing better as of late since he was moved to a scoring line with Henrik Zetterberg. But his strong play over the last few months has been because he is getting more aggressive on offense. Filppula is a not a great goal scorer, but he could be a sleeper Fantasy option for the stretch run as Detroit is making a late-season push.
News: The Detroit Free Press reports that Red Wings coach Mike Babcock tweaked his second and third lines at practice on Wednesday. LW Henrik Zetterberg centered C Valtteri Filppula and RW Dan Cleary on the second line, while LW Drew Miller centered RW Todd Bertuzzi and RW Jason Williams. “We’ve got to get more working,” Mike Babcock said. “I think no matter what profession you’re in, what you have to be proud of every day is a good effort and walking into the rink feeling good about yourself, and I don’t think you could do that as a team against Calgary and I don’t think you could against Vancouver (last Wednesday)."
Analysis: The players with the most to gain or lose with this move are Fillpula and Bertuzzi. Filppula was playing on the third line and now moves up to a scoring unit, while Bertuzzi drops down to the checking line. Filppula, who has three points in his last three games, is worth keeping a close eye on in deeper leagues for the next game or two if these lines hold, while Bertuzzi will remain just a low-end start for the time being.
News: Detroit C Valtteri Filppula returned to the ice from a groin injury on Monday at Colorado as the NHL resumed play after the Olympic hockey break. Filppula saw 16 minutes of ice time and failed to record any points with two shots on goal.
Analysis: Filppula last played on Feb. 11 and last recorded a point on Feb. 9 at St. Louis with a goal. He's scored six goals with 16 assists on the season and remains an option in only deeper leagues.
News: Detroit C Valtteri Filppula missed Saturday's win over the Senators with a groin injury. Filppula still hopes to play for Finland in the Olympics.
Analysis: Filppula came into Saturday with six points in his last seven games, and it would have been nice for him to add to that total on Saturday. It was not to be though, and we'll see how this groin injury affects him during the Olympics. Filppula will remain an option in only deeper leagues after the break, but is someone worth keeping an eye on.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula scored in a second straight game Tuesday as Detroit fell to the Blues in a shootout.
Analysis: Filppula now has six points in his last six games and is clearly playing his best hockey of the season. He was joined on the second line by Johan Franzen, and Filppula is certainly worth watching in 12-team leagues the rest of this week and after the break.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula has five assists in his last five games after helping out twice in Tuesday's win over the Blackhawks.
Analysis: Filppula has been playing his best hockey since the beginning of January and really seems to be clicking with Daniel Cleary on his line. If he can keep this pace up, think about adding him in 12-team leagues.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula tallied a pair of assists and finished at even on Friday against the Predators. It was his fourth multi-assist game of the season and third in nine outings.
Analysis: Filppula has two goals and 11 points in 14 January contests. He has been playing solid hockey since returning from a broken wrist in late December. Filppula is still a better passer than scorer, so he remains a low-end Fantasy flier.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula was able to play on Thursday against the Wild despite missing practice on Wednesday with a groin injury. He had no points in 19:23 of ice time. Filppula was probable for the game.
Analysis: Filppula said the groin injury is not a nagging issue and didn't need any tests, so it just seems he needed a day to rest. Filppula has been playing very well in January, with one goal and seven points in 10 games. Detroit has him pegged as a player that should help pick up the offensive slack in the second half. However, Filppula is still being hesitant shooting the puck. Filppula is getting better, but he remains a low-end Fantasy option.
News: The Detroit Free Press reports Red Wings center Valtteri Filppula did not practice on Wednesday because of a sore groin, but he said he would play on Thursday against the Wild. "I felt my groin a little (Tuesday) in the third period, so it was just a precaution not to skate today," Filppula said. "I'm definitely going to play (Thursday)."
Analysis: Filppula said it is not a nagging issue and didn't need any tests, so it just seems he needed a day to rest. Filppula has been playing very well in January, with one goal and seven points in nine games. Detroit has him pegged as a player that should help pick up the offensive slack in the second half. However, Filppula is still being hesitant shooting the puck. Filppula is getting better, but he remains a low-end Fantasy option.
News: Detroit C Valtteri Filppula recorded two assists during a 3-2 loss to the Capitals on Tuesday night.
Analysis: Filppula now has 14 points on the season for the Wings. His numbers are OK, but Detroit continues to urge him to be more aggressive on offense. Filppula remains a wait-and-see Fantasy option.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula has boosted the club's speed since returning to the lineup on Dec. 26. His strong play earned him a promotion to the top line, with Pavel Datsyuk and Todd Bertuzzi, during the second period. But the Wings still have trouble generating scoring chances.
