NHL Investigating After Juuso Valimaki Left Untreated at ER for Awful Injury

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TJ Tucker
December 15, 2023 (3:13 PM)

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If you're expecting players to risk serious injury each time they step in the ice, there needs to be a clear plan in place to treat them when it happens. The NHL and NHLPA are both investigating a recent incident where a player went untreated at hospital for hours after taking a slap shot to the chin.

With the Arizona Coyotes playing in Dallas earlier this week, Juuso Valimaki was taken to hospital after taking a 93 Mph shot to the face in a game against the Stars. According to a report from Daily Faceoff, Valimaki and his wife were at the hospital for hours without seeing a doctor.

"Sources told Daily Faceoff that Valimaki was dropped off in the emergency room, like any other patient, and left to advocate for his own care with his wife � who happened to be in Dallas at the road game � and a Coyotes team employee. After initial observation, the overworked Dallas hospital staff told Valimaki to find a local hotel and come back in the morning, that their attention was turned toward more critical incoming trauma patients such as gunshot victims." - Daily Faceoff

The report states Valimaki was left "unable to function." When he finally did see a doctor, he was told that if he had gone to a hotel and slept like he was told, he could have "asphyxiated on his own blood."

"It wasn't until five hours later, and only after the NHLPA stepped in to assist, that Valimaki received 55 stitches in his mouth to close the wound, which included a fractured bone and the loss of three teeth." - Daily Faceoff

This is an absolutely terrible look for the NHL. I can't imagine anything like this happening in leagues like the NFL, NBA, or MLB. The NHL and NHLPA confirmed to Daily Faceoff that the incident is being investigated.