International Hockey Roundtable
Valtteri Filppula returns to Jokerit, plans to stay long-term
© Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports - Valtteri Filppula returns to Jokerit, plans to stay long-termIt was widely expected and now it’s official: Valtteri Filppula is going home. After 19 years abroad in the NHL and Switzerland, the 40-year-old Finn is returning to Jokerit Helsinki, the club where he played from ages 16 to 21.
“Jokerit has been an extremely important club for me, so there was only one option,” Filppula said at the press conference. “Jokerit has helped me a lot during my career. It’s great to be back.”
When Filppula left Jokerit in 2005, the team had just lost in the Finnish Liiga finals and had won four national titles over the previous 13 seasons. The years since then, however, have been complicated, to say the least. Jokerit left for the KHL in 2014, where the Finnish club reportedly lost an average of 13 million euros per season, then left the league prior to the 2022 playoffs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Facing bankruptcy, Jokerit sat out the 2022-23 season and now plays in Mestis, Finland’s second-tier league.
Jokerit wants to eventually return to the Liiga and Filppula plans to help the team get there.
“I expect a lot from returning to the Jokers, but the goals are tough,” said Filppula. “We have a young team and a lot of our own players, which is great. I want to do things as well as possible on and off the ice so that we can achieve the goals set as a team. I hope that I can help other players and the team as much as possible by doing what I do. Maybe someone will get something positive for their own game, that would be really great for me too.”
It’s not clear whether Filppula will play just one season with Jokerit and both parties will probably decide that at season’s end. What is clear, however, is that Filppula and the club plan to have a long-term relationship and he’ll transition to a significant off-ice role when his playing days are finished.
“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,” said club chairman Mikko Saarni. “We will take it year-by-year, and at least for the first season, Valtteri’s role is as a player. His commitment to the Jokers is also indicated by the fact that his inclusion will not burden our player budget at all in the coming season.”
With 1056 career NHL regular-season games, Filppula represents all of Jokerit's NHL experience. He is a member of the Triple Gold Club, having won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 and then captaining Finland to Olympic and World Championship gold medals in 2022. In his three seasons with Geneve-Servette HC, he helped the team win its first-ever National League title and then the next year win the Champions Hockey League.
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