Analysis: Filppula has one goal and four points in eight games since returning from a broken wrist. His numbers are OK, but Detroit continues to urge him to be more aggressive on offense. Filppula remains a wait-and-see Fantasy option.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula returned to action Saturday in a win over the Blue Jackets. Filppula had been out since Oct. 29 with a broken wrist.
Analysis: Filppula had six points in 11 games before this injury happened, and he could be line for some nice time on the Wings' scoring lines with Johan Franzen still out for another month and a half or so. Filppula bounced around a bit on Saturday, but managed 4:07 of power-play action, so that's a good sign. Get him active in deeper formats if you have a deficiency at center in a deeper league.
News: The Detroit Free Press reports that Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula now has his injured wrist fitted with a soft cast. "We’ll see how much longer I have to keep it on," he said. "It’s tough to say -- we just have to go a week at a time to see how it is healing, then get rid of the cast, and then see how it moves and everything. But now I can really skate better, so I’m looking forward to get a little more out there and skating a little longer. That’s going to help going back."
Analysis: Filppula has been out a month already and isn't expected back until late December or so. Filppula has plenty of potential, but has yet to really fulfill it with Detroit. Continue to stash him in deeper leagues.
News: The news keeps getting worse for the Detroit Red Wings. Already down Johan Franzen (knee), Detroit will now play without Valtteri Filppula after he broke his wrist in Thursday's game against the Oilers. Coach Mike Babcock said Filppula will miss "eight weeks or so."
Analysis: This is a real shame for the Red Wings and Fantasy owners. Detroit was counting on Filppula to pick up the slack for Franzen, especially on the power play. Now, they must continue to play through adversity. Filppula was merely a Fantasy sleeper before his injury, so if you need the roster spot, consider dumping him. He had six points (two goals) in 11 games.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Valtteri Filppula's speed and all-around ability have made his line, with Ville Leino and Jason Williams, the most consistent unit for the Red Wings this season. Coach Mike Babcock has praised Filppula several times while many other Red Wings players have started slowly. But the line must produce more offense for a team that isn't scoring enough. "It's not just good play you want, you want to generate offense," Babcock said. "So that's got to be the focus of his group. They're getting lots of opportunity."
Analysis: With just four points (two goals, two assists) in eight games, Filppula is on roughly the same pace as last season, when he picked up a career-high 40 points but scored only 12 goals, seven fewer than in 2007-08. Filppula is averaging better than two minutes more per game in ice time than he did last season (18:26, compared to 16:06). Unlike last season, he is part of the forward rotation on the second power-play unit. So he has ample opportunity to improve on last season's output. Filppula is one of the players the Wings are counting on to compensate for the 82 goals they lost with the offseason departures of Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler and Mikael Samuelsson. It's even more important for Filppula to step up his production with Johan Franzen idled until March following knee surgery. Consider him a sleeper in deeper Fantasy formats.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula failed to score on a penalty shot in the second period Tuesday against the Sabres, the first he has missed in three career attempts. Filppula scored twice on penalty shots five days apart in December 2007. Filppula did score on the power play in the first period against Buffalo.
Analysis: Filppula is one player the Red Wings are counting on now that Johan Franzen is out of action with a knee injury. Detroit has urged Filppula to be more aggressive on offense and now is as good as any time. Filppula still has low-end Fantasy appeal, but is someone to keep on the Fantasy radar.
News:The Sports Xchange reports the Red Wings' only Finnish players, Ville Leino and Valtteri Filppula, have formed good chemistry playing on the same line. Leino scored his second goal of the season Saturday against the Capitals, and Filppula provided two assists. They complement each other well, as Leino likes to hang onto the puck down low in the offensive zone and go to the net, while Filppula prefers to set up teammates with his passing ability.
Analysis: The Red Wings are counting on Filppula as one of the players that will help make up for the scoring absence of Johan Franzen, who is out several months with a knee injury. Detroit has urged Filppula to be more aggressive on offense and now is as good as any time. Filppula still has low-end Fantasy appeal, but is someone to keep on the Fantasy radar.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula scored his 11th goal of the season in Tuesday's win over the Oilers.
Analysis: The Red Wings have been very disappointed with Filppula's scoring in 2008-09 after he netted a career-high 19 goals last season. They figured he would be ready to take another step forward this season instead of regress. He is still getting plenty of PT and has a career-high 27 assists, but Filppula still has low-end Fantasy appeal.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula returned to the lineup Friday against the Thrashers after missing two games with a sore back. He didn't have a point in 15:53 of ice time and finished at even.
