Recently Juuso Vailmaki suffered a major injury during a game against the Dallas Stars. The NHL is investigating the handling of his medical emergency by a Dallas Emergency Room. <h2>NHL Investigates The Handling Of A Player's Injury In The ER</h2> Recently during a game in Dallas Juuso Valimaki suffered a major facial injury. Valimaki and a Coyotes representative were taken to the Emergency Room where they were left on their own. Valimaki was pushed aside for other patients. <q>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</q> While the NHL is not guaranteed preferential treatment his condition should have been given more attention. Valimaki went to a separate doctor and was told he needed immediate care. <h2>NHLPA Steps In To Get Valimaki Treated</h2> Finally, after 5 hours the NHLPA was able to step in. They got Valimaki the treatment he needed. He was also told he would likely not have made it if he followed the Emergency Room's suggestions. <q>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</q> This incident is embarrassing both for the NHL and the original hospital where Valimaki was seen. The NHL is investigating its protocols to see if they can avoid an incident like this next time a medical emergency necessitates a hospital visit.