Juuso Valimaki’s night in Helsinki had a little bit of everything: redemption, relief and a goal in front of the people who know him best.
The 27-year-old Finnish defenseman, who once wasn’t sure he’d make it back to the NHL, found himself on the blue line for one of the league’s top teams and then scored in his home country during the NHL Global Series. For a player who had spent the last year fighting his way back from a second career ACL tear, it was the kind of moment that can feel almost unreal.
Valimaki was nine months removed from that injury and had not played in the NHL since the start of 2025. Before that, he was already fighting an uphill battle, sitting as a healthy scratch repeatedly while his career seemed to be drifting in the wrong direction. Then came the turnaround.
“We knew when we got him what he had been going through,” said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour. “Lots of injuries and even last year, he played all year in the minors.
Played really well, we just didn’t have a spot. Then this year there was an opportunity and he’s just taken it.
It’s nice to see that he’s fully back to where he was before and maybe even better. He’s really endeared himself to the group and to the coaching staff.”
That opportunity has now turned into something bigger: a spot on the blueline and a chance to play in front of thousands of Finnish fans, along with friends and family, in Helsinki.
“I don’t think it could have really worked out any better than it did for me,” Valimaki said. “Obviously we played a really good game and that’s kind of the first point of it, but I’m not gonna lie and say that it wasn’t cool to score, because it was. Just really, really happy and grateful for it, for sure.”
Nikolaj Ehlers said the goal made the night even more meaningful.
“That’s what you want,” said forward Nikolaj Ehlers. “You obviously want the two points, but seeing [the Finns] score makes it a little more special. We’re happy we were able to get the win for those guys.”
For Valimaki, the moment was the payoff for a long stretch of setbacks and steady work. He said the past few seasons have included plenty of highs and lows, but last year was the first time in a while that he felt like himself again.
“There’s been a lot of ups and downs in my career with injuries and kind of a lot of other things going on, but I think last year was finally where I felt like myself again and I was in a really good head space,” Valimaki said. “Just trying to play hockey, enjoy it.
There’s been times where you kind of forget the fun part and for me, at least, when you’re having fun and enjoying what you’re doing, I think that’s when you play your best. Just trying to carry the momentum now and ride that wave.”
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