Analysis: Filppula was coming around before the injury, so hopefully he can get back on track since Detroit liked his new found aggressiveness. Filppula is definitely a promising player, but still has low-end Fantasy appeal when healthy.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula missed a second straight game with back spasms Tuesday against the Flyers. He remains questionable heading into Friday against the Thrashers.
Analysis: The back injury comes at a bad time for Filppula, who has scored four times in his last six games. He has finally stopped looking for the perfect shot and is just firing on net. Pretty much how coach Mike Babcock wants him to play. Filppula is definitely a promising player, but still has low-end Fantasy appeal when healthy.
News: Detroit C Valtteri Filppula was a scratch with back spasms Sunday against the Blue Jackets. He remains questionable heading into Tuesday against the Flyers.
Analysis: The back injury comes at a bad time for Filppula, who has scored four times in his last six games. He has finally stopped looking for the perfect shot and is just firing on net. Pretty much how coach Mike Babcock wants him to play. Filppula is definitely a promising player, but still has low-end Fantasy appeal when healthy.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula left Saturday's game in the second period due to back spasms. He is considered day to day.
Analysis: The Red Wings have been very disappointed with Filppula's scoring in 2008-09 after he netted a career-high 19 goals last season. They figured he would be ready to take another step forward this season instead of regress. He is still getting plenty of PT and has a career-high 25 assists, but Filppula still has low-end Fantasy appeal even when healthy.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula scored and assisted in Tuesday's win over the Coyotes. He now has three goals in his last four games.
Analysis: The Red Wings have been very disappointed with Filppula's scoring in 2008-09 after he netted a career-high 19 goals last season. They figured he would be ready to take another step forward this season instead of regress. He is still getting plenty of PT and has a career-high 25 assists, but Filppula still has low-end Fantasy appeal.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula scored his eighth goal during Wednesday's 3-2 win against the Avalanche. The Wings tied it late in the first period when Filppula flipped a shot over a sprawled-out Andrew Raycroft. Filppula's goal came with the clock malfunctioning, the announcer counting down the time for the final minute. Filppula's eighth goal of the season happened with 19 seconds remaining. "I've had trouble scoring goals," said Filppula, who has scored in consecutive games after going 18 without. "I'll take goals against anyone right now."
Analysis: The Red Wings have been very disappointed with Filppula's scoring in 2008-09 after he netted a career-high 19 goals last season. They figured he would be ready to take another step forward this season instead of regress. He is still getting plenty of PT and has a career-high 25 assists, but Filppula still has low-end Fantasy appeal.
News: After tallying 19 goals in his sophomore season of 2007-08, many expected Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula to build on that campaign in 2008-09. While he’s been assisting at a nice pace this season, the goals just haven’t been there and the native of Finland has just six goals and none in the last month.
Analysis: Filppula is just not getting enough scoring chances or power play minutes for you to worry about using him in anything but the deepest of seasonal Fantasy leagues at the moment. He has a nice future, but will need some fellow Wings forwards to retire or find homes elsewhere if he wants to get more ice time in Motown.
News: The Detroit Free Press reports Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula hasn't scored a goal in 11 games and has just one in his last 25 outings. Coach Mike Babcock Pavel Datsyuk didn't shoot the puck a lot early in his career, but the Red Wings coach wants Filppula to shoot more. "The challenge for Fil, and I challenge him all the time, is I think he has a chance to be an upper-echelon player in the league if he gets to the net more and shoots the puck more because he can do everything else," Babcock said.
Analysis: While Filppula has just six goals on the season, he has 21 assists, with 10 in his last 16 games. He is also doing well in the faceoff circle for the Red Wings. While Babcock might see Filppula as a future Datsyuk one day, he is not at that level just yet. Consider Filppula a low-end Fantasy option.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula assisted on Marian Hossa's 30th goal and finished at plus-2 during Sunday's game against the Penguins. Filppula notched his 20th assist Sunday and has six helpers in his last six games.
Analysis: Filppula has totaled one goal and nine assists in his last 13 games. He has been situated on the second line in recent weeks as Detroit has been hit by the injury bug. He has responded well, but since his scoring is still way down, Filppula has low-end Fantasy appeal.
News: Detroit C Valtteri Filppula had two assists in a 5-4 win over the Coyotes on Wednesday.
Analysis: Flippula has assists in three of his last four games and 18 on the season. He is stuck on the lower lines in Detroit and his production has sort of disappointing this year. He isn't much of a solid option right now and should be reserved for only the deepest of leagues.
News: The Detroit News reports that Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula will likely take the injured Johan Franzen's place on the top line for Detroit vs. Phoenix on Tuesday.
