Valimaki was traded to the Hurricanes from the Mammoth on Monday in exchange for future considerations, Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Valimaki has not appeared in an NHL game since last season. The 27-year-old contributed one goal, three points and a plus-6 rating across three appearances with AHL Tucson in 2025-26, as he missed a large chunk of the season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL. Valimaki will now provide organizational depth for the Hurricanes and report to AHL Chicago.

Valimaki (knee) was placed on waivers Sunday for the purpose of being assigned to AHL Tucson.

EDGE Analysis

Valimaki appears to be ready to return to action after recovering from a torn ACL, for which he underwent surgery to repair in March. He earned two goals, five points, 40 shots on net, 49 blocked shots and 23 hits in 43 appearances during the 2024-25 NHL regular season.

Valimaki (knee), as expected, was placed on the injured, non-roster list Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Valimaki wasn't expected back from knee surgery until mid-November at the earliest, so his designation for non-roster injured reserve shouldn't come as a surprise. Given his long-term absence, the Finnish blueliner almost certainly will start with a conditioning stint in the minors before he gets a shot at earning an NHL roster spot.

Valimaki will be out 8-9 months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL, Utah announced Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Valimaki will miss the remainder of 2024-25 and will be out for the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign as well. He produced two goals, three assists, 40 shots on net, 49 blocked shots and 23 hits in 43 appearances with Utah this season. After passing through waivers in late February, the 26-year-old defender appeared in only one game with AHL Tucson.

Valimaki was placed on waivers Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Valimaki appeared in 43 games for Utah this year, logging two goals and five points, though he'd been a healthy scratch in their last eight contests. The 26-year-old blueliner figures to report to AHL Tucson, should he clear waivers.

Valimaki notched an assist and three blocked shots in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Blues.

EDGE Analysis

Valimaki helped out on a Logan Cooley tally in the second period. The assist ended an 11-game point drought for Valimaki, who had 13 blocked shots, nine hits, eight shots on net and a minus-7 rating in that span. He's held onto a bottom-four role for much of the season, earning five points, 36 shots on net, 45 blocked shots and a minus-7 rating over 39 appearances. Valimaki's place in the lineup could be at risk once Mikhail Sergachev (upper body) and Robert Bortuzzo (lower body) are both healthy again.

Valimaki notched an assist in Sunday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Ducks.

EDGE Analysis

The helper ended a four-game slump for Valimaki, who continues to fill a third-pairing role. The 26-year-old has held onto his spot in the lineup as injuries on Utah's blue line have been a factor for much of the season. Valimaki is at a modest four points with 27 shots on net, 29 blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating over 27 appearances.

Valimaki scored a goal on four shots, added two hits and blocked two shots in Tuesday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Wild.

EDGE Analysis

Valimaki has goals in back-to-back contests and three points over his last six games. The 26-year-old is likely to get a little more security in the lineup since Robert Bortuzzo (lower body) is expected to miss some time after suffering an injury Tuesday. Valimaki is up to three points, 24 shots on net, 23 blocked shots and a minus-2 rating across 22 appearances.

Valimaki scored a goal and blocked two shots in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Flyers.

EDGE Analysis

Valimaki earned his second point over the last five games by scoring in the second period Sunday. The 26-year-old has seen steady playing time since Maveric Lamoureux (upper body) exited the lineup. Utah has three injured blueliners, and they're all at least a month away from a return, so Valimaki has a chance to carve out a role for himself. He's produced two points, 20 shots on net, 21 blocked shots and a minus-2 rating across 21 appearances in 2024-25, playing in a bottom-four role.

Valimaki notched an assist, two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Oilers.

EDGE Analysis

Utah announced prior to the game that Maveric Lamoureux will miss 4-6 weeks with an upper-body injury. Valimaki was given the first chance to fill the empty spot in the lineup, though he may have to compete with Vladislav Kolyachonok during Lamoureux's absence. Valimaki was scratched for the previous four games, and prior to Friday, he didn't have a point this season. He's added 15 shots on net, 16 blocked shots and a minus-3 rating over 17 appearances. The Finn is unlikely to be a power-play threat, but Utah's injury woes have allowed Valimaki to stick in the NHL, and that could open the door for him to try to figure things out after a rough first quarter of the campaign.