
DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings made a subtle move yesterday that could prove to be a spectacular one if Valtteri Filppula lives up to his potential.
Filppula signed a US$15-million, five-year contract with the Red Wings that keeps a talented forward on the roster for a while. The 24-year-old restricted free agent, who avoided salary arbitration with the deal, is under contract through the 2012-13 season. Filppula had career highs with 19 goals and 36 points last season.
Detroit took Filppula, a Finland native, in the third round of the 2002 draft. He has 29 goals and 54 points in 155 games over two-plus seasons in the NHL.
I'll take another one of these, thank you!