Season Preview – 26. Utah Hockey Club

The Utah Hockey Club is starting their first season in the NHL after relocating from the Arizona Coyotes. Entering an inaugural season is exciting for any fan base, especially when the team already has a stockpile of young talent and an owner who is willing to spend. While the team still has many holes around the roster, the building blocks are in place and there is a lot of potential surrounding this team in the near future. This year might not provide the immediate results new owner Ryan Smith will be hoping for, yet with the right development and market adjustment, Utah HC can quickly rise to prominence.

Season Expectations

With a new market for a recently hurting franchise and a ton of excitement surrounding the team, there should be realistic expectations when it comes to this season. The roster is made up with a healthy balance of veterans and younger players looking to establish themselves as elite talents. Even though there was a slight acceleration this offseason to navigate out of the rebuild, it still won’t be enough for the Utah HC to make a significant impact in the standings.

There will be a hyper focus on a newly minted defensive core led by Mikhail Sergachev, and also seeing what steps Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther and Josh Doan can achieve in their development. General Manager Bill Armstrong will also have decisions to make regarding expiring contracts, and the possibility of packaging the plethora of young assets they have for upgrades at positions the team is lacking. This season may be lackluster as far as playoffs is concerned, but the hope and anticipation of the future will only grow stronger.

Projected Lines

Utah HC head coach André Tourigny is known as a developmental coach with the ability to hold players accountable and assist in identifying their natural strengths. A perfect fit for where Utah currently stands. While there might be some more growing pains this year as far as increased roles and new defensive pairings throughout the season, there is plenty of aspects to admire for potential lineups.

To clarify, these line projections are meant to only predict the start of the season. With so many potential combinations possible, its almost certain that there are tweaks and additions of new faces by the end of the year. Expect the season to start as such:

Clayton Keller – Barrett Hayton – Nick Schmaltz
Lawson Crouse – Logan Cooley – Dylan Guenther
Matias Maccelli – Jack McBain – Josh Doan
Alex Kerfoot – Nick Bjugstad – Kevin Stenlund

Mikhail Sergachev – Sean Durzi
Juuso Valimaki – John Marino
Ian Cole – Michael Kesselring

Connor Ingram
Karel Vejmelka

Scratches: Michael Carcone, Liam O’Brien, Vladislav Kolyachonok

Line 1
This line was together for only 27 games last season but were able to produce a positive net 2.3 xGoals For in a limited time. It may not be an overwhelming case of chemistry, but having Hayton play top center position will help insulate the tougher matchups for Cooley. Keller has shown he is an elite talent and will look to continue to add to his reputation. Schmaltz can play both ends of the ice and will bring some stability and scoring to what looks to be Utah’s first line.

Line 2
Cooley looks to be a franchise first line center, but will still need time to develop into that role before taking the reins. Having him center the second line allows HC Tourigny to deploy him in favourable matchups and instill good habits into his game. Guenther found a lot of chemistry last season on any line combinations where Cooley was playing, they will look to keep that momentum into this season. Crouse is the definition of a veteran leader on a young kids line. He has the ability to finish and drive the net while providing a calming presence to the overall team.

Line 3
Last year, this line was able to combine for a positive net 2.8 xGoals For, mind you only playing 10 games together. We will see if last years success was a flash in the pan or the real deal. Maccelli will provide speed and a playmaking ability to add offense. There is a lot of intrigue surrounding Doan and his development trajectory, though he has shown he can finish and be tough around the net. McBain is a steady two-way type perfectly suited for a bottom six role.

Line 4
This could also be considered a defensive third line. HC Tourigny would be wise to keep Kerfoot and Bjugstad together as they have shown a two-way chemistry that can be effective. Stenlund is coming fresh off a cup with the Florida Panthers and will look to translate his defensive success in Utah. All these players are expected to contribute heavily to the penalty kill units.

Pair 1
Sergachev enters the year as a true top pairing defenseman, something the franchise has been lacking for years. Coming off surgery is always a question mark, but Sergachev showed he has the resilience and determination that will help build character within the dressing room. Durzi will look to build off a career year. Now having the stability of Sergachev as his partner, the sky is the limit when it comes Durzi’s abilities.

