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Jusso Valimaki, Utah Hockey Club (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Flames Should Strongly Consider Claiming Juuso Valimaki Off Waivers

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Rupert McDonald | Last updated Feb 24, 2025 9:10 AM ET

The Calgary Flames have an opportunity to reunite with a relatively young defenceman. Juuso Valimaki, who was drafted 16th overall by the Flames in 2017, went on to log 82 games with the organization before being placed on waivers and claimed by the Arizona Coyotes (now the Utah Hockey Club) prior to the 2022-23 season.

The decision to place Valimaki on waivers was one met with some frustration from Flames fans, many of whom weren’t surprised to see him get claimed. That frustration only grew further when Valimaki went on to record 34 points in 78 games in his first season with the Coyotes.

Valimaki’s play has taken a step back since that breakout 2022-23 campaign, to the point where his ice time has been cut significantly this season. Utah was clearly not happy with what they were getting from him, and made the decision to place him on waivers Sunday morning. Now, the Flames have a chance to right their wrong from over two years ago.

Valimaki Would Help the Flames

The Flames remain in the hunt for a playoff spot, but their lack of blue line depth has been hurting them as of late. It became apparent how limited they were on the back end when Kevin Bahl went down with an injury, as they’ve struggled to find anybody they can rely on to replace his minutes.

The good news for the Flames is that Bahl is expected to return soon, as he was activated from the injured reserve on Sunday morning but wound up missing last night’s game versus the San Jose Sharks due to an illness. While he is likely to suit up on Tuesday, the Flames could still use an upgrade on the left side, especially if another injury impacts their top four.

While Valimaki isn’t an elite defenceman, he has proven over the past two and a half seasons that he can be an everyday player. He would be an upgrade over several defencemen on the Flames’ current roster such as Joel Hanley, Daniil Miromanov, Ilya Solovyov, and perhaps even Jake Bean.

What also works to the Flames’ benefit is that Valimaki has another season remaining on his contract with a cap hit of just $2 million. He’s worth that money, and could serve as a replacement in 2025-26 for Hanley, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Valimaki also still has room to grow as a player, as he’s still just 26 years old. He is a solid defender, and proved in 2022-23 that he has the offensive capabilities many expected to see from him when he was first drafted into the NHL.

Familiarity on Both Sides

What would make this decision easier from the Flames’ perspective is that they already know the player quite well, having had him in the organization for more than five years. While he’s not the same player he was during his time in Calgary, the coaching staff and management know his strengths and weaknesses as a player, which would give them a good idea of where to slot him into the lineup and what types of situations they can use him in.

As for Valimaki, he doesn’t have a say in the matter, but getting the chance to rejoin the organization that drafted him and prove that he’s now an everyday NHL defenceman is an opportunity he would likely welcome with open arms. He also has familiarity with some players in the Flames’ locker room, and is comfortable in the city. Rejoining the Flames would be much easier on him in terms of settling in than it would be joining a brand-new organization for what would be the third time in his career.