The Flames have an impressive defensive group this year, but there’s one player who’s missing: Juuso Valimaki.
Valimaki last played in the NHL on Nov. 23, when he sustained an ankle injury playing 17:47 in a loss to the Golden Knights. He missed two months of action before he was sent to the AHL, and dressed for his first game back on Jan. 25 for the Heat. Since then, he’s played 13 minor league games, scoring two goals and putting up nine points in that time.
Also recall that the Flames love Valimaki: he was a player they were absolutely not willing to part with, which took them out of the running for a trade deadline deal to acquire Mark Stone.