Juuso Välimäki Bio
Juuso Välimäki is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who plays as a defenceman for the Utah Mammoth in the National Hockey League (NHL). A first-round selection in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Välimäki has developed into a reliable two-way defenceman with experience at the top Finnish junior level and across both the NHL and the American Hockey League (AHL). Beyond his club career, he has represented Finland in multiple international tournaments, including the IIHF World U18 Championships and the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Born on 6 October 1998, Välimäki is widely regarded as one of Finland’s notable defencemen of his draft class. His career has been marked by significant injuries that tested his resilience, yet he has continued to establish himself as a steady presence on the blue line at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Juuso Välimäki was born on 6 October 1998, in Nokia, Finland, though he is also connected to the nearby city of Tampere, where he was raised during his early years. Growing up in Finland, he was immersed in a country where ice hockey is a central part of the sports culture, which naturally shaped his early interest in the game. He was raised in a family with athletic ties; his cousin, Sami Välimäki, is a Finnish professional golfer, highlighting a family tradition of competitive sport.
From a young age, Välimäki progressed through the Finnish youth hockey system, developing his skills as a defenceman. His performances in junior leagues caught the attention of scouts from North America, paving the way for his transition to the Canadian Hockey League. In 2016, his contributions to Finnish youth hockey were formally recognized when he received an invitation to the Finnish Independence Day Reception, a notable honor for a young athlete.
Path to Hockey
Välimäki’s journey toward professional hockey accelerated in 2015 when he was selected 14th overall by the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in the 2015 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. He debuted with the Americans in the 2015–16 season, playing 56 games and recording seven goals and 25 assists for 32 points. He returned for the 2016–17 season, posting 19 goals and 61 points in 60 games, and was named to the WHL’s Western Conference Second All-Star Team alongside teammates Parker Wotherspoon and Morgan Geekie.
His third and final WHL campaign in 2017–18 saw him register 14 goals and 45 points in 43 games, earning a second consecutive Western Conference Second Team All-Star nod. In 12 playoff games that year, he added four goals and 17 points, helping Tri-City advance to the third round before falling to the Everett Silvertips in six games. Ahead of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, NHL Central Scouting ranked him 11th among North American skaters, and ISS Hockey ranked him 14th overall. He was selected 16th overall in the first round by the Calgary Flames, signing a three-year entry-level contract on 21 July 2017.
Juuso Välimäki Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Välimäki opened the 2018–19 season with the Calgary Flames after a strong training camp, making his NHL debut on 3 October 2018, against the Vancouver Canucks. He scored his first NHL goal on 17 October, netting one of Calgary’s tallies in a 5–2 victory over the Boston Bruins. His progress was interrupted on 23 November when he suffered a high ankle sprain against the Vegas Golden Knights, leading to a stint with the AHL’s Stockton Heat, where he produced four goals and 14 points in 20 games. Recalled at season’s end, he recorded one goal and three points in 24 total NHL games and appeared in two playoff games during the Flames’ first-round loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
The 2019–20 season was a challenging one for Välimäki. During offseason training, he suffered a torn ACL that required surgery, causing him to miss the entire pandemic-shortened campaign. Though healthy for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, he was a healthy scratch as Calgary had bolstered its blue line through trades. With the following North American season delayed, he was loaned to Finnish Liiga club Ilves on 30 September 2020, where he recorded two goals and 17 assists in 19 regular-season games, returning to form at a point-per-game pace.
Calgary Flames Development (2020–2022)
Back in North America for the 2020–21 NHL season, Välimäki appeared in 49 games for Calgary, registering two goals and nine points while frequently being a healthy scratch. On 20 August 2021, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Flames, hoping to solidify his role. However, the 2021–22 season proved difficult, as he dressed for only eight games in the first two months before being assigned to Stockton on 2 December 2021. With the Heat, he posted two goals and 18 points in 35 games, was recalled on 4 April 2022, and finished the year with two assists in nine total NHL appearances, plus two assists in Stockton’s playoff run.
Arizona Coyotes Era (2022–2024)
Unable to secure a roster spot with the Flames out of training camp in 2022, Välimäki was placed on waivers and claimed by the Arizona Coyotes on 9 October 2022. He debuted for Arizona on 17 October in a 4–2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs and soon established himself as a regular on the blue line. On 11 February 2023, he recorded a career-high four assists in a 6–5 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues, finishing his first season in the desert with four goals and 34 points in 78 games. On 24 January 2023, midway through the campaign, he signed a one-year, $1 million contract extension.
In 2023–24, his second Arizona season, Välimäki faced adversity on 15 November when a puck struck him in the face during a game against the Dallas Stars, requiring surgery. The manner in which he was reportedly left without care for several hours at a Dallas hospital drew attention from both the NHL and the National Hockey League Players’ Association. He returned on 30 November after a six-game absence, though he later endured a stretch of healthy scratches as Coyotes defencemen returned from injury, finishing with two goals and 17 points in 68 games.
Utah Mammoth Era (2024–Present)
Shortly after the conclusion of the 2023–24 regular season, the Arizona Coyotes’ franchise was suspended, and its players and assets were transferred to the expansion Utah Mammoth. As a result, Välimäki became a member of the NHL’s newest franchise, bringing his steady defensive play and experience to Utah’s inaugural roster. The move represented a fresh chapter for the Finnish defenceman as the league’s newest team began play.
Driving Style and Strengths
Välimäki is recognized for his composure with the puck, sound positional play, and ability to contribute offensively from the back end. His vision and passing have allowed him to log significant power-play minutes, while his size and skating have made him effective in transition and on the penalty kill.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first NHL goal against the Boston Bruins in October 2018 and his career-high four-assist performance against the St. Louis Blues in February 2023 stand as signature offensive milestones. His return from a torn ACL during the 2020–21 loan to Ilves, and his recovery from facial surgery in 2023, have been defining tests of his resilience.
Juuso Välimäki International Play
Välimäki has been a steady presence in Finland’s junior international programs. He represented his country at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships, helping Finland earn silver. The following year, he captained Finland to the gold medal at the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championships, a 6–1 victory over Sweden, and was later named captain of Finland’s squad at the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Juuso Välimäki Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Välimäki was born in Nokia, Finland, and raised in a family with a strong athletic tradition. His cousin, Sami Välimäki, is a Finnish professional golfer competing on the DP World Tour, illustrating the family’s connection to competitive sport.
Personal Life
Standing 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) and weighing approximately 93 kg (205 lb), Välimäki continues to represent Finland on the international stage while pursuing his NHL career with the Utah Mammoth.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Välimäki is part of the Utah Mammoth’s defensive group as the franchise continues its inaugural NHL campaign. After a full summer of preparation, he is expected to compete for a regular role on the blue line and contribute on both the power play and the penalty kill. His veteran experience from his time with the Calgary Flames and Arizona Coyotes provides stability to a young Utah roster.
Through the early months of the 2025 season, Välimäki has logged consistent minutes and continued to develop chemistry with his defensive partners. His ability to move the puck cleanly out of the defensive zone remains a key part of Utah’s transition game. As the season progresses, his play will be central to the Mammoth’s push toward a competitive position in the Western Conference playoff picture.