Carolina is adding blue line depth.
Valimaki has not suited up for Utah this season, having torn his ACL last February. The 27-year-old was assigned to Utah’s AHL affiliate Tuscon in late December after clearing waivers, putting up a goal and two assists in three games.
Drafted 16th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2017, Valimaki played just 82 games over three seasons for Calgary before being waived in 2022.
Valimaki has played 271 NHL games, between the Flames and the Arizona Coyotes/Utah Mammoth. His best season came in 2022-23, when he put up 34 points in 78 games for the Coyotes.
A native of Finland, Valimaki has played international hockey in the world junior championships, and more recently at the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off last year.
The Hurricanes (25-14-3) are first in the Metropolitan Division, and are set to host the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
