Former Liiga Defenseman Lands NHL Call-Up With Hurricanes

A former Liiga defenseman is getting another opportunity in the NHL.

The Carolina Hurricanes have called up defenseman Juuso Valimaki to their NHL roster from the Chicago Wolves. 

Valimaki has not played at the NHL level since the 2024-25 season with the Utah Mammoth. Now, he will be aiming to impress after getting this latest NHL opportunity with the Hurricanes.

Valimaki spent all of last season with the Wolves. In 24 games with the AHL club this past campaign, he postes six goals, 14 assists, and 20 points. He also had five goals and 14 points in 21 playoff games for the Wolves this past spring. 

Valimaki spent the 2020-21 season with Liiga's Ilves, where he posted two goals, 17 assists, 19 points, and a plus-15 rating in 19 games. Overall, he certainly made an impact while playing in Liiga.

Valimaki was selected by the Calgary Flames in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, 16th overall. In 271 career NHL games over six seasons split between the Flames, Arizona Coyotes, and Mammoth, he has posted 11 goals, 61 assists, 72 points, and a minus-7 rating.