Valtteri Filppula on leaving Red Wings: ‘It could happen’
He admits it would be strange but wearing a new jersey is something Valtteri Filppula could be doing next season.
The unrestricted free agent forward, nursing a severely sprained ankle suffered in Game 7, doesn’t know what his future holds.
“I don’t know, it’s too early to say right now,” said Filppula. “It’s been the only team I’ve played with. There’s nothing but positive things to say (about the organization), and it’s a great place to be.
“We’ll see what happens this summer. I haven’t thought too much about it. Possibly it (leaving the Red Wings) could happen. It would be tough.”
Daniel Cleary, another prospective unrestricted free agent, said he took an extra while longer than usual taking off his jersey after the Game 7 loss in Chicago, knowing it could be his final time.
“I took a minute, I don’t want to get too emotional,” Cleary said. “The relationship I have with Detroit is very special to me.”
Forwards Damien Brunner and Drew Miller and defenseman Ian White are the Red Wings’ other unrestricted free agent possibilities.