The NHL’s newest hockey venture, in Utah, may not have a nickname picked out, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t busy already shuffling through hockey operations. The NHL in Utah can’t afford to continue the perpetual rebuild that plagued the now inactive Arizona Coyotes virtually their entire existence. They need to be good and they need to be good now. Thankfully for Bill Armstrong and his staff, the Utah NHL team has enough cap space and draft picks to build a contender through trades and free agency alone. Today, we’ll focus on the latter: free agency. We’ll discuss trades at a later date.
Look for the New Utah NHL Team to Make a Big Splash in Free Agency
Making an early splash is the most important thing a team can do upon arriving to a new market. That’s what the NHL has learned in the last decade, with the Vegas Golden Knights and the Seattle Kraken having opposite experiences and, in turn, having opposite fan reactions. A trip to the Stanley Cup Final in the Golden Knights’ first season, paired with a Stanley Cup Championship in their sixth season, created dedicated hockey fans in a place where ice previously existed only in sculptures and drinks. The Kraken, on the other hand, have struggled to string together enough wins to make any real impact other than a trip to the second round of the playoffs in 2023. Many Seattle sports fans have responded by turning their attention to the MLB’s Mariners and NFL’s Seahawks instead.
Therefore, it is important for the Utah NHL team to start with a bang and one way is free agency. Utah’s biggest hole is defence. In fact, they have zero defencemen signed to NHL contracts. Don’t be surprised to see them target a number of unrestricted free agent (UFA) defenders this summer. With that, here are six targets for Utah to consider heading into free agency, designed to turn them from draft lottery contenders to Stanley Cup contenders within their first few seasons.
The Big Money Target in Free Agency for the Utah NHL Team: Steven Stamkos
What better way to make a splash than bringing in the top free agent on the market? If Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning decide to part ways, Stamkos should be Armstrong’s first call. Utah has plenty of middle-six forwards and plenty of young guns. They need veteran leadership, preferably in the form of a legitimate first-liner. Stamkos is that guy. Stamkos would have the chance to be Utah’s version of Mark Giordano in that his extensive experience might lead the team to name him captain from the get-go. He would bring the type of leadership and winning pedigree that a young team needs.
Alec Martinez
Speaking of veteran leadership and winning pedigree, those are two of Alec Martinez’ most valuable traits. Oh, and he also plays defence — something Utah desperately needs. If the speculation is true that the Noah Hanifin acquisition leaves no room for Martinez in the Golden Knights’ lineup, Martinez will be looking for a new home this summer. If Utah can offer him some term, he might see Utah as a good place to conclude his career.
Matt Roy
Utah management seems to highly value big, physical players. This is evident in their prospect pool, where almost everyone is between 6’2” and 6’7”. Matt Roy fits that bill and adds plenty of veteran leadership. Roy has spent the last six seasons under Drew Doughty’s wing, learning from one of the best defencemen of this generation. He might be ready to spread his wings and take that Doughty type of leadership role with an up-and-coming team.
Tyson Barrie
Things didn’t work out as well as well as Tyson Barrie or the Nashville Predators had hoped when he went there at the 2023 NHL trade deadline. He was a healthy scratch for half the season and he only played one playoff game this year. Needless to say, Barrie needs another fresh start. Utah could be a solid fit for Barrie. He’s a guy who thrives as the top power play quarterback, which is why he saw success in Edmonton and Colorado. As Utah has no NHL defencemen, that PP1 spot is wide open. Barrie might be able to take that spot. A low-term, low-AAV deal will likely be on the table, due to Barrie’s low recent performance. In turn, it’s a low-risk signing for a low-standing team with high expectations.
Erik Johnson
If you’re tired of the words “veteran leadership” already, sorry. Here it is again: Erik Johnson would provide veteran leadership through free agency to the Utah NHL team that desperately needs it. He’d be playing in the same mountain range and the same division where he spent most of his career. Johnson’s play has certainly declined, but he’s only two seasons removed from winning the Stanley Cup as a top-four defenceman. If Utah can acquire guys to fill the top few D spots, Johnson would be a reliable option to round out the bottom pairing.
Trevor Lewis
As the only active NHL player born in Utah, it only makes perfect sense for Trevor Lewis to land there. His career will likely conclude this year and what better place to play than his home town? That’s where he spent part of the 2012-13 lockout season and it would make sense for him to go there now. Lewis played every regular season and playoff game for the Los Angeles Kings this year, racking up eight goals and 16 points. He played a solid defensive role and exemplified — you guessed it — veteran leadership. He would do the same thing in Utah and could be an asset to the team in terms of helping guys get acclimated in the area. The only downside for Lewis would be that with a league-minimum deal and all his family and friends nearby, he might end up playing this season for free.
Main photo credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
