The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have launched a joint investigation into a possible gap in protocol following the injury of Arizona Coyotes’ defenseman Juuso Valimaki on Nov. 14 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
During the Stars’ 4-3 overtime win over the Coyotes last month, Valimaki took a direct slap shot from Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpää to the face at the start of the third period. The 25-year-old Coyote was immediately rushed off the ice, bleeding from his mouth, and never returned.
Video footage showed Valimaki enter the care of Dallas Fire-Rescue as he was escorted off the ice. A report by Frank Seravalli from Daily Faceoff said Valimaki was seen by Stars doctors before he was taken by ambulance to a Dallas hospital. The report states he received 55 stitches, fractured a bone and lost three teeth as a result of the injury, requiring surgery, but was left untreated by an overwhelmed Dallas hospital for hours until his wife involved the NHLPA.
It is not clear whether the Stars or Coyotes violated medical protocols. Full protocols required by the league and players’ association are not publicly available. However, most NHL teams do not travel with their own physicians and rely on road teams’ doctors — the Stars’ doctors in this case.
The NHLPA and Stars confirmed the investigation to The Dallas Morning News. The Stars responded with a statement:
“The Dallas Stars are aware of the incident involving Arizona Coyotes defenseman Juuso Valimaki and are fully cooperating with the NHL and the NHLPA in their investigation. The team will have no further comments at this time.”
The Arizona Coyotes declined to comment.
Valimaki returned to the ice two weeks later for Arizona’s game against the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 30. In his fifth NHL season, he has recorded six assists for six points in 22 games played. He has worn facial protective gear since.
The Stars will play Arizona twice more this season — at home on March 20 and away March 24.
Twitter: @Lassimak
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