Utah's Juuso Valimaki out 8-9 months after surgery to repair a torn ACL
SALT LAKE CITY — Juuso Valimaki is expected to be out 8-9 months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL, Utah Hockey Club general manager Bill Armstrong said.
The 26-year-old defenseman from Finland recently cleared waivers and was assigned to the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League. He played one game for them on Feb. 28.
Valimaki's extended absence means he will miss training camp and at least the first month of the 2025-26 NHL season. He has one more year left on his contract at a salary of $2 million.
A first-round pick by Calgary in 2017, Valimaki played 84 regular-season and playoff games for the Flames before getting claimed off waivers by the Arizona Coyotes in October 2022. He re-signed with Utah in June after the club moved from the Phoenix area to Salt Lake City and averaged 16 minutes over 43 games this season before being sent to the minors.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
How to Watch Dodgers vs Padres: Live Stream Shohei Ohtani Pitching Return, MLB, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Shohei Ohtani makes his much-anticipated return to the mound on Monday as the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium, and you can catch all the action with FuboTV. Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a pitch during live batting practice before the game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on May 25,... Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a pitch during live batting practice before the game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on May 25, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Ohtani had ACL surgery in 2023 and hasn't pitched in a MLB game to Watch Dodgers vs Padres Date: Monday, June 16, 2025 Time: 10:10 p.m. ET Channel: MLB Network Stream: FuboTV (TRY FOR FREE) It has been nearly two years since Japanese megastar Shohei Ohtani has pitched in a Major League ballgame, and he will get the start tonight for the first time since joining the Dodgers. When healthy, Ohtani is one of the best pitchers in the sport, with a career 38-19 record and 3.01 ERA. When considering what he provides at the plate, it is no surprise that he is considered one of the greatest players of all time. Ohtani is only expected to throw the first couple of innings against the Padres as he continues to ramp his arm back up to speed, and he gets a tough test right away, facing a San Diego lineup that features Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado. Ticket prices for this game have skyrocketed, Dodger Stadium will be full, and all eyes will be on the three-time MVP. A matchup with San Diego, which trails Los Angeles by three games in the NL West standings, only makes this game that much more enticing. This is a great MLB matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action. Live stream Padres vs Dodgers on MLB Network for free with FuboTV: Start your subscription now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Newsweek
Dodgers Ticket Prices Rise With Shohei Ohtani Set to Pitch
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani regains his two-way status Monday night. Ohtani will be the starting pitcher for the series opener against the San Diego Padres. Read more: Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Pitching Return: Everything to Know Once the Dodgers made the highly-touted announcement, ticket prices immediately spiked by 174 percent. The get-in price for Monday's game is currently $140 compared to $51 on Friday, per MLB insider Bob Nightengale. Just how excited are Dodgers fans to see Shohei Ohtani make his Dodgers debut tonight on the mound? Ticket prices have spiked by 174% since the announcement that Ohtani will be opener and pitch 1 or 2 innings, per @TickPick. The get-in price is $140 compared to $51 on Friday. — Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 16, 2025 TickPick revealed the site has sold three-time the amount of tickets since the Dodgers announced Ohtani would take the mound in the series opener against the Padres. "It was announced yesterday that Shohei would make his long awaited pitching debut for the Dodgers tonight," the statement read on X. "Since the announcement, we have sold 3x the amount of tickets we had prior. The get-in price has also increased from $51 to $134." Tickets in Los Angeles are in very high demand ahead of Shohei Ohtani's pitching debut for the Dodgers 🎟️ via @TickPick — FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 16, 2025 The three-time MVP has not pitched since August 2023, when he was still a member of the Los Angeles Angels. The following month, Ohtani underwent surgery to repair a torn UCL and signed with the Dodgers in the offseason. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 25: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a pitch during live batting practice before the game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles... NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 25: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a pitch during live batting practice before the game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on May 25, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Ohtani had ACL surgery in 2023 and hasn't pitched in a MLB game 2024, Ohtani was the team's exclusive designated hitter and had arguably one of the greatest offensive performances in the history of baseball. Ohtani set career-highs in home runs, hits, runs scored, runs batted in, doubles, and stolen bases last season. Ohtani invented the 50 home run, 50 stolen base club as he finished his inaugural campaign as a Dodgers with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases. In his first postseason appearance, Ohtani won the first World Series title of his career. The Dodgers superstar capped off the season by unanimously winning the National League Most Valuable Player award for the 2024 season, becoming the first exclusive designated hitter to win the accolade. Ohtani was also the first player in MLB history to unanimously win three MVPs. In 2025, Ohtani will return to his "norm" as a two-way star beginning Monday night against the Padres. Manager Dave Roberts revealed Ohtani will likely pitch just one inning, but the excitement for his return to the pitcher's mound is evident. Ohtani is not fully built up and the Dodgers have made it abundantly clear the two-way star will not be rushed in his return despite injuries hampering the rotation. But Monday's game marks the beginning of a new era in Los Angeles. More news: Two-Time World Series Champion, Beloved Member of 1969 Mets, Passes Away For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Stats suggest Elgton Jenkins in his prime: Is he right to want contract adjustment?
