Shocking Injury Update On Utah Defenseman Juuso Välimäki

Utah’s defenseman Juuso Välimäki faces a tough road ahead after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL, sidelining him for eight to nine months. The 26-year-old’s season is officially over, and he’s expected to miss the first one to two months of the 2025-26 campaign as well. 

This devastating blow caps off a challenging year for the Finnish blueliner, who hasn’t seen NHL action since February 24, when he cleared waivers and was assigned to AHL Tucson—his first minor-league stint since the 2021-22 season. 

Tragically, Välimäki suffered the ACL tear in his very first game with Tucson on February 28.

General manager Bill Armstrong has announced that Juuso Välimäki underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL. He’ll be out for the next 8-9 months. #UtahHC

— Chase Beardsley (@ChaseBeardsley_) March 10, 2025

Despite early-season injuries to key defensemen like Sean Durzi and John Marino opening up opportunities for depth players, Välimäki failed to capitalize. 

Known for his offensive capabilities, the 6’2” lefty managed just 2 goals and 3 assists in 43 NHL appearances this season—a far cry from his standout 34-point campaign with Arizona two years ago, where he shined on the power play and led Coyotes defensemen with 30 assists.

With a $2 million cap hit and a one-way contract through next year, Välimäki is already the seventh defenseman under contract for Utah, following extensions for Olli Määttä and Ian Cole. While veterans Nick DeSimone and Robert Bortuzzo are pending UFAs and may not return, rising prospect Maveric Lamoureux is also vying for a roster spot after appearing in 15 games this year.

When Välimäki returns to health, there may not be an NHL job waiting for him. If assigned to the minors, he’ll carry an $850,000 cap hit for Utah. Barring an unexpected resurgence in 2025-26, Välimäki is likely headed for unrestricted free agency in 2026, with his future in the NHL uncertain unless he’s willing to accept a minor-league role.

Adding to the concern is Välimäki’s history of ACL tears and lower-body injuries. Early in his career with the Flames, he missed significant time, including the first half of the 2018-19 season with a lower-body injury and the entire 2019-20 season after ACL surgery during training camp. 

Image - Marc DesRosiers-Imagn