The New York Islanders are moving on from the John Tavares era, as the team has signed center Valtteri Filppula to a one-year contract, the club announced Sunday.
Filppula's signing comes after Tavares signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency. The team then showed interest in center Ryan O'Reilly, but lost out when he was dealt from the Buffalo Sabres to the St. Louis Blues.
In Filppula, the Islanders get a veteran center who excels at both ends of the ice. The 34-year-old spent the past two seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, where he finished with 33 points in 81 games last year.
Filppula was a third-round draft pick by the Detroit Red Wings in 2002.