Born in Tampere, Finland, Valimaki grew up in Nokia and was the No. 14 pick by Tri-City in the 2015 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. The No. 16 pick by the Calgary Flames in the 2017 NHL Draft played three seasons in Tri-City and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Flames on July 21, 2017.
Valimaki made his NHL debut against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 3, 2018 and scored his first NHL goal in a 5-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 17. He was captain of Finland at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship and played two games for the Flames in their five-game loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference First Round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Born in Tampere, Finland, Valimaki grew up in Nokia and was the No. 14 pick by Tri-City in the 2015 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. The No. 16 pick by the Calgary Flames in the 2017 NHL Draft played three seasons in Tri-City and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Flames on July 21, 2017.
Valimaki made his NHL debut against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 3, 2018 and scored his first NHL goal in a 5-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 17. He was captain of Finland at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship and played two games for the Flames in their five-game loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference First Round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Flames announced Aug. 12, 2019 that Valimaki tore the ACL in his right knee during a training session that required surgery.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- WHL West Second All-Star Team (2017, 2018)
- Claimed off waivers by Arizona from Calgary, October 9, 2022.
