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Valtteri FilppulaFinnish ice hockey player, forward
Date of Birth: 20.03.1984
Country:  Finland |
Content:
- Valtteri Filppula: Finnish Hockey Star and Olympic Icon
- NHL Journey
- International Success
- Present Day
- Personal Life
Valtteri Filppula: Finnish Hockey Star and Olympic Icon
Childhood and Early CareerValtteri Filppula, a Finnish hockey player, was born in Vantaa, Finland on May 20, 1984. His passion for hockey began at a young age, and he honed his skills at the South Vantaa Athletes hockey school. He made his junior debut with Kiekko-Vantaa and signed a contract with Jokerit in 2002.
NHL Journey
In 2005, Filppula was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings, becoming the first Finnish player in the team's history. He spent a year in the minors before breaking into the Red Wings' lineup in 2007. That season, he played a pivotal role in the team's Stanley Cup victory, scoring 24 goals and 23 assists.
Filppula remained with Detroit for eight seasons, earning a five-year, $15 million contract extension in 2008. He then joined the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2013 on a five-year, $25 million deal. Throughout his NHL career, he also played for the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders before returning to Detroit in 2021.
International Success
Filppula made his international debut for Finland in 2004. He represented his country at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, where he helped Finland win the bronze medal. After missing the 2014 Sochi Olympics due to injury, he returned to the Games in Beijing 2022 as captain. With two assists and a +2 rating in six games, he played a key role in Finland's historic gold medal victory.
Present Day
Now 38 years old, Filppula returned to Europe in 2021 to play for Genève-Servette HC in the Swiss National League. He remains an active member of the Finnish national team and is expected to continue playing professionally for the foreseeable future.
Personal Life
Filppula is happily married to his wife, Jordan. They welcomed their first child, a daughter named Vera, in 2022. The family resides in Switzerland during the off-season.