Analysis: Filppula has been a bit disappointing this season, but it hasn't been all his fault as he's been stuck on the lower lines and is only getting 14 minutes a game of ice time. Franzen isn't likely out for too long, so continue to only use Filppula in the deepest of formats for now.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula scored in Saturday's loss to the Sharks to reach 20 points on the season.
Analysis: Filppula plays only about 14 minutes a game with Detroit and doesn't feature on the power play. Those two facts limit his Fantasy value to just the deepest of leagues.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula assisted in Saturday's win over the Sabres, giving him just four points in his last 14 games.
Analysis: Filppula plays only about 14 minutes a game with Detroit and doesn't feature on the power play. Those two facts limit his Fantasy value to just the deepest of leagues.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula scored a goal, finished at plus-1 and spent two minutes in the penalty box Thursday against the Sharks. Filppula got his fifth goal, 7:25 into the second period, when he tapped a cross-crease pass into the empty net. He has three goals in his last six games.
Analysis: Filppula isn't getting a lot of time as a top-six forward this season and Detroit has been urging him to be a better offensive player down on the third line. He has been hesitant to oblige, so Filppula still remains just a low-end Fantasy flier for the deepest of leagues.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula scored for the second straight game Wednesday in a win over the Flames.
Analysis: Filppula is playing nearly 16 minutes per game, but hasn't contributed as much offensively as the Red Wings would like (13 points). Granted, he is surrounded by top talent, but Detroit still has high expectations for the third-year winger. Filppula remains a low-end Fantasy forward.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula tallied a goal and an assist Saturday in a win over Chicago for his second straight two-point game.
Analysis: Filppula is playing nearly 16 minutes per game, but hasn't contributed as much offensively as the Red Wings would like. Granted, he is surrounded by top talent, but Detroit still has high expectations for the third-year winger. Filppula remains a low-end Fantasy forward.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula tallied a pair of assists and finished at plus-3 during Thursday's 6-5 win against the Canucks. It was his first points in six games.
Analysis: Filppula is playing nearly 16 minutes per game, but hasn't contributed as much offensively as the Red Wings would like. Granted, he is surrounded by top talent, but Detroit still has high expectations for the third-year winger. Filppula remains a low-end Fantasy forward.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula (flu) returned to the ice Monday at Vancouver. He logged 13 minutes of ice time and attempted one shot on goal. He finished with a minus-1 rating.
Analysis: Filppula has just eight points this season and is not a very strong Fantasy option. Continue to keep him reserved until he can get on some kind of run.
News: The Detroit Free Press reports that Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula missed Monday's morning skate because of flu, but could play against the Canucks.
Analysis: Filppula has gone 10 games without a goal, so Fantasy owners wouldn't be too bummed if they had to bench him for Fantasy Week 8 (Nov. 24-30), as he's been pretty ineffective lately. He remains just a low-end Fantasy option until further notice.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula recorded an assist and finished at plus-1 in 15:22 of ice time Monday against the Oilers. It was his first point in six games and fifth assist on the season.
Analysis: Filppula doesn't have a goal since Oct. 27 and has converted just 7.7 percent of his shots in 2008-09. Detroit has urged Filppula to become more of an offensive factor, but he has been very hesitant to elevate his game. Filppula is still stuck on the Red Wings' lower lines and remains a low-end Fantasy option until further notice.
News:Valtteri Filppula took advantage of a sloppy turnover to score the tying goal with 1:54 left in the third period, and the Detroit Red Wings got goals from Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg in a shootout to beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 Monday night. Denis Gauthier was attempting a clearing pass deep in the Kings' zone and put it right onto the stick of the forechecking Filppula, who took one stride and beat Jason LaBarbera to the stick side with a 15-foot wrist shot. It was his second goal and first since Oct. 11.
Analysis: The Red Wings have urged Filppula to shoot more, but he still has just 15 shots in nine games. He has five points in nine games, so it's not like he isn't producing. However, Filppula is still stuck on the Red Wings' lower lines and remains a low-end Fantasy option.
News:The Sports Xchange reports it is one of coach Mike Babcock's constant messages to his players -- shoot the puck, often and from just about everywhere. He doesn't need to tell that twice to his star forwards. But Jiri Hudler and Valtteri Filppula could use occasional reminders. That is why Hudler was bumped off one of the top two scoring lines. He had started the season on a line with Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen, but Babcock soon realized that wasn't a good fit for Hudler. "When Huds plays with those guys all he does is pass them the puck; he's always deferring to 'Z' and deferring to Franzen," Babcock said. "I think he's a good offensive player, and I want him to shoot the puck. Maybe if he plays with Fil (Valtteri Filppula) and (Dan) Cleary he'll shoot the puck."
