Photo by Judy Simpson 

Calgary needed a rushing defenceman and that is exactly what they’ll get in Valimaki, picked up at #16 at the NHL Draft.

Juuso Valimaki - Tri-City Americans (WHL)

Position: D
Born: October 6, 1998 – Nokia, Finland
Height: 6’2"
Weight: 204 lbs.
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 2015 CHL Import Draft – Round #1 (14th overall) by the Tri-City Americans

JuusoValimaki was new to the WHL and the Americans last season and managed to put up seven goals and 32 points in 56 games. His leadership is quite noticeable on the ice as he communicates well and shows emotion at both ends of the ice. He has since been rewarded with the “A” on his sweater this year. He’s a real mobile skater who loves to join the rush and catching opposing defencemen off guard by carrying the puck deep in the offensive zone and creating scoring chances. He has great offensive instincts and has the ability to skate back to his position with ease and get back into the play. Valimaki is not known as a flashy defenceman but displays patience and a calmness with the puck on his stick. He has crisp tape-to-tape outlet passes and always has his head up and rarely out of position. He doesn’t have an overpowering shot but with some work, it can be developed.

DID YOU KNOW? According to Tri-City Americans Broadcaster Craig West, Valimaki’s entire immediate family moved to the United States and the Tri-Cities area so they could be close to Juuso for the Americans’ 2016-17 season.