Having started his NHL career with the Calgary Flames, Juuso Valimaki was rarely a relevant player in Alberta, but that changed when he arrived in the desert with the Arizona Coyotes. Following a two-year stint of 146 games and 51 points in Zona, Valimaki became one of many players to make the move to Salt Lake City and play for the Utah Hockey Club.
Overall, Valimaki could bring reliable minutes on the third pairing, though he’s not much of a physical presence, something that you may expect from someone logging limited ice time. But Valimaki can get in front of shots, and he showed two-way playmaking potential in 2022-23 when he registered 30 assists during the Coyotes next-to-last season in the desert.
Throughout his time in Arizona, he’d been close to a 50 percent player in the Corsi For at even strength. And last season, he was an incredible asset at the blue line in on-ice goals allowed, seeing just 42 go into the net. He finished the season with an on-ice save percentage of 92.5, a plus-10 at even strength, and a plus-12 overall.
Juuso Valimaki is the Utah Hockey Club’s version of ‘solid but unspectacular’
Juuso Valimaki is someone who I wouldn’t expect to play at the same level as Mikhail Sergachev or even Sean Durzi. But we don’t need to expect it from him, as Valimaki will end up with more of a supplementary role to the top-four in the Utah Hockey Club’s lineup that could also include Ian Cole and John Marino.
Therefore, Valimaki’s role is one that he should be familiar with and ready to take on once the rock black and mountain blue start playing for real next month. Fans only need to expect solid play from the youngster, and if Utah’s blue line has improved the way it should have, I would even expect him to take his play up at least a notch.
Ultimately, with Utah looking like a team on the rise, Valimaki could also be, in the future, that player who reverts to what he was while in Calgary. Someone whose ice time could be even more limited while he watches from the press box and becomes little more than a rotational player.
This wouldn’t be a knock on Valimaki as much as it would be smart and solid moves and decision-making from general manager Bill Armstrong. And if Utah is winning games and finally transforming into a relevant franchise - finally if you’re following them from Arizona - Valimaki will be just fine with a limited role.