Analysis: Filppula fired the puck more last season, averaging 1.56 shots per game, compared to 1.04 the year before. "I don't think I have a really good shot, but the biggest thing is to shoot more," Filppula said. "I think the biggest thing is just try to shoot quick. I used to take so much time to get a good shot off. You don't necessarily have to always be in the best spot." Filppula has one goal on six shots in four games. The Red Wings believe Filppula has a bright future, but until his offensive numbers start to rise, he remains a low-end Fantasy option.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula scored a goal during Saturday's 3-2 win against the Senators. Filppula capped a nifty three-on-two break by scoring at 11:01 of the first period. He whipped in a hard wrist shot on a pass from Mikael Samuelsson after Dan Cleary started the rush by stealing the puck from Mike Fisher in front of the Detroit net.
Analysis: The Red Wings would love to make Filppula a top-six forward and second-line center at sometime this season, but it could be a few months until he settles into that role. He remains a low-end Fantasy forward until his numbers become very friendly.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula (thumb) was able to play during Friday's preseason game against the Bruins. He had an assist and finished at minus-1 in 19:51 of ice time.
Analysis: The Red Wings would love to make Filppula a top-six forward and second-line center as soon as opening day, but it could be a few months until he settles into that role permanently. He remains a low-end Fantasy forward until his numbers become very friendly.
News: The Detroit Free Press reports that Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula injured his thumb in practice Sunday and will not play in a scrimmage on Monday night. "He’s got some soreness in his (right) thumb," Babcock said. "We don’t know if it’s a three-day thing or what … so we’ll wait and see."
Analysis: Filppula is an up-and-coming forward in Detroit who got had a nice spell in the middle of last season, but started and finished slowly. He will get plenty of time on the second line with some of the Wings' potent weapons and is worth drafting in the second half of most drafts as a low-end Fantasy forward with plenty of potential.
News:Valtteri Filppula will be back with the Detroit Red Wings next season, and the defending champions want the 24-year-old center around for a while. The restricted free agent signed a $15 million, five-year contract with the Red Wings on Wednesday that keeps him under contract through the 2012-13 season and avoids a salary arbitration hearing. Filppula had career highs with 19 goals and 36 points last season. Then, he played in all 22 playoff games and scored in the Stanley Cup-clinching win over the Pittsburgh Penguins last month. Detroit took the Finland native in the third round of the 2002 draft, and he has 29 goals and 54 points over two-plus seasons in the NHL.
Analysis: Filppula is an up-and-coming forward in Detroit who got had a nice spell in the middle of last season, but started and finished slowly. He will get plenty of time on the second line with some of the Wings' potent weapons and is worth drafting in the second half of most drafts as a low-end Fantasy forward with plenty of potential.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula played his first game Friday night since March 16 when the Detroit Red Wings lost 4-3 to the St. Louis Blues. Filppula, who was out because of a groin injury, played 26 shifts and saw almost 18 minutes of ice time. He finished with three shots on goal and had a minus-3 rating.
Analysis: Filppula is averaging barely a half point a game in his second full NHL season, but will likely be a key part of Detroit's run at the Stanley Cup.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula will play for the first time Friday since injuring his groin on March 16, reports the Detroit News.
Analysis: Filppula is averaging barely a half point a game in his second full NHL season, but will likely be a key part of Detroit's run at the Stanley Cup. Ignore him over these last few days of the season.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula was not in uniform Tuesday night against the Blues because of his troublesome groin. He has missed the last four games.
Analysis: Filppula has been a massive disappointment so far in 2008, and shouldn't be starting in anything but the deepest Fantasy formats at this point in the season.
News: Almost as anticipated, Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula also sat out Saturday's game at Columbus with a sore groin. Filppula sat out games on Wednesday and Thursday.
Analysis: Filppula has been a massive disappointment so far in 2008, and shouldn't be starting in anything but the deepest Fantasy formats at this point in the season.
News: Almost as anticipated, Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula sat out Thursday's game at Nashville with a sore groin. Filppula also missed Wednesday's game against the Blue Jackets.
Analysis: Filppula has been a massive disappointment so far in 2008, and shouldn't be starting in anything but the deepest Fantasy formats at this point in the season.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula has a sore groin and did not play Wednesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He is also likely to sit out Thursday's contest in Nashville.
Analysis: Filppula has been a massive disappointment so far in 2008, and shouldn't be starting in anything but the deepest Fantasy formats at this point in the season.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula has a sore groin and could miss both tonight's game against Columbus and Thursday's contest in Nashville, reports the Detroit Free Press.
