Interesting how they downgraded Valimaki's Tier projection to just "to play NHL games".
Quote:
4. Juuso Valimaki, LHD, Calgary-NHL
Oct. 6, 1998 | 6-foot-2 | 204 pounds
Drafted: No. 16 in 2017
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Average
Puck Skills: Below-average
Hockey Sense: Average
Compete: Above-average
Valimaki was very good in Liiga last season. With the Flames he was fine but didn’t have a standout season. The skating and size combination stands out when you watch Valimaki. He can skate at an NHL level, helping him bring pucks up ice well. He can close gaps efficiently and has some physicality to go with his frame to make stops. The question on him for the NHL level has always been just how much offense he will have. I see hockey sense, he can make some plays and hit seams, but I wouldn’t call it the selling point of his game. For now I project him out as a regular third pair type but if the offense comes a little bit I could see him elevate to a second pair guy.
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If he pans out to be nothing more than a 3rd pairing defenseman that's probably going to be a disaster for the Flames as they had high hopes for this player.