Once considered the Calgary Flames’ most promising prospect, Juuso Valimaki is getting a fresh start with a new organization.
The 24-year-old defenceman was claimed off waivers Sunday by the Arizona Coyotes.
Valimaki arrived in Calgary as a first-rounder in the 2017 NHL Draft. He totalled 82 appearances in the Flaming C logo, collecting three goals and 13 assists.
His development was ultimately stalled by injuries, including an entire season on the shelf due to torn ligaments in his knee. In Arizona, he should get another crack at being an NHL regular.
Valimaki was outperformed during Flames’ training camp by three other on-the-bubble blue-liners — Connor Mackey, Nicolas Meloche and Michael Stone — and needed to clear waivers before he could be assigned to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers. While it stings to bid farewell to a past first-round pick, especially one who has yet to fulfil his potential, this departure clears US$1.55 million in salary-cap space.
Since Darryl Sutter’s return to the Saddledome, the coaching staff had been harping on Valimaki to play with more pace and defend with more of an edge.
The left-hander from Finland suited up for only nine NHL games last winter, spending the bulk of the season in the minors. He told reporters during training camp that he was feeling confident and believed he was ready to contribute at the top level.
“I feel really good mentally and physically, so that’s something that really helps the cause. So just keep rolling and keep being better every day,” Valimaki said. “I feel faster. I feel that some of the things that have been asked for me to do are there. Obviously, they’re not perfect … but I think the big picture has been good. There’s been some mistakes and it’s easy to say, ‘Well, that’s a mistake,’ but mistakes happen. I think the bigger picture is better and then just cut down on the smaller mistakes, too, and I’ll be there.”
ICE CHIPS: Flames newbie Radim Zohorna, who was claimed this past week from the Pittsburgh Penguins, cleared waivers Sunday. Ditto for depth defenceman Dennis Gilbert, who missed a big chunk of camp due to a lower-body injury. Both were assigned to the Wranglers.
Twitter: @WesGilbertson
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