Injury updates

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
The update from GM Brad Treliving on injured players Michael Stone and Juuso Valimaki: “not close”.

Says Stone is progressing, but emphasizes it’s a long way back.

Valimaki dealing with a high ankle sprain. Pinpoints later in January as a realistic return. #Flames


Will Nault @Fan960Nault
#Flames GM Brad Treliving on with us today. Quick injury updates on Michael Stone and Juuso Valimaki but both aren't close to returning at this time. Obviously with the blood clot, there's more grey area on Stone and a potential return to action.


Will Nault @Fan960Nault
Treliving on Valimaki: "He's dealing with a high-ankle sprain. It's not a good injury, it was a significant sprain. He's going to need some time yet, he's been progressing and doing all of his rehab. I would guess the third week of January might be a target." #Flames

[Fire]

It might be best to have Valimaki play the rest of the season in the AHL. He won't be 100% probably until next season. Kylington is doing a fine job in his spot.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Fire

It might be best to have Valimaki play the rest of the season in the AHL. He won't be 100% probably until next season. Kylington is doing a fine job in his spot.

I agree. Also, the left side is stacked, so if you feel like you might trade one (it’s likely Kylington moreso than Valimaki), best to showcase what Kylington can do in the NHL. Not that I want to trade Kylington, I can just see it happening.

[Gaskal]

The Flames also have 1 more season after this one before Kylington's ELC expires, as opposed to 2 more seasons of Valimaki's ELC.

[greentree]

You play the best player available. Play Valimaki when he returns from injury and is back to form. He is better than Kylington--no knock on the latter, he continues to impress. But Valimaki's body of work before the injury was *very* impressive.
No way he gets sent down to the AHL.

[topfiverecords]

It’s great to have a GM who can speak in full sentences compared to that guy up north.

[Jore]

i agree that valimaki might be better served spending the rest of the season in the ahl if other things stay the same. he and kylington are more or less interchangeable in their impact, and playing in the ahl would give valimaki lots of playing time to develop, especially in situations like pp1 and pk1 where he hasn't been getting time. can't hurt imo

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I agree. Also, the left side is stacked, so if you feel like you might trade one (it’s likely Kylington moreso than Valimaki), best to showcase what Kylington can do in the NHL. Not that I want to trade Kylington, I can just see it happening.

I can't see why they would trade up to aquire this kid, work it out so he can play in the AHL for 3 years right out of the draft, develop his game in the defensive zone and being smarter in the offensive zone just to trade him just when he's dipped his toe in.

The more prudent move is to trade Brodie for a top 6 forward in the offseason.

Offload Frolik as well to make room for a Tkachuk extension.

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Backlund-_______
Bennett-Jankowski-Neal
Dube-Ryan-Hathaway

Gio-Andersson
Hanifin-Hamonic
Valimaki-Kylington
Stone

Rittich

Or trade Stone and keep all 7 of our good defenceman for a while longer.

[activeStick]

If you haven't had a chance to listen to Tre's interview today, take a listen. Always gives good insight into his thought process and talks about his initial thoughts around a guy like Valimaki who he thought would need to play in the A until at least Christmas but Valimaki forced their hand so they made room for him to start the year. He talks about how impressive Kylington and Andersson have been in the NHL at their age. Also gives a lot of credit to the captain and how much of an influence he has been to the young defensemen on how to be prepared in the NHL. High praise as well for Jankowski, Hathaway and Rittich.

[Dion]

In years past injuries to Stone and Valimaki would have crippled our defence. This year with all the added depth on defence this team hasn't missed a beat.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by Dion

In years past injuries to Stone and Valimaki would have crippled our defence. This year with all the added depth on defence this team hasn't missed a beat.

Having a healthy Stone and Valimaki come the all-star break/trade deadline will be equivalent to the classic depth d pick-up you normally see going into the playoffs.

Once they return Flames are rolling with 8 NHL defenders and then Prout. That’s exactly what they’ll need for the second season.

I hope Stone and Valimaki recover and get 20 games in, but the way the defence is playing, there’s no rush.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

It’s great to have a GM who can speak in full sentences compared to that guy up north.

Well considering Northern Alberta has the highest rate for air pollutants in North America that probably effects their ability to understand what the g.m is saying so partial sentences are probably all he can muster and the fan base can grasp.

[Roof-Daddy]

Starting to worry about Jusso being a constant injury concern.

Only 56/72, 60/72 and 43/72 games the three seasons in junior, and now missing a bunch of time in first season as a pro.

[foshizzle11]

Nah, he is a young guy. These players put a lot of stress on growing bodies, give him a few more seasons of building a good foundation of strength. He will be fine and I bet won’t have any injuries issues. Now if he had any major knee injuries or hip issues or back, maybe be concerned but I don’t think there is a red flag yet.

A bad high ankle sprain can be worse than a break, I’ve had a couple. I’m no professional athlete so I bet the treatment is better than anything I received 15 years ago. I’m not concerned about him, just his conditioning and size. Since we have the depth, he doesn’t need to play until he is fully recovered. Love this team’s depth.

[Vansmack]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Starting to worry about Jusso being a constant injury concern.

Only 56/72, 60/72 and 43/72 games the three seasons in junior, and now missing a bunch of time in first season as a pro.

Don't forget, two of those years he played for finland in the world juniors which typically results.in missing a minimum of 10 games. So in 16/17 he essentially didn't miss a game, not so sure about the other two seasons.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Vansmack

Don't forget, two of those years he played for finland in the world juniors which typically results.in missing a minimum of 10 games. So in 16/17 he essentially didn't miss a game, not so sure about the other two seasons.

Forgot about that. Good call.

[Vinny01]

Does anyone think Kylington gets sent down once Valimaki is healthy or is he here for the rest of the season?

[Vansmack]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Does anyone think Kylington gets sent down once Valimaki is healthy or is he here for the rest of the season?

Unless Peters plans to regularly rotate OK and JV it doesn't make much sense to have him up with the big team until black aces time.

Also curious if Stone would ever crack the line up, if/when he returns from his blood clot issue.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Starting to worry about Jusso being a constant injury concern.

Only 56/72, 60/72 and 43/72 games the three seasons in junior, and now missing a bunch of time in first season as a pro.

I went to see what I could find regarding his injury history

14/15 - 53 GP for Jr A SM-Iiiga (10 playoff), 26 GP Finland U17/U18 (total 79 GP)
15/16 - 56 GP for Tri-City, 11 GP Finland U18 (total 66 GP)
16/17 - 64 GP for Tri-City (4 playoff), 21 GP Finalnd U20 (total 85 GP)
17/18 - 55 GP for Tri-City (12 playoff), 21 GP (total 76 GP)

I also found an old HF prospect thread from before he joined Tri-City. Other than one instance of a user asking if he was injured cause he wasn't playing that great (in that users opinion, others quickly refuted it) I couldn't find any instance of him being injured. It actually seems like his current injury is his first major injury that caused him to miss time.