Valimaki not happy about being a healthy scratch
There is no denying the potential that Calgary Flames defenceman Juuso Valimaki possesses. The 16th pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft is highly skilled, but has yet to put it all together for the Flames.
Valimaki, 23, has struggled to begin the 2021-22 season, and as a result has been a healthy scratch on multiple occasions by head coach Darryl Sutter. He isn't very happy about that, and spoke about it to a Finnish news outlet, which has been translated below.
«There have been so many games in recent years due to injuries that now it feels pretty stupid that I am healthy and would be able to play, but it is not given,» Valimaki said. «It's not nice. I think I would deserve to play and I played so well that I would be famous to be in the lineup.
«I think the games went really well. I have also received feedback from many different directions that my playing looked much better than last year.»
As mentioned, the interview is translated from Finnish so certain parts aren't exactly clear. What is clear, however, is that Valimaki is not happy about being scratched to this point this season in favour of players like Erik Gudbranson and Nikita Zadorov. Perhaps things will change soon, but an old school coach like Sutter isn't likely to be a big fan of Valimaki speaking out here.
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APRIL 18, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Matthew Boldy | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Kirill Kaprizov | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Mats Zuccarello | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Joel Eriksson Ek | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Taylor Hall | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ryan Hartman | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Evgeni Malkin | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Logan Stankoven | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jackson Blake | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Jamie Drysdale | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Porter Martone | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jason Robertson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Bryan Rust | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Travis Sanheim | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Denver Barkey | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Christian Dvorak | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Brock Faber | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Miro Heiskanen | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Quinn Hughes | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Wyatt Johnston | - | 1 | 1 | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||