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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.
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TODAY'S BEST
Steven Stamkos linked to the Montreal Canadiens
Although the Canadiens are off to a great start this season, securing a second center remains a priority for the organization. Could Steven Stamkos fill that role in Montreal? Jeff Marek, on the Sekeres Price podcast, discussing the rumor that the forward is headed for Vancouver, believes that the Habs might also be interested in acquiring him to replace Patrik Laine. It might be a nice publicity stunt to bring a veteran like Stamkos to Montreal, but I’d be really surprised if the organization made that move. The problem is, the veteran has been a shadow of his former self since arriving in Nashville, and at 35, you really have to wonder if his best years are behind him. After a sub-par season in which Stamkos scored 53 points, including 27 goals, plus a minus-36 rating, the forward has just one goal, one assist and a minus-6 rating in thirteen games so far this year. The main thing we’d replace Laine with Stamkos is his problems on the ice. Not to mention that the former Lightning star still has more than two years left on his deal, worth an average of $8 million a year. Even if the Predators agreed to pay 50% of his salary, it’s too long and too expensive a contract for a player in decline. It’s not a gamble worth taking, as I don’t think the veteran can regain his former form at 35, and his acquisition is likely to be a problem for the organization to manage. And that’s even if Nashville were to ask for very little in return for Stamkos. What’s more, I’d be really surprised to see Kent Hughes do this deal. Acquiring a declining veteran of uncertain performance with a very bad contract is the antithesis of everything we’ve seen from the general manager since his arrival in Montreal. In Overtime – Lions defeat. – The Canes are one to watch. – He’s on fire! – Ouch! – MLB in a nutshell. – He’s really dominant. – What a kick!
Seahawks GM's comments offer clue at potential NFL trade deadline partners
If there was any question about whether the Seattle Seahawks should be buyers or sellers going into the NFL trade deadline, last night's crushing victory over the Washington Commanders answered it. After eight games played, Seattle has a top-five scoring offense, a top-five scoring defense and a special teams unit that's making high-impact plays routine. That gives the Seahawks all the reason in the world to be aggressive at the trade deadline, and the latest reporting suggests that's exactly what they're going to do. General manager John Schneider may have offered a hint in his pre-game radio hit with KIRO, saying that the Seahawks spoke with teams at the Maryland-Indiana game on Saturday. That give us an idea of who they might be dealing with, based on the reports of the other teams who sent personnel to that game. That includes the San Francisco 49ers, the New York Jets, the Carolina Panthers, the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Commanders, who may have had some extra face time with the Seahawks during last night's game. We can safely cross the 49ers off the list of potential trade partners, but we can't do that with any others. The one question mark is the Panthers - and nobody seems to know which way they're leaning. Carolina is a surprise 5-4 after shocking the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, but the gap between the Panthers and the NFC teams currently on pace for a playoff spot is pretty massive. That makes the Jets, Browns and Commanders the most likely candidates to make a deal with the Seahawks from this list but we also have to assume they're talking with other teams. Pete Carroll's Raiders are another obvious potential trade partner based on their relationship and the fact that they're 2-6 going into the deadline. The Seahawks have also had a long history of making deals with the Philadelphia Eagles, who need cornerback help an have reportedly been considering a deal for Riq Woolen. On that note, the math may have changed last night due to the injuy to Josh Jobe, who was ruled out early with a concussion. Woolen responded with his best game of the season - which might be just enough to convince the Seahawks to keep him around for the playoffs.
Jerry Jones reveals Cowboys made surprise trade ahead of MNF vs. Cardinals
During an appearance on SiriusXM, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed Dallas made a trade Monday. However, Jones reportedly refused to reveal who the Cowboys had acquired. “Cowboys owner Jerry Jones @SIRIUSXM just said Dallas has made a trade and could possibly make a couple of more before tomorrow’s deadline,” The Athletic‘s Jon Machota wrote on X. “He declined to share who is involved in the trade. Jones: ‘Immediately it will have him on the field and it will address some of the things that have been our shortcomings.'” The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. With a 3-4-1 record, the Cowboys are a middling NFL team this season thus far. Perhaps a trade could help the Cowboys hit their stride as they head into the back half of the season. Nonetheless, many Cowboys fans expressed their anxieties online about Jones’ comments. In fairness, Jones left fans shell-shocked earlier this fall when he traded star EDGE Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, in exchange for two first-round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark. “We have two kinds of capital or currency in the NFL,” Jerry Jones said at the time. “One of them is draft picks. The other is the financial because every team is limited to the same amount of resources to spend, and having said that, Micah enabled us to have four, possibly as many as six players, for the future. That’s a good trade when you need numbers. I’ll take the numbers every time.” As of this report, it’s not only unclear who the Cowboys traded for, but what they gave up in the deal. The team needs defensive assets. The Cowboys are allowing 404.6 yards per game, the second-most in the NFL, only better than the Cincinnati Bengals. While the Arizona Cardinals are entering Monday’s contest on a five-game losing streak, Dallas shouldn’t overlook the matchup. The Cardinals have lost their last five games by a combined 13 points. Moreover, the Cardinals held fourth-quarter leads in all five games. If Dallas isn’t prepared on Monday, Arizona will be ready to pounce on the opportunity. The Cowboys and Cardinals will square off at 7:15 p.m. CT on Monday. The game will air live on ABC and ESPN. Dallas fans will keep their ears peeled for any mention of a new name on their team’s roster.
Dolphins’ Jaelan Phillips trade draws sobering Mike McDaniel reaction
The Miami Dolphins’ season has not gone as planned. Through nine weeks, they are 2-7 and near the bottom of the AFC. Any aspiration of playing in the postseason is a thing of the past. That reality prompted the stunning trade of Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. The Dolphins landed a 2026 third-round pick for Phillips, whom they drafted in the first round in the 2021 NFL Draft. After the trade was announced, Miami head coach Mike McDaniel was asked for his thoughts. He did a great job putting it into perspective, as captured by ESPN reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques. “That part of the business, I absolutely despise in terms of having to say goodbye to a player,” McDaniel said. “It was a very healthy conversation, and it was understood that sometimes the best interests of a team long term doesn’t overlap with the interests in one game for one player.” McDaniel did address how you can avoid this type of scenario, and that is by winning. Unfortunately, that is something Miami has not done much of. After being drafted 18th overall four years ago, Phillips had an immediate impact. He posted 8.5 sacks and 42 total tackles during his rookie season. The former Miami Hurricane edge rusher then had seven sacks the following season. But over the last few years, injuries have derailed his ability to help the Dolphins’ defense. Phillips played in a total of 12 games over the course of the 2023 and 2024 NFL seasons. But thus far this year, he has remained healthy and played each week, racking up a trio of sacks. The Eagles have a clear need on defense: edge rusher. So, this move makes a lot of sense for Philadelphia. Unlike recent seasons, the Eagles rank near the bottom in sacks. Phillips will be a free agent after the season. But even if he leaves after this year, the Eagles will receive a compensatory third-round draft pick. So, it seems like a win-win for Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the Dolphins kick off their rebuild.
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