Enjoy it cuz for another 2 seasons he will mostly contribute on the defensive side. It will be frustrating and you will wonder where the flip of this year is. Unless he finds his offensive consistency in Tampa bay. I hope he does. I always liked him even if he would do something awesome score or set up a goal and then disappear for stretches
- Zmloste

well, luckily having a nice defensive center to follow behind stammer is a great punch ...not that stamkos isn't defensively minded, he was evolving this year into something truly spectacular, but its good to know we have a leader in filppula who steps up when we need him, and when stamkos is back if he keeps up his pace, its a bonus, if not, then that's fine too...hes a wicked player

and so far, theres zero indications of "disappearing" , hes actually one of our best players...im sure youd rather have him back than Weiss, Weiss seems to be a no show every game

On the Leafs....

According to sources, there has been some talk about the Leafs looking at Ryan Malone out of Tampa. A trade in the division with Tampa (and yes that still feels weird to say) would on the surface look unlikely, but there are whispers Malone wants out of Tampa and Tampa does like some of the defenders the Leafs are holding onto. Another name that keeps coming up with Tampa is Tuomo Ruutu. I like that fit a lot.

On the Leafs....

According to sources, there has been some talk about the Leafs looking at Ryan Malone out of Tampa. A trade in the division with Tampa (and yes that still feels weird to say) would on the surface look unlikely, but there are whispers Malone wants out of Tampa and Tampa does like some of the defenders the Leafs are holding onto. Another name that keeps coming up with Tampa is Tuomo Ruutu. I like that fit a lot.



- RileyB77

If Ruutu comes to Tampa I may become a Panthers fan

If Ruutu comes to Tampa I may become a Panthers fan
- Artyukhin76

ew, I wouldn't go that far

he wouldn't get any playing time...I don't even know who the hell he is, ruutu sounds like a name I would've heard in the 2000's....he old ?

ew, I wouldn't go that far

he wouldn't get any playing time...I don't even know who the hell he is, ruutu sounds like a name I would've heard in the 2000's....he old ?
- RileyB77

He's a thug, a Matt Cooke if you want, before Matt Cooke "cleaned up". I have no idea why Ruutu would be a good fit for Tampa besides maybe adding depth to our 4th line.

so....eklund speculates that we like some of the defenders that the leafs are holding onto, and then proposes we bring back a forward? ... the (frank)?

our team is fine the way it is...sure itd be nice to add a little grit up front but not a dirty guy

im talking bottom 6 here, as far as top 6 is concerned I think killorn is rough enough around the edges and jt brown plays a grinders game and I like it..Thompson and crombeen too

whoever is back on D can take care of the rest

Although I really love how much Filppula contributes offensively so far, and how good he's been playing defensively, what amazes me the most about him is his ability to carry the puck in the offensive zone and keep control of the puck. Its great to watch how everytime he has the puck, everything seems to slow down. It baffles me the Red Wings thought Weiss was superior to Filppula.
- TBolts4

I always (often at least) felt that there was some bad blood between Fil and Det. Even considering their two top lines. Yes, Fil didn't always show up when they gave him the opportunity but that wasn't the case always. Oh well, I'm happy for Tampa and I blame the damn Swedes and Swede loving Det management.

I always (often at least) felt that there was some bad blood between Fil and Det. Even considering their two top lines. Yes, Fil didn't always show up when they gave him the opportunity but that wasn't the case always. Oh well, I'm happy for Tampa and I blame the damn Swedes and Swede loving Det management.
- OnIceEnforcer

Speaking of bad blood

Another name that keeps coming up with Tampa is Tuomo Ruutu. I like that fit a lot.
- RileyB77

Ugh.. no one will that take cap hit. Carolina must retain max amount of salary in any case, if they want to move him. He's got NMC, some sort.

Speaking of bad blood
- Artyukhin76

Enjoy it cuz for another 2 seasons he will mostly contribute on the defensive side. It will be frustrating and you will wonder where the flip of this year is. Unless he finds his offensive consistency in Tampa bay. I hope he does. I always liked him even if he would do something awesome score or set up a goal and then disappear for stretches
- Zmloste

With our young offensive talent, over the next few seasons we won't need Flip to be a big time offensive contributor.

If Ruutu comes to Tampa I may become a Panthers fan
- Artyukhin76

Why? We will need a player or 2 like him come playoff time. And he is an upgrade to Malone for that role on this team

He's a thug, a Matt Cooke if you want, before Matt Cooke "cleaned up". I have no idea why Ruutu would be a good fit for Tampa besides maybe adding depth to our 4th line.
- TBolts4

That is exactly the role he would play. But really his most important contribution would be grit and sandpaper

Why? We will need a player or 2 like him come playoff time. And he is an upgrade to Malone for that role on this team
- uf1910

He's a complete punk, not worth a roster spot. I wouldn't take that worm for all the tea in China

That is exactly the role he would play. But really his most important contribution would be grit and sandpaper
- uf1910

There is a big difference between Grit and sandpaper vs knee on knee and slashing when the refs not looking.