Analysis: Filppula has been a massive disappointment so far in 2008, and shouldn't be starting in anything but the deepest Fantasy formats at this point in the season.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula scored and added an assist Sunday as Detroit won for only the second time in 12 games by defeating Buffalo 4-2.
Analysis: Filppula was a hot commodity after putting up 12 points in December, but he has been a huge disappointment since with only 11 points since. That includes four in his last three games, so you can figure out just how poor he was in January and February. He's worth holding on to in case the Wings start playing good hockey again, but he shouldn't be starting in anything but the deepest of leagues at this time.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula scored a goal and added an assist during Tuesday's game against the Oilers. Filppula powered a shot through the legs of Mathieu Garon at 17:44 of the third period for his second goal in four games. He also has two assists in his last seven games.
Analysis: Now that Daniel Cleary is out for the rest of the regular season with a broken jaw, Detroit will turn to Filppula to help pick up the offensive slack. He was at his best in December with 12 points in 15 games, but has just nine points in his last 25 games. He remains a low-end Fantasy flier at this time, but has the chance to be much more.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula scored a goal during Monday's 4-0 win against the Avalanche. Filppula scored his 16th goal on a power play at 19:04 of the first period. It was his first goal in 11 games and second power-play tally.
Analysis: Now that Daniel Cleary is out for the rest of the regular season with a broken jaw, Detroit will turn to Filppula to help pick up the offensive slack. He was at his best in December with 12 points in 15 games, but has just seven points in his last 22 games. He remains a low-end Fantasy flier at this time, but has the chance to be much more.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula tallied an assist and finished at even during Tuesday's game against the Predators. It was his 12th assist of the season, but first point in eight games.
Analysis: Now that Daniel Cleary is out for the rest of the regular season with a broken jaw, Detroit will turn to Filppula to help pick up the offensive slack. He was at his best in December with 12 points in 15 games. He remains a low-end Fantasy flier at this time, but has the chance to be much more.
News:Valtteri Filppula's 15th goal of the season was also the winner Wednesday for the Red Wings in the 2-1 win at Anaheim. Filppula now has just two goals in the last 12 games after he had a solid December with eight goals and three assists.
Analysis: Filppula has hit a rut, but the native of Finland has the potential to bounce back and maybe the All-Star break is just what he needs. Filppula has 15 goals and 11 assists this season.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula is trying to get back to scoring some goals after having just one goal in the last 11 games. That comes after a solid December, with eight goals and three assists.
Analysis: Filppula has hit a rut, but the native of Finland has the potential to bounce back and maybe the All-Star break is just what he needs. Filppula has 14 goals and 11 assists this season.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula scored a goal and finished at minus-1 during Thursday's game against the Wild. It was his 14th goal and first in seven games since scoring twice Dec. 27 against the Avalanche.
Analysis: Filppula is finally starting to emerge from his shell and become a legit scoring option for the Red Wings. He has managed a point in 13 of his last 18 games. He is already a better player in his third pro season and has emerged as a No. 4 or No. 5 Fantasy forward. But he can be much more as well.
News: Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula tallied an assist and finished at plus-2 during Saturday's game against the Stars. He now has an assist in two straight games and a point in 12 of 15 games. He has nine goals and five assists in that span.
Analysis: Filppula is finally starting to emerge from his shell and become a legit scoring option for the Red Wings. He is already a better player in his third pro season and has emerged as a No. 4 or No. 5 Fantasy forward. But he can be much more as well.
News: With Red Wings veterans Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom out injured, forwards Valtteri Filppula and Mikael Samuelsson will be looked upon to help out in the Detroit offense for at least the next 10 days. Filppula has two goals on Wednesday, while Samuelsson had two assists.
Analysis: Filppula is a young prospect who has already surpassed his scoring totals from his rookie season of 2006-07, while Samuelsson is a veteran who just turned 31 and had 45 points two seasons ago. Both are definitely worth grabbing off the wire if you need forward help for Fantasy Week 14 (Dec. 31-Jan. 6).
News: The Detroit Red Wings hope second-year center Valtteri Filppula is shedding his pass-first mentality. He has scored five goals in the last seven games and the team needs secondary scoring from players like Filppula. He scored again Thursday at St. Louis. The problem has been getting Filppula to shoot the puck more. He ranks 11th on the club with only 46 shots. But he's second in shooting percentage (19.6 percent) behind Tomas Holmstrom, an indication that he needs to fire the puck more rather than look to always set up teammates. "When he figures out that when you shoot the puck you got a chance to score, he's going to be that much better," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "Every goalie in the league stops the first (shot). In order to get the goal, you need a second chance. In order to do that, someone's got to shoot it. That's what Fil's got to figure out over time. The more he shoots it, the better chance he and his linemates have to generate offense."
