Valimaki: ‘Stupid’ that he’s sitting

[getbak]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

That’s off. CF says different. He’s not getting sent though.

CapFriendly now says he's exempt.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by getbak

CapFriendly now says he's exempt.

Yup, and my apologies to whichever poster was insisting a while back that he was.

[kehatch]

If the Flames weren't winning this would be a bigger conversation. In theory I don't like Zadarov's play on the ice, I don't like his match with Gudbranson, and sitting a high potential guy like Valamki doesn't make a lot of sense.

But the Flames are rolling so the theory doesn't matter. Gudbranson is playing well, so you have to give some of the credit to his partner. The Flames have a young and relatively inexperienced D, and the big veteran already has his rookie to mentor. Zadarov kills penalties and I can't see Sutter trusting Valamaki with that.

Overall we have been able to run three pairings and they are doing well. It's a team game, and Sutter likes the make up as is. Tough to argue with the results.

With the travel behind us though you have to wonder why Valamaki isn't in the AHL. Having the security made sense when we lived in the East. But it would be nice to see him get some ice time.

[Goriders]

They are 2 points out of first in the league. If I’m coaching the team we’re not touching the lineup until someone gets injured or they go on an extended losing streak.

If they are 2 points out of last fill your boots with valimaki. He’s not playing for a reason. Sutter thinks he’s the 7th best D man.

That was Kylington last year. He flipped the script. Obviously valimaki isn’t doing that.

[Mr.Coffee]

There will eventually be an injury and we will need Valimaki.

[Knightslayer]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

There will eventually be an injury and we will need Valimaki.

Honestly even if there is an injury I wouldn't call him up. Let him get 25 minutes a night in the AHL instead of the 10-12 minutes he'll get in the NHL.

Him being waiver exempt is great news. He can actually develop now in the minors. I bet Flames leave him in California.

[djsFlames]

Seeing how the Flames are hardly utilizing him, I feel like Vali should've just been well seasoned in the AHL like Mangiapane/Dube and brought up full time when they were ready to give him a real chance at a regular job.

This is just stupid, and robbing the team of what a properly developed Juuso could be for them.

He earned his early look, but they've kept him on a short leash since coming back from injury. Does feel like the guy has been slighted a bit.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

This is a huge waste. I don't care where, but he needs to be playing. He's not some 35 year old that's lucky to get a shift. He's a young guy with a bright future. Eating popcorn at this point is not good for his development.

[djsFlames]

Stone is more than sufficient to take up the press box and do spotting duties. He's in a different stage of his career than Vali.

[boogerz]

Aside from the fact that Valimaki is too good for the AHL, another problem with sending him down is that there's a backlog of mediocre veteran defensemen at both levels of this organization.

The Heat's coaching staff are already sitting Solovyov and Kuznetsov for long periods of time. Valimaki going down to the Heat to play big minutes pushes both of them down to the #7 position instead of #6. When Kinvall returns from injury, that pushes them even further down the depth chart.

It must be incredibly frustrating to be a young and promising D prospect in the Flames org right now...NHL-ready prospects can't get playing time in the NHL, but the AHL-ready prospects can't get playing time in the AHL either

[bdubbs]

Sutter knows what he's doing. Valimaki hasn't shown he belongs in the top 6 D and so he sits. Kylington is proving that patience and hard work pay off, and is taking his opportunity and running with it. Valimaki is young and still has plenty of time.

[Vinny01]

Flames should absolutely send him down if he is exempt. Play him 25 min in all situations in Stockton and have him ready to get back in the lineup later this season

[Knightslayer]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Aside from the fact that Valimaki is too good for the AHL, another problem with sending him down is that there's a backlog of mediocre veteran defensemen at both levels of this organization.

The Heat's coaching staff are already sitting Solovyov and Kuznetsov for long periods of time. Valimaki going down to the Heat to play big minutes pushes both of them down to the #7 position instead of #6. When Kinvall returns from injury, that pushes them even further down the depth chart.

It must be incredibly frustrating to be a young and promising D prospect in the Flames org right now...NHL-ready prospects can't get playing time in the NHL, but the AHL-ready prospects can't get playing time in the AHL either

Valimaki is absolutely not too good for the AHL.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Aside from the fact that Valimaki is too good for the AHL, another problem with sending him down is that there's a backlog of mediocre veteran defensemen at both levels of this organization.

The Heat's coaching staff are already sitting Solovyov and Kuznetsov for long periods of time. Valimaki going down to the Heat to play big minutes pushes both of them down to the #7 position instead of #6. When Kinvall returns from injury, that pushes them even further down the depth chart.

It must be incredibly frustrating to be a young and promising D prospect in the Flames org right now...NHL-ready prospects can't get playing time in the NHL, but the AHL-ready prospects can't get playing time in the AHL either

What?

He is a list of defensemen over 26 with the Flames:

Tanev 31
Gudbranson 29
Stone 31

Tanev is not mediocre. Full stop.

Stone is the perfect popcorn muncher and is not in anyone's way.

Gudbranson is a solid NHL defenseman who is better than any of the players you seem to be concerned about.

The Flames organization is full of young defensemen, and they look to be doing a hell of a job of developing them - you know, being the best defensive team in the NHL and all, despite having a very young D core.

But sure, Kinvall might not be able to crack the AHL lineup, so the organization is a failure. Sure.

[Hack&Lube]

If you have read the Canucks forums, for years they have said that Tanev's issue is he gets injured every year and only plays 60 games. There will be opportunities hopefully. I always felt like Kylington and Valimaki were our future and I don't like him sitting either but it is what it is.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

If you have read the Canucks forums, for years they have said that Tanev's issue is he gets injured every year and only plays 60 games.

Defensemen on teams that dominate possession are going to have fewer injuries from blocked shots or ugly hits than defensemen on the Vancouver Canucks. I'm guessing Tanev's shotblock rates are way down.

[Strange Brew]

As long as there is a plan for him I'm satisfied. Right now he is on pace for about 30 games played which isn't ideal for a young player so I guess we'll see.

[BurningSteel]

Another opportunity for OK to show that leadership. He can tell Valamaki how long it took him to crack the lineup full time,

[Knightslayer]

I really believe Flames didn't know he was waiver exempt.
You signed Michael Stone so it makes no sense to have Valimaki sitting in the press box when he could be playing meaningful games in the AHL.

I hope a reporter asks Treliving because I don't think you have 2 defenceman sitting for the heck of it especially one that is young and hasn't played a lot last 3 years.

Pretty troubling if that is true.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

This is a huge waste. I don't care where, but he needs to be playing. He's not some 35 year old that's lucky to get a shift. He's a young guy with a bright future. Eating popcorn at this point is not good for his development.

It's bad management and not by the coach, who is trying to ice the best lineup.

Treliving should have dealt with this weeks ago. For a top prospect who already missed an entire year, it should be even more front and center. Strange handling that will all but seal his fate if he doesn't get back into form with serious playing time soon.