Stats suggest Elgton Jenkins in his prime: Is he right to want contract adjustment? Elgton Jenkins has been in the spotlight this offseason for various reasons. The Green Bay Packers' most senior offensive lineman is set to move from left guard to center in 2025, taking over for Josh Myers, who departed in free agency. Versatility has always been one of Jenkins' most valuable traits, and he is hoping to parlay the change in role into an updated contract; a situation which is yet to be resolved. But when he has been on the field, what has Jenkins brought to Green Bay? Here is what the stats say about his overall profile since returning from an ACL injury in 2022, mostly playing at left guard: Strengths According to advanced numbers, Jenkins has been one of the most consistently effective pass blockers in the NFL over the last three years. Among qualified guards, he ranks in the 80th percentile in PFF's pass block efficiency (EFF) metric. Even in true pass sets, which are plays without screens, short passes or play action, and are generally more taxing on offensive linemen, Jenkins has excelled, landing in the 70th percentile in EFF compared to his contemporaries. Jenkins ranks in the 75th percentile for sacks allowed per opportunity (SK/OPP), which removes plays involving spikes or penalties. He has allowed just one sack in the last two seasons. Keeping the quarterback clean is the most crucial part of an offensive lineman's job, but allowing them to feel comfortable is also vitally important, and Jenkins has been stingy when it comes to giving up even low quality pressures. He ranks in the 67th percentile in hurries per opportunity (HUR/OPP) since 2022, and allowed less than one hurry per game in 2024. Jenkins has simply been one of the best interior offensive linemen in the NFL when it comes to protecting the quarterback. Weaknesses At least according to the metrics available, Jenkins has no significant weaknesses to his game, which is a huge compliment to his overall ability and consistency. Of the 11 statistics used to build his profile, Jenkins only ranked below average in two of them (more on those later), and neither reached the point of being a legitimate weakness over the last three years as a whole. He is one of the more reliable offensive linemen around. Trending up Even as he approaches age 30, Jenkins has continued to develop his game in recent seasons, improving in a variety of areas, and much of this is likely related to him becoming further removed from the serious knee injury he suffered in 2021. In true pass sets, he went from the 25th percentile in SK/OPP in 2022 to the 86th percentile over the last two years. Jenkins also improved his ranking in HUR/OPP in true pass sets from the 48th percentile in 2023 to the 75th a season ago. He was a stronger pass blocker in 2024 than the previous year by almost every statistical measure. In fact, he was ranked as the best pass blocking guard in the NFL by PFF last season. The Packers incorporated more gap concepts into their run game in 2024, and Jenkins rose to the challenge. After ranking in the 45th percentile in PFF's gap run block grade in 2023, he improved to the 82nd percentile, helping to open holes for Josh Jacobs. Trending down The only two statistics in which Jenkins ranks below average over the last two years are the same ones he has seemingly regressed since 2022. Committing penalties is the weakest part of Jenkins' game, as he ranks in the 36th percentile in penalties per snap over the last three seasons. He graded out in the 58th percentile in 2022; above average, before dropping to the 39th percentile in 2023 and the 11th percentile in 2024. He was flagged ten times last year, which is the highest number since his rookie year and more than his total for 2023 and 2024 combined (nine). Penalties are relatively overrated as a means of evaluating the quality of a player, but they can be massively frustrating and have a real impact on the outcome of a game. Discipline might be something Jenkins needs to work on in 2025 and beyond. This may coincide with the change in emphasis in Green Bay's run game, but Jenkins has actually declined as a zone run blocker since 2022, at least according to PFF's grading. Jenkins ranked in the 82nd percentile in their zone block grade in 2022, which is excellent, but fell to the 40th percentile the following year, and the 10th percentile in 2024, ranking 70th of 78 qualified guards. It will be interesting to see how the transition to center impacts Jenkins' game, but Jenkins appears to be firmly in the prime of his career, and it is understandable he wants an amendment to the contract he signed back in 2022, whether the Packers are willing to oblige is another question.
