Former Red Wings Player Suiting up For Free

Former Detroit Red Wings forward Valtteri Filppula is actually doing what so many players over the years have suggested they’d be willing to do.

He’s going to be playing the game for free.

At a media conference Monday to announce the signing of Filppula, 40, to a contract, Finnish club Jokerit Helsinki was announcing that Filppula will be given a piece of ownership in the team. Then when he was stepping up to the podium to speak, Filppula was revealing that he’ll not be taking a salary from the team to play this season.

CONFIRMED: Valtteri Filppula signs with Jokerit Helsinki. The 40-year old Triple Gold Club member was the recipient of the E.H.C.'s Warrior Career Excellence Award this past June. See the tribute video here: https://t.co/1JlFvmIj7Z https://t.co/Tdi4icYWWc

— EuropeanHockeyClubs (@EHCAlliance) August 19, 2024

“Jokerit has been an extremely important club for me, so there was only one option for me,” Filppula told the club’s website. “It feels really good. I’m looking forward to starting the new season.

“Jokerit has helped me a lot during my career. It’s great to be back.”

Filppula was a Jokerit player as a junior and then for two seasons in the SM-liiga, Finland’s top division, prior to joining the Red Wings in 2005.

“It was important for us to be able to offer Valtteri a comprehensive package that will continue even after his playing career,” Jokerit chairman Mikko Saarni said. “We commit to each other for many years to come. We are progressing year by year, and at least for the first season, Valtteri’s role is as a player.”

Jokerit, known as the Jokers, play in the Mestis, which is Finland’s second division. By refusing a salary, Filppula is helping the club remain within the salary cap.

Filppula Last Active Red Wings Stanley Cup Winner

By extending his playing career at least one more season, Filppula is keeping a Detroit Stanley Cup winner as an active player. He’s the last player standing from the Red Wings 2007-08 Cup winner.

Big win for Valtteri Filppula and the @DetroitRedWings on Sunday! 👏 pic.twitter.com/cXzA3sV2Hm

— NHL (@NHL) April 5, 2021

Filppula is also the only Finnish player to be a member of Triple Gold club. That’s a winner of the Stanley Cup, Olympic gold medal and IIHF World Championship. He’s also the only player to add the European Champions League title to this list.

His decision to play sans salary is seeing Filppula hailed as heroic in his homeland.

“I wonder if this isn’t the most sportingly romantic thing that has happened to Finnish hockey in a very long time,” Finnish journalist Filip Saxen posted on X, the social media site previously known as Twitter. “Gives a huge boost to the club and the series. And he makes Jokerit incredibly attractive on the player market.”