SALT LAKE CITY — Juuso Valimaki is predicted to be out 8-9 months after present process surgical procedure to restore a torn ACL, Utah Hockey Membership basic supervisor Invoice Armstrong mentioned Monday.

The 26-year-old defenceman from Finland not too long ago cleared waivers and was assigned to the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League. He performed one sport for them on Feb. 28.

Valimaki’s prolonged absence means he’ll miss coaching camp and no less than the primary month of the 2025-26 NHL season. He has another yr left on his contract at a wage of $2 million.

A primary-round choose by Calgary in 2017, Valimaki performed 84 regular-season and playoff video games for the Flames earlier than getting claimed off waivers by the Arizona Coyotes in October 2022. He re-signed with Utah in June after the membership moved from the Phoenix space to Salt Lake Metropolis and averaged 16 minutes over 43 video games this season earlier than being despatched to the minors.