Hurricanes Ink Juuso Valimaki to One-Year Deal Worth $900,000

The Carolina Hurricanes made waves on Wednesday evening by announcing the re-signing of defenseman Juuso Valimaki, a move that bolsters their defensive lineup as they prepare for the upcoming NHL season. Valimaki’s new contract is set at $900,000 for the 2026-27 season, regardless of whether he plays in the NHL or the AHL.

At just 27 years old, Valimaki brings a wealth of experience to the Hurricanes, having previously been a first-round draft pick by the Calgary Flames, taken 16th overall in 2017. With his NHL background, he is likely to compete for a spot on the Carolina blueline, potentially battling teammates Charles Alexis Legault and Joel Nystrom for the coveted seventh defenseman role.

In an official press release, Eric Tulsky, General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, confirmed the signing, highlighting Valimaki’s impressive track record. Over the course of his career, Valimaki has amassed 72 points, including 11 goals and 61 assists, in 271 NHL games across stints with Calgary, Arizona, and Utah.

Last season, Valimaki split his time between Tucson and Chicago in the AHL, where he showcased his skills by racking up 23 points (7 goals, 16 assists) in just 27 regular-season games. His playoff performance was equally noteworthy, contributing 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) in 21 games to help propel the Chicago Wolves to the Calder Cup Final. Before entering the professional ranks, Valimaki honed his abilities in the Western Hockey League, where he played three seasons with Tri-City, notching 138 points (40 goals, 98 assists) and earning a spot on the WHL West Second All-Star Team in both 2017 and 2018.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.