Valtteri Filppula, a familiar name to NHL fans, is making a surprising return to Finland. The 40-year-old center will reportedly suit up for Jokerit in Finland's Mestis league next season. This homecoming marks a significant moment for Filppula, who spent five years playing for Jokerit's Liiga and junior teams before embarking on a successful NHL career.
Filppula carved out a respectable NHL career, amassing 1,056 games with the Detroit Red Wings (DET), Tampa Bay Lightning (TBL), Philadelphia Flyers (PHI), and New York Islanders (NYI) between 2005 and 2021. He even hoisted the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2008.
