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Red Wings' Valtteri Filppula slower but wiser as he nears 1,000th NHL game

New York – So, what does it mean for Valtteri Filppula to reach the 1,000-NHL game milestone Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena?

Filppula, ever the straight-forward and bottom-line type of guy, never flinched.

“It means I’m getting older,” said Filppula, 35, who originally joined the Wings during the 2005-06 season after being a third-round draft pick in 2002. “Being able to stay healthy, that’s the good thing. I’ve been able to play for a while and in a great league. I’m proud of that.