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Wings October Stars
Who stood out for you in a strange opening month to the season? I have my three guys! Agree, disagree or just want to talk about the Wings? That’s what the comment section is for!
The Wings started off hot (5-0), before finishing the month with four straight losses. Now, with October ending and their schedule starting to look like a normal NHL schedule, the Wings need to start putting some more notches in the W column.
These are the three players who had the best opening month of the season, in my opinion:
3. Valtteri Filppula 2G, 5A, +3
Filppula, as the center on the second line consisting of himself, Johan Franzen and Jiri Hudler, helped lead the Wings to their 5-0 start. He was the second star in games against the Vancouver Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets. He is tied for the team lead in points with 7 and is a team-best +3. Like the rest of the team, his production has dropped off a cliff in the last four games, but I remain confident that this is the year Filppula finally shows us what he can do offensively.
2. Jimmy Howard 4-2-0, 1.82 GAA, .929 SV%, 1 SO
Not only do Howard’s numbers through October put him in the upper echelon of goaltenders in the NHL, but he also welcomed his first child into the world. James Howard IV…goaltender of the future? With Conklin tending goal in the way some would fend off a bumblebee, it looks like Howard is going to have to play a lot of hockey this year. I think he is up to the challenge of becoming one of the NHL’s best goalies.
1. Johan Franzen 4G, 3A, +1
Franzen is tied with Filppula and Datsyuk with seven points to lead the Wings. He also holds the team lead in goals, with four. No one else has more than two. He is also a plus player on a Wings team that is featuring a lot of minuses right now.
Franzen was the only Red Wings player to earn a “Three Star” nomination in three games so far this season. On an unrelated note, Josh Harding has been nominated twice. That makes me sad.
Is there someone else you think should be on this list instead? Who do you predict will be the Wings November stars? Let me know!
Filed under: MI-NHL, Monthly Stars, NY-NHL, SNN-NHL, Sports Nation Network, TX-NHL
I’d like to see Datsyuk on that list, thats for sure.
These guys stood out but not for good reasons.
Brad Stuart .. “Oprah” because of all the giveaways and he was helpless and an observer way too many times. OK, you expect a guy to slow down a little from year to year but Brad has been almost useless.
Johan Franzen .. spurts of what he can be but most of the time he is coasting. Started his regular season funk very early in the season. Now might be a good time to see what his market value is.
Cory Emmerton .. major disappointment. Not showing anything when he really needs to be.
Also obvious for their lack of contribution .. Cleary, Hudler, Conklin. Ericsson had one good game out of nine. The media is panning the Griffins for only having 4 wins in their first 9 games .. is 5 wins in 9 that much better?