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Filppula ‘here to make’ Lightning a better team, says Yzerman

Chicago Blackhawks v Detroit Red Wings - Game Six

DETROIT, MI - MAY 27: Valtteri Filppula #51 of the Detroit Red Wings tries to get around Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Six of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena on May 27, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. Chicago won the game 4-3 to tie the series 3-3. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Gregory Shamus

Steve Yzerman knows what people are going to say - or have already been saying - about Valtteri Filppula.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, along with Yzerman the general manager, signed Filppula on Friday, during the league’s frantic free agent frenzy, for $25 million over five years.

Prior to Filppula signing in Tampa, the Lightning bought out Vincent Lecavalier, who began his career with the Bolts as a first-overall pick all the way back in 1998.

Lecavalier, as a free agent, then went out and signed with the Philadelphia Flyers.

So yes, connect the dots and it’s easy to see why people feel Filppula is there to replace Lecavalier. Yzerman, at least publicly, doesn’t feel the same way.

“We’ve changed our team; we’ve acquired a good player who’s going to be a real positive contributor to our team, who’s a real good guy,” Yzerman told NHL.com.

“We understand everybody’s going to say, ‘Oh, he’s here to replace Vinny.’ He’s here to make us a better team and he will make us a better team.”