Juuso Välimäki
Finnish defenceman who played for the Arizona Coyotes from 2022 to 2024.
Juuso Välimäki (born 6 October 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL. He was taken 16th overall by the Calgary Flames in the first round of the 2017 draft, and has also suited up for the Arizona Coyotes and Utah Mammoth.
Välimäki began his North American career in the WHL after the Tri-City Americans picked him 14th overall in the 2015 CHL Import Draft. In his rookie season, he put up 32 points in 56 games. The following year, he improved to 61 points in 60 games and earned a spot on the WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team. Tri-City was swept in the first round of the 2017 playoffs, with Välimäki notching one assist. In his final WHL season, he posted 45 points in 43 games, again making the Western Conference Second All-Star Team. The Americans swept their first two playoff rounds before falling to the Everett Silvertips in six games; Välimäki contributed 17 points in 12 postseason contests.
After being drafted by Calgary, Välimäki signed a three-year entry-level contract in July 2017. He made the Flames out of training camp for the 2018–19 season and debuted on 3 October against the Vancouver Canucks. His first NHL goal came on 17 October, beating Tuukka Rask in a 5–2 win over the Boston Bruins. A high ankle sprain on 23 November limited his season; he was sent to the AHL’s Stockton Heat in January 2019, where he recorded 14 points in 20 games. Recalled late in the season, he finished with three points in 24 NHL games. He made his playoff debut on 17 April against the Colorado Avalanche, picking up an assist in a game 4 loss as the Flames were eliminated in five games.
During the following offseason, Välimäki tore his ACL and required surgery, causing him to miss the entire 2019–20 campaign. Though healthy for the 2020 playoffs, he was a healthy scratch. With the 2020–21 NHL season delayed, Calgary loaned him to Finnish Liiga club Ilves in September 2020. There, he returned to form, producing at a point-per-game pace with 19 points in 19 regular-season games. Back with the Flames for the 2020–21 season, he appeared in 49 games, scoring two goals and nine points, but was scratched multiple times. He signed a two-year contract in August 2021.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1998-10-06
- Birth Place
- Nokia, Finland
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 2
- Weight Lb
- 201
- Position
- Defence
- Shoots
- Left
- League
- NHL
- Team
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Former Teams
- Calgary Flames / Ilves / Arizona Coyotes / Utah Mammoth
- Ntl Team
- Finland
- Draft
- 16th overall
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Välimäki was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Coyotes on 9 October 2022, after being unable to make the Calgary Flames opening night roster. He made his Coyotes debut on 17 October in a 4–2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. His first point with the team came on 22 October, assisting on Dylan Guenther's first career NHL goal. He scored his first goal in a Coyotes uniform on 3 November, breaking Scott Wedgewood's shutout bid in a 7–2 loss to the Dallas Stars. On 11 February 2023, he recorded four assists in a 6–5 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues. He signed a one-year, $1 million contract extension on 24 January 2023, and finished the season with four goals and 34 points in 78 games.
In his second season with Arizona, Välimäki suffered an injury on 15 November 2023 when struck in the face with a puck against the Dallas Stars. He underwent surgery, and the process in which he was left for several hours without care at a Dallas hospital was investigated by both the NHL and the National Hockey League Players' Association. He returned on 30 November after missing six games. In January 2024 he went through a period of healthy scratches as the depth of defencemen on the Coyotes peaked. He finished the season with two goals and 17 points in 68 games.
Reader's Guide
Välimäki's tenure with the Arizona Coyotes marked a significant phase in his professional career. After being drafted 16th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2017 and spending parts of four seasons with the organization, he was claimed off waivers by Arizona just before the 2022–23 season. With the Coyotes, he established a regular role on the blueline, appearing in 78 games in his first season and recording 34 points, including a four-assist game. His second season was disrupted by a facial injury and subsequent healthy scratches, but he still played 68 games. Following the suspension of the Coyotes franchise after the 2023–24 season, team assets were transferred to the expansion Utah Mammoth, making Välimäki a member of that club. His time in Arizona demonstrated his ability to contribute offensively from the defence, though his tenure ended when the franchise ceased operations.
Did You Know?
- Välimäki was selected 14th overall by the Tri-City Americans in the 2015 CHL Import Draft.
- He scored his first NHL goal on 17 October 2018 against Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins.
- He was named captain of Team Finland at the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
More in Arizona Coyotes Players 1-24
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