So, you want the Oil to be more like the Wings?

Then you have to do things like sign Valtteri Fillipula to a long-term deal at $3 million per year.

Ken Holland, Master of the Universe and GM of the Detroit Red Wings done done it again yesterday. As expected the Detroit Red Wings avoided salary arbitration with forward Valtteri Filppula, re-signing him to a five-year, $15 million contract.

Here’s a guy who’s 24 years old, and another one of those shady draft picks by the Wings, selected 95th overall in the 2002 Entry Draft. As we see below his numbers aren’t stellar, but they are steady and improving year over year. Fillipula has proven that he can score in the playoffs too, which is a valuable commodity in this league. In signing him for five years, the Wings are able to continue keeping their Cup winning chemistry together, and lock up a very solid 2nd line forward at a pretty reasonable price for the next five seasons.

Season
2006–07: 73 GP, 10 G, 7 A, 17 PTS, 20 PIM
2007–08: 78 GP, 19 G, 17 A, 36 PTS, 28 PIM

Season
2006–07: 18 GP, 3 G, 2 A, 5 PTS, 2 PIM
2007–08: 22 GP, 5 G, 6 A, 11 PTS, 2 PIM

Many citizens of the OilersNation think the Oil should try and steer the ship down the same path as Holland and the Wings. Well, take a good look people. It’s deals like these that keep the Wings together in the long run, and attract the Marian Hossas of the world, who shave two mil of their price tag just to get to wear the jersey for one season.