It’s been a bit of a wait compared to recent drafts, but certainly well worth it. At 16th overall, the Calgary Flames have selected Juuso Valimaki, a defenceman from the Tri-City Americans of the WHL.
After a few good breaks and a few surprise selections, Valimaki has fallen into the lap of the Flames. He’s been ranked eleventh on Central Scouting’s North American list, and also gets rave reviews from other scouting services. Praised for his both his defensive and offensive skills, he finished with 19 goals, 42 assists, and 61 points in 60 games for the Americans.