[sureLoss]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...return-summer/

Even if he’s given a clean bill of health by doctors following 10 months of rehab on his surgically repaired knee, his participation could come at a steep price.

Should the Flames’ prized 21-year-old defenceman step onto the ice for a single play-in or playoff game, it could ultimately cost the club the services of its captain, Mark Giordano.

Here’s how:

The Seattle expansion draft goes next summer and the Flames will be allowed to protect three defencemen, seven forwards and a netminder.

At this point Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson are locks at the back end, given their age, skill and long-term deals.

Valimaki would be a cinch too, but by missing an entire season this year he wouldn’t have enough NHL service to be eligible. Thus, he wouldn’t have to be protected, and the Flames could theoretically protect Giordano instead.

“It’s pretty cut and dried that the eligibility rules on the expansion draft say that to be eligible you have to have played three years pro,” said GM Brad Treliving. “Basically, if you play an NHL game that counts as a year pro. By the letter of the law if he doesn’t play a year of pro – and not that we’re sitting him out – he doesn’t qualify for the expansion.”

Valimaki’s rehab was progressing nicely up until the season was paused, and he was even allowed to continue skating under the guidance of team medical staff for a few weeks after NHL play stopped. He returned to Finland soon thereafter, and although he’s since returned to skate in groups of 12 with teammates at the Saddledome, his participation to date has been informal, meaning he has yet to undergo official testing by team doctors.

“The time frame is almost a year for this injury – 10 months if all goes well, so you can be healed, but you haven’t played in a year,” said Treliving, noting the team’s first-round pick in 2017 had ACL surgery late last August.

“I don’t know if he’s healthy [enough] to play.”