this is interesting… if nothing more, why would poser (who would most def. be a wings fan) put all that effort to making up an accurate profile to say he was traded to Atlanta along with Hudler.

This deal would make sense if Detroit was negotiating with Hossa as I type this.  No contract with Hossa, no deal.  a quick look at the lines with the McCarty deal looming.

Franzen / Datsyuk / Holmstrom
Samuelsson / Zetterberg / Hossa
Cleary / Draper / Maltby
Downy / Kopecky / McCarty

Posted by Jdunc from Flint, MI on 02/20/08 at 06:49 AM ET

there are three Valtteri Filppula profiles on facebook...just be aware

Posted by bsalamon on 02/20/08 at 06:51 AM ET

Why would Fil know anything about trade negotiations? I assume Holland would alert him to the fact he’s on the block, but wouldn’t give him specifics. He certainly wouldn’t be able to broadcast it like that, if he did know.

I’m going to go ahead and assume that’s not “legit.” The picture of Fil with Hudler and a girl proves nothing, as it could have come from their GR days, when they were more accessible.

Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 02/20/08 at 06:58 AM ET

Franzen / Datsyuk / Holmstrom
Samuelsson / Zetterberg / Hossa
Cleary / Draper / Maltby
Downy / Kopecky / McCarty

Me likes. Alot.

1st line is simply one that’ll leave the opponents wondering, “What the...where did he… how in the...?”
2nd line is the shut you down and score faster than you can get a line change.
3rd line would make the statement that you will not score on us. Period.
4th line: be afraid Sasquatch. Be very afraid.

Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 02/20/08 at 08:13 AM ET

the only thing that would make the second line better, would be Filppula on the second line in place of Samuelsson, but keeping with the fantasy post, I had to keep things in order haha.

I don’t like Samuelsson he’s too inconsistent.  In the last two games the wings came out and played ultra hard, except for Samuelsson.  He’s trailing the play, his shots are often blocked, he isn’t physical.  If I were Ken Holland I would trade Samuelsson for a rental - ala Federov, -IF- I had Fabian Brunnstrom in my pocket next season (which isn’t the case, and if it were, we don’t know if the guy is NHL ready, so even that is iffy, but in fantasy land, anything goes)

Posted by Jdunc from Flint, MI on 02/20/08 at 08:29 AM ET

I don’t like Samuelsson he’s too inconsistent.

I disagree, Jdunc...kind of.

Sammy is consistent, but in a negative sort of way. What I’m referring to is the fact that he consistently fails to carry the puck into the zone on the rush. He gets up enough speed alright, but as soon as a defender makes a move on him at the blue line, he does one of three things: (1) he stops dead in his tracks and throws his linemates offsides, or (2) he tries to skate around the defender with that goofy head-fake thing he’s started doing and promptly loses the puck, or (3) he tries to pass or shoot the puck in and, more often than not, ends up giving it to one of the defenders.

He’s got a hard (though not very accurate) slapshot and he’s an above-average defensive forward, but he’s proven that he’s not the sniping/scoring winger we need.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 02/20/08 at 11:41 AM ET

Bruce MacLeod reports:

Valtteri Filppula is on the ice at Joe Louis Arena right now, practicing with the rest of the Red Wings. That means that the intriguing facebook find posted on Behind The Jersey—a Filppula facebook page saying that he had been traded to Atlanta—isn’t valid.

http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/2008/02/filppula-on-ice.html

Posted by Christy from Ann Arbor, MI on 02/20/08 at 12:49 PM ET

Here’s what I think about Facebook’s truth in hockey rumors and talk:

Ya ready for this?

“Worthless.”

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 02/20/08 at 01:35 PM ET