He's a complete punk, not worth a roster spot. I wouldn't take that worm for all the tea in China
- Artyukhin76

I'd rather have a guy doing it to the other team than having that guy do it to our guys. Not to mention if someone else does it to our guys who is going to step up and make em pay. I know Gudas will but we can't afford to have him off the ice for 5 minute intervals b/c some jackass decided to take a run at Marty or Stammer. He is too important in his top 4 role. Crombeen's place in the lineup is far from set plus his on-ice contributions pretty much suck. This team needs more 4th line grit to have any chance come playoff time and we need a d-man. That's Yzerman's hunting list, do we find a partner is the question

I'd rather have a guy doing it to the other team than having that guy do it to our guys. Not to mention if someone else does it to our guys who is going to step up and make em pay. I know Gudas will but we can't afford to have him off the ice for 5 minute intervals b/c some jackass decided to take a run at Marty or Stammer. He is too important in his top 4 role. Crombeen's place in the lineup is far from set plus his on-ice contributions pretty much suck. This team needs more 4th line grit to have any chance come playoff time and we need a d-man. That's Yzerman's hunting list, do we find a partner is the question
- uf1910

no, because we weren't even suppose to make playoffs this year, if we do that's great, it gives our young guys the more experience

no trades, nothing. playoffs we will play with what we have..they need experience and its just a bonus theyre getting so much of it their 1st year cause most are excelling

There is a big difference between Grit and sandpaper vs knee on knee and slashing when the refs not looking.
- Artyukhin76

The knee on knee stuff has no place in the game, I won't argue that. But please don't tell me that you don't want a guy trying to get under the skin of the other team. That's just idiotic. We need that type of player, especially the way the team is currently built and even more especially when the team has a good chance to make a legitimate run in the playoffs. This team is not built to last a long playoff grind, adding a Ruutu like player will go a long way to helping us. It is also why I have said we need to get a guy like Ott from Buffalo. Come playoff time we need our 4th line to go bang some bodies and hopefully create some offensive zone time to wear the other team down a bit and maybe draw a penalty or 2. Crombeen isn't gonna do those things, Pyatt isn't going to either. Malone can but damn is he slow. Otherwise the only player on the roster who can do that stuff is Panik. Otherwise we don't have it.

no, because we weren't even suppose to make playoffs this year, if we do that's great, it gives our young guys the more experience

no trades, nothing. playoffs we will play with what we have..they need experience and its just a bonus theyre getting so much of it their 1st year cause most are excelling
- RileyB77

Do you really think we are going to give up some big time asset for Ruutu? I understand the experience argument but whose place is Ruutu going to take? Tom Pyatt, Crombeen, Malone...any of those are not here long-term and are who Ruutu would be replacing.

Do you really think we are going to give up some big time asset for Ruutu? I understand the experience argument but whose place is Ruutu going to take? Tom Pyatt, Crombeen, Malone...any of those are not here long-term and are who Ruutu would be replacing.
- uf1910

were not taking ruutu...wtf are you talking about? ... everything will stay as is and we will let our guys get experience

if ruutu can kill penalties and forecheck hard like crombeen does then sure, but whats the point of trading a player for the exact same type of player

were not taking ruutu...wtf are you talking about? ... everything will stay as is and we will let our guys get experience

if ruutu can kill penalties and forecheck hard like crombeen does then sure, but whats the point of trading a player for the exact same type of player
- RileyB77

Ruutu is far more effective at those responsibilities than Crombeen.
Ruutu is far more effective at those responsibilities than Malone.
Ruutu is far more effective at those responsibilities than Pyatt.

So again where exactly does picking up Ruutu or a player like Ruutu take away from getting the other guys experience? All it does is increase the chances of the guys getting MORE experience b/c we make it past the first round.

As for the first statement, I doubt very seriously this team goes to the playoffs as-is. I don't think we make a major move unless we can swing a deal for a youngish top 4 right-handed d-man, but a "minor" deal along the line of a Ruutu I absolutely see happening. This team needs a player or 2 of Ruutu's ilk. You and Arty don't have to agree with me and that is your prerogative, but IMO this team is not built for the grind that is the playoffs.

Ruutu is far more effective at those responsibilities than Crombeen.
Ruutu is far more effective at those responsibilities than Malone.
Ruutu is far more effective at those responsibilities than Pyatt.

So again where exactly does picking up Ruutu or a player like Ruutu take away from getting the other guys experience? All it does is increase the chances of the guys getting MORE experience b/c we make it past the first round.

As for the first statement, I doubt very seriously this team goes to the playoffs as-is. I don't think we make a major move unless we can swing a deal for a youngish top 4 right-handed d-man, but a "minor" deal along the line of a Ruutu I absolutely see happening. This team needs a player or 2 of Ruutu's ilk. You and Arty don't have to agree with me and that is your prerogative, but IMO this team is not built for the grind that is the playoffs.
- uf1910

I have no idea what ruutu is about, like I said ive never even heard his name before

I don't really care if we trade or not, I just predict poop stays the same

Ruutu is far more effective at those responsibilities than Crombeen.
Ruutu is far more effective at those responsibilities than Malone.
Ruutu is far more effective at those responsibilities than Pyatt.

So again where exactly does picking up Ruutu or a player like Ruutu take away from getting the other guys experience? All it does is increase the chances of the guys getting MORE experience b/c we make it past the first round.

As for the first statement, I doubt very seriously this team goes to the playoffs as-is. I don't think we make a major move unless we can swing a deal for a youngish top 4 right-handed d-man, but a "minor" deal along the line of a Ruutu I absolutely see happening. This team needs a player or 2 of Ruutu's ilk. You and Arty don't have to agree with me and that is your prerogative, but IMO this team is not built for the grind that is the playoffs.
- uf1910

I like pyatt, he goes full speed( and that's fast) into a defenseman into the corner,and doesn't give a (frank) if he gets hurt or not

man eklund is struggling bad today....check out that latest blog title

I like pyatt, he goes full speed( and that's fast) into a defenseman into the corner,and doesn't give a (frank) if he gets hurt or not
- RileyB77

Pyatt plays hard and gives everything he has every time he plays. But his effectiveness game in and game out is limited simply in that he's not big enough to really have much impact especially when you consider we are talking about playoff series and the grind of the playoffs as a whole. For instance Pyatt had a helluva game last night and was one of our better forwards, but one game doesn't win you a playoff series and I seriously question if he would be able to do that with such effectiveness over a 7 game series much less the chance for multiple 7 game series.