Right now, the numbers simply aren’t in Juuso Valimaki’s favour.
Valimaki is set to turn 24 just five days before the Calgary Flames play their first game of the 2022–23 regular season. He’s coming off a year where he played just nine National Hockey League games before being relegated to the AHL in November.
The 6’2″, 212-pound left-handed defenceman is one of nine defenders currently signed to a one-way contract with the Flames — and that doesn’t include RFA Oliver Kylington.
The Flames’ defensive field is crowded, and Valimaki just hasn’t been able to stand out.