Finnish forward Valtteri Filppula, 41, announced his retirement from playing via the website of Jokerit, the club with which he started and ended is career, and the club he plans to continue working for in the future.
This past season, as the team’s captain, Filppula had 41 points in 39 regular-season games, which ranked second on the team. He then had 13 points in 14 playoff games as Jokerit won the Mestis championship. However, following a series loss to the Lahti Pelicans, the team did not earn a promotion to the top-tier Liiga for next season.
For a long time, I’ve had the feeling that I don't have many more years left to play here. Even before the season started, I thought that I could play one season and then move on to do something new. This season was still successful, when we won the Mestis championship. Now it's good to start doing other things.-
The atmosphere was special in the first game of the season, when the crowd was shouting your name. And it continued throughout the season. Wherever you went, there were always Jokerit fans there and lots of encouragement.
I can’t remember the last time I was in a place with such a commotion. It was great to win the championship in front of my own fans. I even felt a little like I wanted to keep playing, but at the same time I thought it was a great way to end.
It means a lot to me that I was able to end my professional career at the same club where I started it.
Now I’ll rest for a while and think about the future. Now that I’ve been able to be part of the Jokerit organization, I hope I can find something after my playing career.
Filppula, who hails from the Helsinki suburb of Vantaa, played for Jokerit from age 16 to 21, starting in the U18 category and eventually playing two full pro seasons with the club. Other than a 16-game stint back with Jokerit during the 2012 NHL lockout, Filppula played abroad from 2005 to 2024 in the NHL and Switzerland.
Filppula played 16 NHL seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders between 2005 and 2021, winning a Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008. He then played three seasons for Genève-Servette HC in Switzerland’s National League, where he helped the team win its first-ever national title and the Champions Hockey League..
Internationally, Filppula has represented Finland at three IIHF World Championships and two Winter Olympics. After captaining Finland to Olympic and World Championship gold medals mere months apart in 2022, he became a member of hockey’s Triple Gold Club.
“It was important for us to be able to offer Valtteri a comprehensive package that will continue even after his playing career. We are committing to each other for many years to come,” club chairman Mikko Saarni said at the time.
Valtteri Filppula returns to Jokerit, plans to stay long-term
<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/valtteri-filppula-expected-to-join-jokerit-helsinki">It was widely expected</a> and now it’s official: Valtteri Filppula is going home. After 19 years abroad in the NHL and Switzerland, <a href="https://www.jokerit.fi/uutiset/valtteri-filppula-palaa-helsingin-jokereihin">the 40-year-old Finn is returning to Jokerit Helsinki</a>, the club where he played from ages 16 to 21.