Analysis: Filppula has been a playmaker throughout his career in Finland and when he first arrived in North America to play for the Wings' AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. It's not easy changing old habits. "I still think there's more shots I can take, but I'm getting there," Filppula said. "I'm shooting a little more than I was. There's still a ways to go where I should be. If you have a good chance to shoot, shoot it." Filppula is one of the Red Wings' young, promising players, but is merely a low-end Fantasy flier until the points come in steadily. He has four goals in his past six games.
News:Valtteri Filppula fooled Tomas Vokoun with a move that the Florida goalie could have seen on TV this week. Filppula converted one of a Detroit-record two penalty shots in the Red Wings' 5-2 victory over the Panthers on Saturday, using the same move he used to beat Nashville's Dan Ellis on a penalty shot Monday. Filppula beat Vokoun with a fake and a high backhand shot. "I figured I'd go with the same move," Filppula said. "I figured the goalie wouldn't have seen it yet." Filppula was given the penalty shot with 8:43 left when Vokoun threw his stick as Filppula attempted to score. He finished the game at plus-1 and was also hit with two penalties.
Analysis: Filppula has three of his seven goals in the last four games. He has all of a sudden found his scoring touch that the Red Wings and Fantasy owners have been waiting on all season. Filppula is one of the Red Wings' young, promising players, but is merely a low-end Fantasy flier until the points come in steadily.
News:Valtteri Filppula had an assist at Columbus on Sunday. He scored a goal and added an assist against St. Louis on Tuesday also.
Analysis: Filppula has been inconsistent offensively so far this season, so consider the Finnish center in larger leagues only for now.
News: Valtteri Filppula gave the Detroit Red Wings a rare win in Edmonton and kept the Oilers from salvaging a point from overtime. Filppula scored with 24.4 seconds left in the third period to give the Detroit Red Wings their sixth victory in a row -- 2-1 against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. After a back-and-forth third period, Filppula fought off Dick Tarnstrom and beat Oilers goalie Dwayne Roloson high to the glove side.
Analysis: Filppula has nine shots in his last five games. That's still not a good pace for a player the Wings expect to produce more offense while centering the No. 2 scoring line. But it's an improvement from his first eight games, when he registered only eight shots. After failing to record a single point in his first 10 games, Filppula has two goals and two assists in the last three games. Consider using him in larger leagues for now.
News: Valtteri Filppula scored his first goal of the season and also had an assist in Detroit's 5-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Friday. Filppula opened the scoring 1:24 into the contest on the first shot of the game, beating Evgeni Nabokov with a high backhander as he skated down the slot. Filppula then set up Andreas Lilja's goal, which came with 4:29 left in the opening period. Filppula carried the puck into the San Jose zone in the middle of the ice and cut to the right. He then passed back to Lilja in the high slot. The defenseman took a couple of strides and beat Nabokov high to the glove side with a wrist shot.
Analysis: The goal was a longtime coming for Filppula, who has had a lot of good chances this season, but didn't even have a point in the Red Wings' first 10 games. "I felt I had a couple of chances earlier in the year," he said. "I am glad I finally got one." His major flaw, thus far, is his reluctance to shoot. He has been a playmaker throughout his career, but coaches want him to develop into a better finisher. Filppula might have a lot of potential to succeed, but is nothing more than a low-end Fantasy reserve until he starts rolling.
News:The Sports Xchange notes: The Red Wings have high hopes for second-year forward Valtteri Filppula this season. Coach Mike Babcock referred to him last week as a "front-line NHL player." Filppula is a terrific skater and a good playmaker who's strong on the puck and plays solid defensively. His skills have been likened to star teammate Henrik Zetterberg. But, unlike Zetterberg, Filppula is not a good finisher. His shot is the weak link of his game, and part of the problem is his reluctance to shoot, something Babcock has been imploring him to do. He will try to get untracked Monday at Anaheim. So far, he hasn't shown the offensive abilities to indicate he's ready to be the Red Wings' second-line center, which is where the club would like to slot him when Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are playing together, as they have the last four games.
Analysis: Filppula has no points in six games despite averaging 17 minutes in ice time, nearly six minutes a game more than last season. He has only seven shots on goal. It's early, and there's plenty of time for Filppula to find his offensive game. "He's got to continue to give-and-go with the puck, not carry it all the time, move it and get it back," Babcock said. "The other thing -- and (Zetterberg) said he was like that when he got here -- (Filppula) won't shoot it. What (young players) have to learn is no one on your line scores until someone shoots the puck." It's going to take some time, Babcock said, for younger players like Filppula, 23, to become more assertive. Consider him a nice keeper prospect and someone to look at in deeper yearly leagues for now.
