[Signing] Coyotes sign Valimaki to 1 year contract extension

[SuperMatt18]

And I think most people have stated that TBH - even Scorp has said as much multiple times in this thread including on this page. Doesn't change that he's been good for Arizona.

To me the question remains:

1) Why was he so poor in the AHL and in training camp? Some of that is on the player but some of that is on the team.

2) Why did it take him being put on waivers and going to Arizona for him to realize his potential?

This was a top 20 pick, that looked great in junior, in his play in Finland, and in his initial stint in the NHL. Then over the last 18 months he really just couldn't find his game in the NHL under Sutter or in the AHL under Love.

Opportunity and confidence are a funny thing though and really good for him for taking off with that opportunity (and no pressure) in Arizona.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

And I think most people have stated that TBH - even Scorp has said as much multiple times in this thread including on this page. Doesn't change that he's been good for Arizona.

To me the question remains:

1) Why was he so poor in the AHL and in training camp? Some of that is on the player but some of that is on the team.

2) Why did it take him being put on waivers and going to Arizona for him to realize his potential?

This was a top 20 pick, that looked great in junior, in his play in Finland, and in his initial stint in the NHL. Then over the last 18 months he really just couldn't find his game in the NHL under Sutter or in the AHL under Love.

Opportunity and confidence are a funny thing though and really good for him for taking off with that opportunity (and no pressure) in Arizona.

I'm speaking to the "Sutter didn't like him" crowd. I know it's not everyone.

I think Valimaki is very hard on himself. He wants it badly. I don't know if he turns it around anywhere but the situation where he found himself in Arizona.

And I think you're missing the injury angle. That amps up the confidence and pressure because of missed time.

[TheIronMaiden]

Some players thrive in markets where there is no pressure, and struggle is heated markets. You'd be daft to think that the Calgary been anything but a pressure cooker since the second round last year. The Flames needs players with gumption, not players who need to eat pray love before they are ready to contribute.

[PepsiFree]

I don’t see how Valimaki playing poorly in the AHL is “on the team.”

Sometimes to be able to play well in pressure situations, you have to learn in no-pressure situations. When you go through waivers and get claimed you’re no longer “1st round pick” you’re just another guy, and going to a team competing for absolutely nothing to play on the third pair is probably the lowest pressure situation possible, and it allowed him to figure it out. He didn’t have to earn a call up, he’s not on a team pushing for playoffs, his injuries are behind him, he can just play his game without added pressure.

He’s doing well. I don’t see why it always has to be more complicated than that, or the two groups of people here seem to be “this is somehow the Flames’ fault” or “Valimaki isn’t actually good at all.”

Not everyone works out on every team in every situation. That doesn’t mean there is something wrong, it’s just reality.

[Saqe]

I think it was time to move on from Valimaki especially with Sutter as HC. He didn't like Juuso last year either and I remember some comments where Juuso said pretty much the same about Sutter. He needed a fresh start.

The only thing I guess you can criticize is that the situation had gone on for so long and so sideways that you end up letting a young, cost controlled player go for nothing, especially one with Juuso's upside.

[traptor]

It's been said that Valimaki is a sensitive oositive guy even by himself, "I'm a guy that feeds off positive energy instead if negative one".

Sutter is the farthest coach from that. Just listen to Commodores story in intermission, where he was bleeding from a broken nose and sutter called him a bitch. Sutter breaks players down, hopping that elicits a reaction in which they want to prove him wrong. Not going to work for alot of new age players.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Jordan!

The Flames have.. *checks notes* 6 more wins than the Coyotes..

17 more points...basically the same record lol MI rite

[All In Good Time]

perhaps I'm just too old
but
I don't have a lot of time for the "I didn't play professional hockey very well because (X) didn't like me" take
There was a time when professional athletes took pride in their strength and their ability to overcome adversity. its a profession not a participation ribbon pastime
The fact is, it didn't work here, it didn't look like it was going to work here and he moved on and is doing well in a different situation.
Do I think the Coyotes are going to be a contender soon? no
Is he top 4 here? I don't think so
is he top 4 on a true contender? I highly doubt it
will he grow into that? perhaps

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Lots of players look better on a crap team or at the end of a season with no pressure and no one taking them seriously. When you're on a terrible team the coach has to play someone, 5-5, PP, PK, so a player with all kinds of warts can find themselves feeling pretty good. We forget the internal competition is Bobby the equipment guy and the management genuinely wants to lose. With expansion and tanking, people can make a whole career of that. Norm MacIver syndrome. The Flames had dozens of those guys in the 90s.

[Paulie Walnuts]

I mean this is a big fuss over a waiver wire pick up who was a 1st round pick. Lots of these guys go around the league.