Pair 2
Rounding out a solid top-four defensive core, Valimaki and Marino will be an ace in HC Tourigny’s pocket when it comes to shutting down opponents. Marino has been an underrated defenseman his whole career and being signed for another three years should have fans elated. He may not be the flashiest player, nonetheless he will provide a much-needed defensive stability. Valimaki will look different paired with a partner like Marino, and it will be interesting to see if he can hold his own in a top-four role.

Pair 3
Kesselring showed last year he is a capable NHL defenseman that can be effective on both ends of the ice. He will look to take steps to build out his overall game and continue to produce off the rush. Cole will most likely be in and out of the lineup as HC Tourigny inputs Kolyachonok to assist in his development. However, expect Cole to get the majority of playing time and showcase his stay-at-home defensive style.

Goalies
Ingram had a breakout year last season and should be able to carry his momentum with a better defensive unit in front of him. He was 21st in the league with a 8.3 Goals Saved Above Expected, proving he can be a 1A type starter. Vejmelka unfortunately was the opposite of Ingram and struggled significantly throughout the year. He finished the season 84th overall with a -6.7 Goals Saved Above Expected. He will look to rebound and prove he can be more effective in the starts he receives.

Scratches
Carcone potted an impressive 21 goals last year but unfortunately looks to have lost his role with the newly signed Stenlund. He should be considered the first-man-up when it comes to injuries. O’Brien leads with his energy and prowess which is healthy for the locker room and when he plays. Kolyachonok looked like an NHL defenseman in his limited time last year and will likely see an increased role throughout the season, especially when it comes to injuries.

Keys To Success

Since Utah is entering their first season in the league, success will come in the form of showcasing they are an effective NHL market. There will be a lot of well deserved hype for a new team, and the fans will need to prove the NHL brand can be sustained in Utah permanently. Furthermore, crucial developmental steps for Cooley, Guenther and Doan will be needed, along with the elite potential prospects within the franchises system. GM Armstrong will also need to find the balance of acquiring future assets and effective long-term solutions. It is simple to say that this season will be successful regardless of standings, but these are important elements that must be met to preserve the growth of the new franchise.

Potential Downfall

Having an owner who is willing to spend to improve their team can be a blessing and a curse all together. GM Armstrong must stick to his plan regardless of an increase in spending limits, and not fall for the trap of an unrealistic rebuild acceleration process. Utah has stockpiled enough assets to improve their team in the long run, though they must be careful in any deals that could possible hinder their trajectory. Also, with nearly $15.0 million coming off the books next year, management will need to identify their spending output and continue to invest in the players that will have a long-term impact.

Future Outlook

Utah is in a prime position to become a consistent competitive team once developmental ceilings are reached by their young players and prospects. While they may already have exciting young forward group in Cooley, Guenther and Doan taking steps this year, there is also a plethora of young talent in the system. Dmirtiy Simashev, Danil But, Noel Nordh, Julian Lutz, Miko Matikka, Artem Duda, Maveric Lamoureux, Michael Hrabal, and newly drafted prospects Tij Iginla and Cole Beaudoin, make up an elite prospect system that could all have significant impacts in the future. Utah also hold 23 draft picks in the next 3 drafts, setting them up to make upgrades on the NHL roster or continue their effectiveness through the draft. All in all, Utah is in the final steps of their rebuild and could look to enter the playoff picture as soon as next year.

Final Thoughts

This is no doubt an exciting time for Utah and its fans. With important foundations already laid for the franchise, there is a sense of optimism and hope for what the future might hold. This season will see a team on the rise and a market finding its identity through the relentless support of their fanbase. Though the realistic expectations have Utah finishing outside the playoff picture, no one can doubt the unequivocal direction of this team. With owner Ryan Smith being a savvy business mind there will unquestionably be a new name and logo that will be just as effective as GM Armstrong’s drafting abilities.