VALIMAKI ASSIGNED TO ILVES

On Tuesday, the Flames announced defenceman Juuso Valmaki will be assigned to Ilves in Finland's Liiga league.
The 21-year-old missed the 2019-20 season after suffering a torn ACL, which required surgery, in off-season training in the summer of 2019. His last game came on Apr. 19, 2019 during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Valimaki has spent time with the Ilves organization during his junior career. Prior to heading to the WHL in 2015-16, he played on the Ilves U16, U18 and U20 squads. This assignment will mark the first time he will play pro in Finland.
The defenceman, who was drafted by the Flames 16th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft, has played in 24 regular season games with Calgary. During that stint, he has one goal and three points. He has also spent time in the AHL, amassing 14 points in 20 games with the Stockton Heat in 2018-19.
Valimaki is the third player to be assigned to a European club this month. On Sept. 22, Eetu Tuulola was assigned to Västerviks IK of Sweden's HockeyAllsvenskan league and on Sept. 28, Dmitry Zavgorodniy was assigned to SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL.