Welcome to another edition of Last Word On Hockey’s “Puck Drop Preview.” Today, our preview will have some historic significance to it. For the first time since 2011, a franchise will take the ice following relocation. The state of Utah is home to an NHL team. For the first time ever, we present to you a “Puck Drop Preview” on the Utah Hockey Club.
Puck Drop Preview: 2024-25 Utah Hockey Club
2023-24 Season: The Desert Finale
The 2023-24 season was the final season in which the franchise was known as the Arizona Coyotes. Relocation was announced near the end of the season. The franchise became the first to relocate since the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Canada in 2011.
On the ice, the franchise finished the season with a 36-41-5 record. The team recorded 77 points. Star forward Clayton Keller led the team with 33 goals and 76 points. Between the pipes, Connor Ingram led the team with 23 wins.
First Off-Season in Utah
After some rough final years in Arizona, Utah looked to generate excitement for their new fans. The team drafted two-way forward Tij Iginla, son of Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla. In addition, they also retained some key players. They signed defenceman Juuso Valimaki and Sean Durzi to extensions. Durzi had the best season of his career. Valimaki, on the other hand, missed some time in 2023, but is just a season removed from a 34-point campaign. Most importantly, these moves help establish the team’s defensive core.
Speaking of defensive core, Utah turned heads by bringing in a two-time Stanley Cup champion. The champion, Mikhail Sergachev, was acquired in a trade. For perhaps the first time since the Oliver Ekman-Larsson years, the franchise has acquired a true number one defenceman. Three-time champion Ian Cole also joined the team on defence. The off-season showed that Utah means business heading into their first season.
Projected Lineup
Forwards
Keller-Hayton-Schmaltz
Crouse-Cooley-Guenther
Maccelli-Bjugstad-Doan
Stenlund-McBain-Kerfoot
Top Six
Utah’s top line consist of offensive ability and some questions. Clayton Keller is the undisputed star of the team. The Missouri native has topped 75 points each of the last two seasons. At 26-years old, Keller is in the prime of his career. Alongside him is Barret Hayton, who has played more tan 60 games just once in his career. The first round pick in 2018 has offensive potential, but has been considered a disappointment so far in his career. However, his 2022-23 shows there is a scorer inside his 207-pound body. The final member of the line, Nick Schmaltz, is coming off of three-straight 20-goal seasons. There is potential for this line, but a lot weighs on Hayton being his 2022-23 self.
Sophmore Logan Cooley scored 20 goals last year and will look to build on that. Lawson Crouse is coming off three-straight 20-goal seasons, showing he has settled into a reliable-scoring role in the NHL. The third member of the line, Dylan Guenther, improved in his second season, scoring 18 goals in 45 games. However, the question is whether or not Guenther continues to improve in his third season. Like the first line, there is a lot of offensive potential. However, there are more question marks on the second line.
Bottom Six
Centre Nick Bjugstad is coming off his best season since 2013-14. Perhaps even more importantly, Bjugstad carries 12 years of experience, something a rising team like Utah needs greatly. This will be beneficial for Matias Maccelli, who enters his third season looking to continue to grow as NHL player. The most interesting player of the third line is Josh Doan. Why? Well, he is the son of Coyotes legend and former captain, Shane Doan. Doan played a part in many big moments in franchise history. It is fitting that his son will have a role with the team in their first season in Utah. Josh has just played in 11 NHL games, so there is still much to be determined for the legacy.
Alex Kerfoot is coming off a strong first season in Arizona, playing in all 82 games. The veteran will be joined by Jack McBain, entering his fourth NHL season, and Kevin Stenlund, who is coming off a Stanley Cup championship last year. This line provides good depth to the lineup while also creating opportunities to McBain to grow as an NHL player. Furthermore, Kerfoot and Stenlund can be placed in other roles depending on Utah’s needs in any given situation.
Defence
Sergachev-Durzi
Valimaki-Marino
Cole-Kesselring
Top Four
Sergachev has consistently recorded point totals in the thirties and forties, but did have a 64-point season in 2022-23. Sergachev will help create additional offensive chances while also effectively defending the Utah net. His projected partner, Sean Durzi, is coming off two 30-40 point seasons. It appears the top pairing will have the potential to be a needle mover for the offence.
The second pairing will future Juuso Valimaki. Entering year six, the Finnish defenceman has a 34-point season on his resume. However, his next highest point total is 17. Which Valimaki is the real Valimaki? Conversely, John Marino has been more consistent in his point totals, but appears to have his upside on the defensive side of things. Valimaki does posses defensive capabilites, so this line could be a strong shutdown pair for Utah.
Bottom Pair
Michael Kesselring only has 74 games of NHL experience heading into the season. Ian Cole will serve as his mentor, as well as add depth to the bottom pair. It will be interesting to see how Cole helps Kesselring mature as an NHL player. In addition to serving as a mentor, Cole an also play up on higher lines if needed. A three-time Stanley Cup champion, Cole’s experience will serve as a big asset for Utah.
Goalies
Connor Ingram
In addition to leading the team in wins, Ingram also won the Bill Masterson Trophy. Ingram received the award for his qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. The 27-year old enters his second season as a starter looking to build off a solid season last year.
Backing up Ingram will be Karel Vejmelka. Vejmelka has three years of NHL experience. However, he has not posted a save percentage under .900. A part of that can be contributed to the team’s poor play in front of him. With an improved defence, Vejmelka’s numbers should improve. However, until they do improve, Vejmelka is a question mark on the team.
Players To Watch
Mikhail Sergachev
Utah’s defence will look completely different with Sergachev leading the way. However, while the defence should be better, there is a question mark that surrounds Sergachev. He was not the main defenceman in Tampa Bay. That was Victor Hedman. How does Sergachev perform as the main guy on defence? Can he perform to the expectations as a number one, or will there feel like something is missing on the defensive core.
Clayton Keller
Keller will be playing in another market for the first time in his career. The Utah market will be different from the Arizona market. With the exception of the 2020 playoffs, Keller was not part of a winning team in Arizona. Heading to Utah does not suddenly make the team contenders, but there will be a different vibe in the arena each night. Not to mention the team will actually be playing in a traditional NHL arena in Utah. Point being, how does Keller respond to the new market? Does he continue to be the star he was in the desert, or is there a learning curve as he adjusts? The forward will have all the eyes in Utah looking at him as the face of their new franchise. Is Keller ready to perform?
2024-25 Utah Predictions
The roster is improved. The fans in Utah will have fun watching their new team, even if the first goal they scored was an own goal. You can take the team out of Arizona, but it might take a bit to take Arizona out of the team.
It is really tempting to try and say Utah will be a dark horse candidate for the playoffs. However, there are more question marks than there are certainties. There are multiple young players who have either not broke out yet or have not shown which version of themselves is the real one. Furthermore, Utah will be playing in a tough Central Division that is home to three legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. Expect Utah to play competitive hockey this year. In addition, expect them to make discoveries about what their team needs moving forward. 2024-25 may not be their year, but 2025-26 might be.
Main Photo: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
