Late tonight, a trade has been finalized sending Juuso Välimäki from Utah to Carolina in exchange for future considerations, as reported by Utah. Following the trade, Välimäki will report to AHL Chicago.
Välimäki, a former first-round pick who was selected 16th overall by Calgary in 2017, cleared waivers just before the New Year and had been assigned to AHL Tucson. This move to Carolina represents a fresh start for the talented defenseman, who stands at 6’2” and possesses top-tier skating ability and hockey IQ.
Despite being regarded as a potential top-four two-way defender, Välimäki’s career has faced significant challenges, particularly an off-season torn ACL prior to the 2019-20 season which stunted his growth. Over the years, he played 82 games with the Flames before being placed on waivers, which allowed him to join the Arizona Coyotes. During his time with the Coyotes, Välimäki showed resilience, achieving a career-high of 34 points in 78 games at the age of 23.
Although it appeared that Calgary had let go of a promising talent too soon, Välimäki’s contributions continued until he transitioned to Utah for their inaugural season. After 43 games, he experienced underwhelming performance and a subsequent injury that tore his ACL again, which ended his 2024-25 season prematurely.
Now back to full health, Välimäki hasn’t yet found his footing with Utah, having recorded three points in three AHL games. However, he has encountered challenges, being overshadowed in the Mammoth’s depth chart. The move to Chicago not only offers him a better team environment but also the chance to leverage his extensive NHL experience, totaling 271 games.
Välimäki is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, bringing a cap hit of $2 million at the NHL level, which will decrease to $850,000 in the AHL. His past solid performances in the NHL may make him an intriguing depth option for the Hurricanes. With good fortune regarding his health, Välimäki aims to regain his form and solidify his position as he embraces a new chapter with his third franchise, furthering his career in North America.