Abel to Yzerman
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Phil Who?
by IwoCPO on 12/29/07 at 07:13 PM ET
Comments (9)
Great column from Larry Wigge at NHL.com. Lots of time spent researching Valteri Filppula’s background, the reason he’s become so polished so quickly and plenty of reaction from the organ-I-zation. In short, a story that should have been written by a Detroit columnist long ago.
Filppula just might be another of those prized all-world draft choices the Wings seem to find regularly.
The 23-year-old Vantaa, Finland native, who was picked in the third round (95th overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft, had 10 goals in 73 games with the Red Wings last season. He started slowly this season, with no goals in his first 10 games. But ...
“You’ve got to remember, he was supposed to spend all of last season in the American League ... he wasn’t supposed to get his feet wet at this level until this season,” Babcock continued. “Now, I just think the sky’s the limit to his potential.”
Thanks to Tony at Skate2Stick for the pointer.
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Comments
And the Panthers are discovering what a gem they have in Shawn Matthias, whom the Wings traded away for Todd Bertuzzi.
They love him and they can’t wait for him to fill out a little more before he makes it to the NHL. If there is such a thing as the next Joe Thornton, Matthias was ours before Holland pulled the trigger for Bertuzzi.
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 12/30/07 at 07:41 PM ET
If he was Joe Thornton, Holland would admit as much. Right now, he’s Tomas Kopecky, maybe Taylor Pyatt.
Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 01/01/08 at 01:11 PM ET
The Miami Herald had an article on the post-Bertuzzi trade for which they received Matthias from the Wings. The article said that the Panthers’ coaching staff were enamored with him as he NHL size (6’4” 213lbs.), top-six forward skills, and work ethic (which is what they’re most thrilled about).
When the trade was made, I think I recall many people saying that there is a probability that Matthias might not turn out at all and should the Wings fail to sign Bertuzzi (which did happened), the trade evens out.
By what I’ve read, I think the Panthers might turn out to be the winners in this trade.
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 01/01/08 at 01:45 PM ET
Oh, they’re the winners, no doubt. He’s the kind of big, strong, physical forward that the Wings’ farm system is sorely lacking now, and when people were saying, “Oh, we traded a pick and some nobody,” I was pretty stunned that we gave away such a promising prospect.
It’s just a matter of how well the kid turns out as an NHL player. That much, our Wings have hurt themselves with—I’ll grant you that I’d still make the trade of Anders Eriksson (Calgary), Steve McCarthy (Atlanta), and Adam Munro (in the AHL) for Chris Chelios, but Robert Lang for Mike Green, who played 27 minutes vs. the Wings, and Tomas Fleischmann? No way, no how. Jason Williams for Kyle Calder or Lasse Kukkonen (the Flyers got Kukkonen)? No, thanks. Todd Bertuzzi for Shawn Matthias? Not even if Matthias is a career AHL’er.
Those late-season trades are dangerous if you don’t get somebody who’s going to stay with your team and going to produce for your team—unless you win the Cup, anyway.
Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 01/01/08 at 04:01 PM ET
Yeah, I getcha. Everyone raves about Holland’s moves but they’ve been awfully expensive…esp. guys like Green and Fleischmann who are now seeing regular minutes with the Caps and maybe next year, we’ll probably see Matthias suit up in a Panthers sweater on a regular basis.
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 01/01/08 at 04:50 PM ET
It isn’t just Holland paying a lot for late-season rental veterans - every GM has had to pay a lot for that in the last few years. I think that will start to happen much less often as anyone with a brain will be able to look at the history of moves like this and determine that they really aren’t worth it, especially when young cheap players who become good unexpectedly quickly are so salary-cap friendly.
At least, it should happen less. It’s pretty clear that the smarter move is generally to stand pat considering the costs.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/01/08 at 05:04 PM ET
Everybody does it, but some have to pay more for it. The Wings will survive without Matthias, but so many of the “middling prospects” teams give up for short-term fixes become essential parts of winning teams…It’s very early to judge last season’s deadline deals, but if I was the Islanders, for example, I think I’d rather have Robert Nilsson progressing than no Ryan Smyth.
Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 01/02/08 at 05:31 AM ET
George James Malik said: but so many of the “middling prospects” teams give up for short-term fixes become essential parts of winning teams…
EXACTLY why I cringe every time I hear this. It appears that the late picks have been the Wings’ saving grace. I think we’re the first organization that everyone looks at to see whom we draft late.
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 01/02/08 at 03:08 PM ET
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Lars, Ilari, potato, po-tah-to…Ilari wears #81, so that explains the whole lop-sided number thing.
Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 12/29/07 at 08:12 PM ET