Longtime member of the Detroit Red Wings and NHL Stanley Cup Champion announces sudden retirement

Early this morning, Tuesday, April 29, veteran Valtteri Filppula has confirmed his retirement from professional hockey after a long and wonderful career.

The former forward, Valtteri Filppula, participated in 16 seasons within the NHL, between 2005 and 2021, where he spent a decade with the Detroit Red Wings.

Within his time in the NHL, Filppula accumulated 197 goals, 333 assists, totalling at 530 points within his 1056 games played before departing from the National Hockey League to play for four more years in Europe.

The former Stanley Cup champion has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey as a whole.

Filppula was originally a third-round pick (95th overall) in the Detroit Red Wings draft in 2002, where he quickly became a key piece to the organization's Stanley Cup run in 2008. He achieved 5 goals, 6 assists, totalling at 11 points in 22 playoff games which led him to his first and only Cup victory.

The forward made his way back to Europe following his last NHL season with the Red Wings in 2020/21 and continued to play professionally where it all began.

In a recent interview, Filppula revealed that it means a lot for him to finish his career where it all started:

«I can't remember the last time I was in a place with such a commotion,» Filppula said. «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.»

The 41-year old endured a successful career within two decades with the NHL and Europe.