Utah Hockey Club goaltender Connor Ingram re-entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program on Sunday, saying he has not been himself since his mother died of breast cancer in early December. Ingram posted a message on social media explaining his thought process a half-hour after the league and players’ union announced that he would be away from the team indefinitely while he receives care. “At this point in my life, I need to put my health first and (to) take the proper time I need away to come back at 100%,” Ingram said. “Though many view the program as a resource for substance abuse, I want to recognize all that they do. I am once again privileged to have access to their network of world class health professionals to hopefully avoid long-term negative effects of putting your health second. With the program’s assistance, I look forward to getting the medical help I need and returning to a happy and healthy life.” Ingram, who turns 28 on March 31, spent time in the program in 2021 when he was in the Nashville Predators’ organization. He has since spoken publicly about his undiagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder that led him to drink to cope with

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Juuso Valimaki is expected to be out 8-9 months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL, Utah Hockey Club general manager Bill Armstrong said Monday. The 26-year-old defenseman from Finland recently cleared waivers and was assigned to the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League. He played one game for them on Feb. 28. Valimaki’s extended absence means he will miss training camp and at least the first month of the 2025-26 NHL season. He has one more year left on his contract at a salary of $2 million. A first-round pick by Calgary in 2017, Valimaki played 84 regular-season and playoff games for the Flames before getting claimed off waivers by the Arizona Coyotes in October 2022. He re-signed with Utah in June after the club moved from the Phoenix area to Salt Lake City and averaged 16 minutes over 43 games this season before being sent to the minors. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Source link