Hurricanes sign Juuso Valimaki to one-year contract extension
The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension with pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Juuso Valimaki, the club announced Wednesday evening.
Valimaki, 27, split the 2025-26 season between the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners and Chicago Wolves, collecting seven goals and 24 points in 27 games. The Tampere, Finland product added five goals and 14 points in 21 games as the Wolves embarked upon a run to the 2026 Calder Cup Final.
The Hurricanes originally acquired Valimaki from the Utah Mammoth in January in exchange for future considerations. Valimaki spent the first half of the 2025-26 season recovering from a torn ACL, the second such injury of his career.
According to the Hurricanes, Valimaki’s new contract will pay him a $900,000 salary for the time he spends in the NHL during the 2026-27 season.
Inked 🖊 The #Canes have signed defenseman Juuso Valimaki to a one-year contract. Details » n.carhur.com/4vuM03V
The Calgary Flames originally selected Valimaki in the first round (No. 16 overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft. After a successful junior career with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, the 6’2″ left-shot defenseman made his NHL debut with the Flames in the 2018-19 season.
Valimaki spent parts of three seasons with the Flames but struggled to remain healthy during his time in the organization. At the onset of the 2021-22 season, the Flames placed Valimaki on waivers, where he was claimed by the Arizona Coyotes.
With the Coyotes in the 2022-23 season, Valimaki set career highs with four goals and 34 points in 78 games. He appeared in 68 more games with Arizona the following year and remained with the team through its relocation to Utah.
Through 271 career NHL games over parts of six seasons with Calgary, Arizona, and Utah, Valimaki has collected 11 goals and 72 points. He also appeared in two playoff games with the Flames in 2019, recording an assist.