Waived: [UTA] D Juuso Valimaki waived by the Utah Hockey Club (cleared)

[Honour Over Glory]

Tell me how garbage Team Finland's defence was in Four Nations without telling me how garbage it was

They were missing one of the best defensemen in the game with Heiskanen.

Even with Ristolainen and Heiskanen healthy, Välimäki would have been there. Finland is just very weak in defense.

NHL wise yeah, over seas they have more depth to choose from and have some very good young players coming up, Pens have one in Pieniniemi.

 

[rockymtnoyster]

Could see Dallas claiming him if Buschel is out as well as Heiskanen.
Cant see them plugging B Smith for more then a game or two.

Valimaki would also be an upgrade for Buffalo, Detroit, and Nashville with Wilsby out.

 

[ponder719]

Flyers should put in a claim so we can keep our quota of Finnish defenders up when we trade Risto.

 

[TGWL]

NYR should claim him, then decide between Valimaki and Vaakanainen

 

[Kraken Jokes]

I could see Seattle grabbing him if they think he's an improvement on Mahura or Fleury. Although those guys are certainly cheaper.

 

[CrosbyStaalsAndNash]

I doubt he gets to the Jets, but I can't see how he wouldn't be an instant upgrade on Logan Stanley as our 3LD.

...though let's be real, even if the Jets were to claim him, he'd probably rot away in the press box to keep Stanley in the lineup.

 

[BHD]

He's had such an uneven, up and down career. Full of setbacks and stop/start seeming development. Curious if his contract keeps teams from bothering with him and a re-reclamation project all over again this time. It's not that big, but it's more than just a minimum dollar, fully buriable sort of deal...and with another year left on it.

What happened to him? I remember him starting with the Flames during the Bill Peters season, and then disappearing.

 

[Lunatik]

What happened to him? I remember him starting with the Flames during the Bill Peters season, and then disappearing.

He tore his ACL training and missed all of the 2019-20 season (this injury is what led to that weird situation where the Flames re-signed Michael Stone after buying him out), then because of Covid, he ended up playing with 3 different teams the following year (Finland, AHL and NHL, but he wasn't teh same. Then he played well last year and early this year before getting a shot to the face and required surgery for a broken jaw (this was also notable because he waited several hours for treatment, which was investigated by the NHLPA and NHL) and again since then he hasn't been the same.

 

[Summer Rose]

What happened to him? I remember him starting with the Flames during the Bill Peters season, and then disappearing.

Tore his ACL prior to 19-20 season and missed the entire season as a result. Wasn't very good in 20-21 once the season actually started, nor 21-22, spending some time in Stockton. We claimed him off waivers prior to the 22-23 season and actually had a decent year with us. Took a puck to the face early in 23-24 (if you remember, it was the incident where he spent several hours in a Dallas hospital unattended or something to that effect). Came back six games later but it was clear his play had dropped off. Got pushed down the depth chart as other guys returned later on in the season and sat in the press box more than just a few times. Hasn't been good all year now that we're Utah, but a few injuries on our blueline enabled him to get playing time anyway. Now we're getting guys back from injury and he has been again pushed down the depth chart with them returning, so we've decided we don't need him anymore.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

I'll take him over Dehaan any day.

 

[Hntz]

Maybe not. Mabye the percentages are the same. But in absolute numbers, if 1 of 2 Finns hit, and 5 of 10 Canadians do, it's in both cases 50%, but Canada has a bigger pool to choose from.

Yeah that I agree on. If Finns want to compete with the bigger nations we need a lot better ratio of our propects not busting.

 

[Ainsy01]

I know Calgary was really hoping he would clear and had their hands tied at the time.

50/50 Conroy brings him back, he was not the manager who placed him on waivers. Sutter was notoriously hard on young players during this time too, now they have a development player style coach.

Interesting chance for a low-cost redo on a player that flames fans were really high for a long while.

He was named to the Finland 4nations roster although he didnt play, but thats a pretty good sign that hes not quite a write-off at only 2m a year.

 

[Zirakzigil]

I know Calgary was really hoping he would clear and had their hands tied at the time.

50/50 Conroy brings him back, he was not the manager who placed him on waivers. Sutter was notoriously hard on young players during this time too, now they have a development player style coach.

Interesting chance for a low-cost redo on a player that flames fans were really high for a long while.

He was named to the Finland 4nations roster although he didnt play, but thats a pretty good sign that hes not quite a write-off at only 2m a year.

Doubt the Flames nab him. They will let Solo run with it right now and see what Kuz has if needed.

 

[Lunatik]

Doubt the Flames nab him. They will let Solo run with it right now and see what Kuz has if needed.

I think he clears, but then gets traded. I could see Calgary and Utah swapping defensemen, a pending UFA in Barrie to get Utah out of Vali's contract next season, or Miromanov since he has a cap hit that could be buried

 

[barriers]

 

[Zirakzigil]

I think he clears, but then gets traded. I could see Calgary and Utah swapping defensemen, a pending UFA in Barrie to get Utah out of Vali's contract next season, or Miromanov since he has a cap hit that could be buried

Miromanov swap? Sure. Problem for problem. Otherwise I dont see the Flames doing it. Its just blocking a spot from Solo and Kuz. Some people will hate it, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Hanley gets extended for 1 year.

 

[Jormungandr]

Damnit. I knew it was too good to be true.

 

[Flames Fanatic]

Miromanov swap? Sure. Problem for problem. Otherwise I dont see the Flames doing it. Its just blocking a spot from Solo and Kuz. Some people will hate it, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Hanley gets extended for 1 year.

Short of acquiring a different, bigger name in UFA, I don't see any way they Flames don't extend Hanley unless he's asking for stupid terms.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Short of acquiring a different, bigger name in UFA, I don't see any way they Flames don't extend Hanley unless he's asking for stupid terms.

Hes the new Stone on the team. And despite what the haters say has done very well lately spot filling in with Weegar.