Tag: Valtteri Filppula

Valtteri Filppula is one of the most heavily dropped fantasy forwards thus far this year yet he is still contributing.

Analysis: Valtteri Filppula has five points in six games this year. He’s chewing up nearly eighteen minutes of ice time per game and has a plus/minus rating of plus-3. He even offers center and left wing position eligibility. I understand that in such a short season fantasy owners cannot wait for players to get through a slump but Filppula is not slumping. His knee appears to be fine and if it becomes a problem THEN you drop him from your squad not BEFORE like so many seem to be doing now. If you have been watching Detroit this year you know his play has been solid. Keep in mind that he’s coming off of a career year- 66 points, plus-18 and he’s still only twenty-eight years old.

Filppula isn’t going to rack up tons of power play points or penalty minutes but he does have a place in most leagues. If five points in six games, eighteen minutes of ice time and a solid plus/minus rating isn’t good enough then have fun losing your fantasy hockey league this year. Filppula is available in 20-30% of fantasy leagues nationwide so pick him up if he’s been dropped in your league.

After missing eight games with a knee injury Detroit center Valtteri Filppula has now played in five consecutive unimpressive games.

Analysis: Filppula isn’t a slouch now, he does have 32 points in 55 games but he has been shaky as of late. Filppula only has one goal and zero assists since returning from injury but his minutes are relatively the same. It all comes down to team need on whether to pick up or cut the 26 year old Finn. Filppula is solid in goals, assists, plus/minus and shots, however, he doesn’t get the power play points, ice time or penalty minutes he could get somewhere other than Detroit. If he remains on your squad you have to at the very least give him a few more games to rack up some points or completely falter. If he’s not on your squad he is available in forty to forty-five percent of fantasy hockey leagues and he is under the radar so you have some time to decide.

Projection: No matter what, Filppula’s plus/minus will be solid and that is carrying his value at this point since his return from knee injury. The goals and assists should come if you can be patient, however, he will not give you much in the power play point department nor will he accumulate many penalty minutes. Expect 8-10 points the rest of the season with a plus one rating and just under two shots per game.