Just posting this Athletic article (paywall, sorry) from 2017 about what prospect watcher Scott Wheeler sees in Valimaki. I know that was a long time ago, but I think it's a good reminder not to give up on the raw talent without giving him a full chance.
https://theathletic.com/141653/2017/...-a-heavy-shot/
Quote:
I have often written of Juuso Valimaki as the defender who can do everything.
He’s built for the NHL, he’s supremely athletic, he’s a strong skater for his size, he’s physical, he’s excellent in man-on-man situations defensively without taking a ton of penalties, he creates clean exits as a handler and passer and he’s poised under pressure. All of these traits made him one of the four highest-ranked defencemen on my list ahead of the 2017 draft and are why he was a steal for the Flames when he fell to the 16th overall pick.
But there’s one on-ice attribute in particular that pushed Valimaki over the edge and made him the highest-scoring under-19 defenceman in the WHL last season (19 goals) and its lone point-per-game draft-eligible option: his shot, the threat it poses and the way it opens up the rest of his game to allow him to dictate play offensively.
What makes Valimaki such a dangerous shot presence from the backend is unique. He’s got the heavy slapshot. Every high-end defenceman at the junior level who is primarily a shooter in the offensive zone should have one because it forces defenders to front their goalie and take away lanes in an attempt to force a pass.
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