Jan 26, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Utah defenseman Juuso Valimaki (4) gets in position for a faceoff in the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

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Juuso Valimaki Undergoes ACL Surgery, Sidelined for Rest Of The Season

Utah's defenseman Juuso Valimaki faces a long recovery after ACL surgery, expected to miss 8-9 months of action.

Utah defenseman Juuso Valimaki has undergone surgery to repair a torn ACL and is expected to be out for eight to nine months. His season is officially over, and the injury will also sideline him for the rest of the season of the 2025-26 campaign.

The 26-year-old’s year had already been disappointing before the injury. He was waived by Utah in February and sent to AHL Tucson, marking his first minor league stint since 2021-22. Unfortunately, his return to the AHL was short-lived—he suffered the ACL tear in his very first game with Tucson on February 28.

Valimaki had once been a promising piece of the Coyotes’ blue line before the franchise’s relocation to Salt Lake City. He put up a strong 34-point season in 2022-23, leading Arizona’s defensemen with 30 assists. However, his role diminished significantly this year, managing just five points (2G, 3A) in 43 NHL games. Utah’s offseason acquisitions of John Marino, Ian Cole, and Mikhail Sergachev pushed him further down the depth chart, and the team’s early-season addition of Olli Maatta only made things tougher.

Juuso Valimaki to miss rest of season for Utah Hockey Club after knee surgery https://t.co/q9sYv5sxiC
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) March 10, 2025

With his contract running through 2025-26 at a $2 million cap hit, Valimaki now faces an uncertain future. He is currently the seventh defenseman signed to a one-way NHL deal for next season. While some of Utah’s veteran blue-liners are set to hit free agency, younger prospects like Maveric Lamoureux will also be competing for roster spots. If Valimaki doesn’t secure a regular NHL role upon his return, Utah could bury his contract in the AHL, where his cap hit would be reduced to $850K.

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Adding to the concern is his history with ACL injuries. He previously missed an entire season (2019-20) due to ACL surgery while with the Flames and has dealt with various lower-body injuries throughout his career. It’s unclear if this latest tear occurred in the same knee, but given his past struggles with durability, his long-term future in the NHL is now in question.

Barring a strong comeback in 2025-26, Välimäki could find himself without an NHL job when his contract expires. His best hope may be proving he can still contribute at the highest level once he returns to full health.

Image Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Juuso Valimaki

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Anamika Shrivastava

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