The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired Valtteri Filppula
The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired forward Valtteri Filppula, Tampa Bay’s 4th round selection in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and a conditional 7th round selection in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Mark Streit. Tampa Bay was in need of shedding salary and along with Filippula’s no movement clause which makes him an automatic protection in June’s expansion draft.
The #Flyers acquired F Valtteri Filppula, #TBL 4th round, & conditional 7th round selection in the 2017 NHL Draft → https://t.co/6ywmBLmA9o pic.twitter.com/kaFE1ap6Sb
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 1, 2017
Meet Newest Flyer Valtteri Filppula
Philadelphia Flyers
"A good two-way forward with an excellent understanding of the game. A very good skater with good play making skills. A good passer who needs to develop the physical side of his game. Can play in any forward position. Works hard, useful as a penalty killer. (Matias Strozyk)"
Valtteri Filppula, 32, has one season remaining with an annual cap hit of $5 million and scored 34 points, 7 goals, 27 assists in 59 games played in Tampa Bay this season.
Filppula is a natural center with a career faceoff percent of 51.2%.
General Manager Ron Hextall says Fippula makes the team better immediately and also next year by giving stability up the middle; he also states that losing Streit and adding Filppula makes the Flyers a better team in this season for a push to the playoffs.
"It’s a good landing spot for him, and he’s a good fit for the Flyers. While Filppula hasn’t had his greatest offensive season, he’s still 1.83 points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, which was third on the Lightning.(Greg Wyshynski)"
Expansion Draft
The Flyers will have to protect their new acquired forward in the upcoming expansion draft due to a no-movement clause in his contract.
Locks for PHI F protection now: Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, Schenn, Couturier, Filppula. One spot left for 12/21/25/24/78.
— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) March 1, 2017
Hexy is not sure if Filppula no-movement clause carries to #Flyers. Says he's "comfortable" if it does.
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) March 1, 2017
Filppula is a player #Flyers would have protected anyway, Ron Hextall says.
— Dave Isaac (@davegisaac) March 1, 2017
Mark Striet has since been dealt by the Tampa Bay Lighting to cross state rivals The Pittsburgh Penguins for a 4th round selection.
“The conditional seventh was a pick the Flyers got in case Streit was traded”, tweeted Dave Isaac.