7 Facts: Valtteri Filppula

The New York Islanders signed Valtteri Filppula to a one-year contract on Sunday. Filppula is a 34-year-old center, from Vantaa, Finland and has played 12 full seasons in the NHL spanning three teams: Detroit (2005-13), Tampa Bay (2013-17) and Philadelphia (2017-18).
He's 6'0, 196 lbs., a left-handed shot and was drafted in 2002 (R3, P95) by the Red Wings. Get to know one of the newest New York Islanders in this edition of 7 Facts.

1. HIS STATS:

Filppula has 463 points (168G, 295A) in 876 NHL games. Filppula recorded 251 points (100G, 151A) in 483 games with the Detroit Red Wings, 171 points (52G, 119A) in 292 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning and 41 points (16G, 25A) in 101 games with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Last season Filppula recorded 33 points (11G, 22A) in 81 games for the Flyers, including four game-winning goals. Filppula's career-high is 66 points (23G, 43A), which he set in 2011-12 with Detroit.

2. HE'S A STANLEY CUP CHAMPION:

Filppula won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. He's played in three career Stanley Cup finals, two with Detroit (2008, 2009) and one with Tampa (2015).
In 158 playoff games, Filppula has 82 points (25G, 57A).

3. HE WON A BRONZE MEDAL AT THE 2010 OLYMPICS:

The Vantaa, Finland native won a bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Filppula scored three goals in six games for Finland.

4. HE'S GOT A LENGTHY INTERNATIONAL RECORD:

In addition to winning bronze at the 2010 Olympics, Filppula represented Finland in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, two IIHF World Championships (2012, 2017) and won a pair of bronze medals at the 2003 and 2004 IIHF World Juniors. He also represented Finland at the 2002 U-18 World Juniors.
Filppula was named Finland's top player after winning the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008. Past winners include Teemu Selanne, Tuukka Rask and Pekka Rinne.

5. HE'S A GOOD FACEOFF MAN:

Filppula has a career 51.6% face-off winning percentage and has recorded a winning face-off percentage in 10 of the last 11 seasons. His 950 face-offs taken were 61st in the NHL last season and his 487 wins were 56th.
Filppula won 53.2% of his defensive zone draws last season (168-148).

6. HE WEARS NUMBER 51

Filppula has worn number 51 in all three of his previous NHL stops. If he continues to wear 51, he'll be the first Islander since Frans Nielsen to sport the number and the fourth Islander of all time.

7. HE HAD A SUCCESSFUL MINOR/JUNIOR CAREER:

Filppula was an AHL all-star in 2005-06, recording 70 points (20G, 50A) in 74 games with Grand Rapids. The Finnish forward played for Jokerit before coming over to North America in 2005 and won a Jr. A SM-Liiga scoring title in 2002-03 with 53 points (16G, 37A) in 35 games with Jokerit's U-20 team.