Filppula has 34 points (seven goals, 27 assists) in 59 games, and likely will slot in as the second-line center starting against the Florida Panthers on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; CSN-PH, FS-F, NHL.TV).
But Hextall said there was more to acquiring Filppula and signing fourth-line center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, 31, to a contract Wednesday, reported by Sportsnet to be two years with an average annual value of $1.45 million.
He said he expects a number of prospects to begin arriving in the next season or two, and wants role models in the locker room to help them. That was a role Streit played, and one Hextall said Filppula and Bellemare will fill
"When we were analyzing this [trade], that went into it because we've got kids coming and the kids are going to be here sooner rather than later," Hextall said. "To have really quality people around … part of the reason we signed Pierre-Edouard, really quality person, and you can't have enough. You're bringing kids into an environment, and pro sports is a tough environment and the more leadership, the more guys that lead by example, the better. When I talked to Steve [Yzerman, Lightning GM] after the deal was done he told me that you won't find a better person or better pro than Filppula."