Filppula files for salary arbitration
Usually it’s not a good sign when a player files for arbitration, but I’m happy to hear that Valtteri Filppula filed for arbitration. Because of this, no other team can give an offer sheet to Filppula.
He and the Red Wings will continue negotiations on a new contract until his arbitration hearing. Hearings will be held in Toronto from July 20 to Aug. 4, but chances are the sides will reach an agreement before then.
Filppula, 24, made $850,000 last season, when he posted career-high totals of 19 goals and 17 assists in the regular season. The second-line center had five goals and six assists in 22 playoff games.
The last time the Wings allowed a player to go to arbitration was in 1995 with Ray Sheppard.
Personally, I feel pretty confident that the Wings will be able to get it done before it’s time for arbitration.
“There are mechanisms in the CBA that protect the player and the club,” Holland said. “We now have to determine whether we want a one-year or two-year award. In the meantime, I’ve talked to Bill Zito, Filppula’s agent, a couple times today and yesterday. We’re going to continue to talk and, hopefully, we can find a solution. We do know he’s going to be under contract by late July or very early August.”
Holland said he’s had plenty of players file for arbitration but has always found a way to get a deal done and he hopes to do the same with Filppula. Holland said he they were “in the ballpark” on a short-term agreement, but they have also been talking about a long-term deal.
“I’m open to anything if it makes sense,” Holland said. “My feeling is I try to take the emotion out of the equation. It’s business.”
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