News:The Sports Xchange reports the Red Wings were counting on some of their young forwards to take a step forward in their career this season and produce more offensively. In particular, they need more goals from Valtteri Filppula and Jiri Hudler to compensate for the offseason departures of Robert Lang, Todd Bertuzzi and Kyle Calder. Five games into the season, the Red Wings are getting little, if anything, from these players. Hudler has only one assist and Filppula has no points.
Analysis: Filppula's performance has been particularly disappointing. He's a player the club was hoping could assume the second-line center spot when stars Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk are joined together on the first line. But, Filppula hasn't shown nearly enough offensive aptitude to fill that role. His major flaw, thus far, is his reluctance to shoot. He has been a playmaker throughout his career, but coaches want him to develop into a better finisher. Filppula might have a lot of potential to succeed, but is nothing more than a low-end Fantasy reserve until he starts rolling.
News: Valtteri Filppula has only four shots on goal in four games so far this season, and he has not recorded a goal or an assist yet.
Analysis: Filppula is centering the second line between Jiri Hudler and Mikael Samuelsson. Filppula just isn't shooting often enough to suit coach Mike Babcock. Only consider him in larger leagues for now.
News: Valtteri Filppula (groin) was in the lineup for Thursday's preseason game against the Wild. He was scoreless with a plus-1 rating and one shot on goal in 19:17.
Analysis: Preseason statistics are not really important, although he needs to stay healthy and pick it up to maintain his spot on the team's third scoring line. He is worth a look in the later rounds on Draft Day in Fantasy leagues of 12 or more teams.
News: The Detroit News reports Valtteri Filppula has been battling a sore groin, but he was able to return to practice on Wednesday. He might be able to return for Thursday's preseason game against the Wild.
Analysis: Filppula is considered day to day. He is battling for a spot on the team's third line. He is worth a look in the deepest of Fantasy leagues.
News: The Detroit Free Press is reporting the third line projections are Valtteri Filppula with Dan Cleary and Kris Draper and the fourth line might be Tomas Kopecky, Kirk Maltby and Dallas Drake.
Analysis: This is all certainly very early and it can change with injuries, tremendous performances during training camp and the preseason, etc. Filppula showed well during the postseason and is apparently ready to take the next step. He is a nice No. 3 or 4 Fantasy center in deeper leagues.
News: Valtteri Filppula (foot) was able to play in Saturday's game at Vancouver. He was scoreless with a minus-2 rating in 21:25 of ice time.
Analysis: It appears safe to get Filppula back into all lineups in larger leagues for Fantasy Week 25 (March 19-25).
News: Red Wings LW Valtteri Filppula left the game in the second period after blocking a shot with his foot. X-rays showed the foot is not broken, and Filppula might not miss any games.
Analysis: Filppula has nine goals and six assists in 62 games this season. When healthy, he is merely a low-end scoring option.
News: Kris Draper scored two goals and Valtteri Filppula added another in Sunday's game against the Avalanche.
Analysis: Filppula also had a minus-1 rating in 18:18 of ice time. Despite the goal, Filppula is only worth a look in the largest of Fantasy leagues at this point.
News: Valtteri Filppula (flu) returned to the lineup for Sunday's game against the Avalanche. He had two shots on goal with an even rating in 11:35 of ice time.
Analysis: It appears safe to get Filppula back into the active lineup in all larger leagues for Fantasy Week 18 (Jan. 29-Feb. 4).
News: Goaltender Chris Osgood, battling the flu himself, was thrust into the starting role Friday after Dominik Hasek came down with the flu hours before the game. Hasek joined Robert Lang (flu), Kris Draper (flu), Mathieu Schneider (knee) and Mikael Samuelsson (foot) in the team's growing infirmary. And now forward Valtteri Filppula has the flu as well.
Analysis: Filppula might have to sit out Sunday's game against the Avalanche because of the flu as well, but he isn't expected to miss that much more time. When healthy, he is not a recommended Fantasy option.
News: The Red Wings recalled D Kyle Quincey from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League and sent LW Valtteri Filppula to the same team Wednesday.
Analysis: Neither player is worth owning in Fantasy play.
News: The Red Wings recalled Valtteri Filppula from Grand Rapids of the AHL on Wednesday.
Analysis: Filppula is not a recommended Fantasy option. He replaces Jiri Hudler on the active roster.