Its just big news because someone comes in a calls him a #1 and top 4 on any team when he clearly isn't. He couldn't beat out Kylington last season and sucked in the minors.

People love it when a prospect has half a great season that was a Flame to say see I told you see Brad sucks at everything.

I wonder what Carolina fans feel watching Lindholm tear it up and Hanifin become a consistent top 4 player?

Some guys just don't work out.

[Badgers Nose]

You guys have really CSIed the #### out of Flames bumbling a third pair defence man.

Sucks we wasted a 1st on him, but he has shown he is a third pair D on a good team, at best.

In a low pressure dumpster team he gets minutes and puts up points. So what? He didnt do that when he was here and had plenty of chances.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by dino7c

17 more points...basically the same record lol MI rite

The joke was so good you had to repeat it?

Originally Posted by dino7c

15 points

And like I said earlier switch goalies and it's probably 25

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I don’t see how Valimaki playing poorly in the AHL is “on the team.”

Sometimes to be able to play well in pressure situations, you have to learn in no-pressure situations. When you go through waivers and get claimed you’re no longer “1st round pick” you’re just another guy, and going to a team competing for absolutely nothing to play on the third pair is probably the lowest pressure situation possible, and it allowed him to figure it out. He didn’t have to earn a call up, he’s not on a team pushing for playoffs, his injuries are behind him, he can just play his game without added pressure.

He’s doing well. I don’t see why it always has to be more complicated than that, or the two groups of people here seem to be “this is somehow the Flames’ fault” or “Valimaki isn’t actually good at all.”

Not everyone works out on every team in every situation. That doesn’t mean there is something wrong, it’s just reality.

While I agree with most of this, I hope the Flames are not just shrugging their shoulders and moving on with their lives.

This was a high draft pick that the Flames failed to develop properly. I would hope that there is an evaluation being done as to what exactly happened in the Flames inability to develop a player, especially since he is having success elsewhere in a new opportunity.

As for Valimaki himself, he certainly should own some of his struggles here in Calgary. I won't put all the blame on the org, they've developed a number of good prospects, so if Valimaki felt he wasn't working out here I hope he took some time to reflect on that when he was claimed by AZ.

Hell, maybe some of the hard lessons learned here are why hes enjoying his improved play now. Thats a hard one to know for sure.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

While I agree with most of this, I hope the Flames are not just shrugging their shoulders and moving on with their lives.

This was a high draft pick that the Flames failed to develop properly. I would hope that there is an evaluation being done as to what exactly happened in the Flames inability to develop a player, especially since he is having success elsewhere in a new opportunity.

As for Valimaki himself, he certainly should own some of his struggles here in Calgary. I won't put all the blame on the org, they've developed a number of good prospects, so if Valimaki felt he wasn't working out here I hope he took some time to reflect on that when he was claimed by AZ.

Hell, maybe some of the hard lessons learned here are why hes enjoying his improved play now. Thats a hard one to know for sure.

You are entering that with an assumption by stating that the Flames failed to develop him properly.
So there is an assumption that someone is at fault.
I frankly believe the biggest thing went wrong were his injuries. That caused him to lose significant time during critical development years, and seemed to impact his overall mobility and agility.

Sometimes stuff happens.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

You are entering that with an assumption by stating that the Flames failed to develop him properly.
So there is an assumption that someone is at fault.
I frankly believe the biggest thing went wrong were his injuries. That caused him to lose significant time during critical development years, and seemed to impact his overall mobility and agility.

Sometimes stuff happens.

And sometimes kids just take time to “get it”. Think of all the 22 year olds you know.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

You are entering that with an assumption by stating that the Flames failed to develop him properly.
So there is an assumption that someone is at fault.
I frankly believe the biggest thing went wrong were his injuries. That caused him to lose significant time during critical development years, and seemed to impact his overall mobility and agility.

Sometimes stuff happens.

Ok, so what happened? Shouldn't they try to figure that out?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

Ok, so what happened? Shouldn't they try to figure that out?

Nothing has really happened...he is putting up some points playing 20 mins a game on a team playing fire wagon hockey and wanting to lose. Still poor defensively.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

Ok, so what happened? Shouldn't they try to figure that out?

An unfortunate injury, got passed on the depth chart, didn’t do a lot with his opportunities and ended up in a spot that severely limited his options here.

[Kipper_3434]

Jfc this thread being in the top 5 for the past week has finally pushed me over the ledge. Know why Valimaki is playing top pairing minutes right now? The ONLY reason? Because Arizona sold everyone else. That's it. They're so far in the tank they can see the bottom. Valimaki is unremarkable. Know who else looked like a decent top 4 defenceman in Arizona? Michael frigging Stone. Big woop, please let it go.

[GreenLantern2814]

They valued the wrong Maki.