Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Filppula lands in Tampa Bay: five years, $25 million

Filppula 2

Valtteri Filppula got what he wanted.

The former Detroit center -- who was gunning for a five-year deal worth at least $5 million annually -- has signed a five-year, $25 million deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun.

The move, combined with the Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss signings, marks a changing of the guard in Detroit.

Filppula had spent his entire professional career with the Red Wings, debuting in 2005-06 -- as a teammate of franchise legend and current Bolts GM Steve Yzerman.

The 29-year-old Finn had a breakout campaign in 2011-12, scoring a career-high 23 goals and 66 points. But this season, coming out of the lockout, was a struggle in terms of overall offensive production.

He had just nine goals and 17 points in 41 games played, and his playoff production -- two goals and six points in 14 games -- left a lot to be desired as well.

Of course, Filppula was in the final year of a five-year, $15 million deal with Detroit and seemed determined to test free agent waters.

With a weak free agent center class and his 2011-12 season highlighting his resume, it was expected someone would make a sizeable offer, even with a down 2013 campaign.

Tampa Bay turned out to be the team.

With the move, the Lightning solve their second-line center situation, which had a sizable hole after the club bought out longtime captain Vincent Lecavalier.

The Filppula deal now puts Tampa Bay roughly $3.5 million away from the salary cap ceiling.