September 23, 2008 Valtteri Filppula was limited to only skating Monday due to his sore right thumb, according to the Detroit News. He said, "Passing and handling the puck was OK, that's good, at least I can practice."
July 30, 2008 The Sports Ticker reports that the Detroit Red Wings signed 24-year-old free agent center Valtteri Filppula to a five-year contract worth $15 million.
July 15, 2008 The Wings and Valtteri Filppula should be able to avoid arbitration, according to MLive.com. Wings' GM Ken Holland is continuing talks with Filppula's agent in an effort to sign the 24-year-old to a long-term contract. But if the sides can't agree on a long-term deal, Holland thinks they can avoid an August 1 arbitration hearing by agreeing to a two-year pact. Holland said, "If we have to settle on a shorter term, we'd be able to find a solution without going to arbitration."
