SALT LAKE CITY — Juuso Valimaki, a defenseman for the Utah Hockey Club, is anticipated to be sidelined for 8-9 months due to surgery on a torn ACL, as reported by the team’s general manager, Bill Armstrong. This significant injury will hinder Valimaki’s participation in the upcoming training camp and will likely keep him out of action for at least the initial month of the 2025-26 NHL season.
The 26-year-old Finnish player recently went through waivers and was subsequently assigned to the Tucson Roadrunners, an affiliate in the American Hockey League. He has managed to appear in one game for the Roadrunners on February 28.
With another year remaining in his contract, Valimaki is set to earn $2 million. Originally selected in the first round by the Calgary Flames in 2017, Valimaki has played in 84 regular-season and playoff games for the Flames. His journey took a turn when the Arizona Coyotes claimed him off waivers in October 2022. Later, the team transitioned from the Phoenix area to Salt Lake City, and he subsequently re-signed with Utah in June. Valimaki has averaged 16 minutes on the ice over 43 games this season before being reassigned to the minors.
