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New Beginnings: Can Utah Hockey Club Exceed Expectations?
2023-2024 Season Recap (Arizona Coyotes):
The team now known as the Utah Hockey Club spent their final season as the Arizona Coyotes in 2023-2024, finishing 7th in the Central Division with 77 points. While they showed some offensive promise, scoring 256 goals, defensive issues plagued the team as they allowed 274 goals, resulting in a negative goal differential. This lack of defensive stability ultimately contributed to their struggles and failure to make the playoffs.
The Coyotes’ performance was a mixed bag. They had promising moments with young talents like Logan Cooley, Matias Maccelli, and Dylan Guenther showing flashes of their potential and Clayon Keller & Nick Schmaltz leading the scoring. Despite these bright spots, Arizona was a team in transition, still building toward future success. Their goaltending tandem of Connor Ingram and Karel Vejmelka was inconsistent, and while Ingram’s advanced ESBC Power AI metrics were stronger, neither goalie could fully address the defensive lapses that led to too many goals against.
The move to Salt Lake City and rebranding as the Utah Hockey Club brings with it the promise of a fresh start, but Utah is essentially the same team that struggled to find consistency last season in Arizona.
Offseason Moves:
One of the most important changes for Utah this offseason has been the overhaul of their defensive unit. The additions of Mikhail Sergachev, John Marino, and Ian Cole provide a major upgrade to a blue line that desperately needed more structure and veteran leadership. Sergachev, in particular, might be a good acquisition. Known for his ability to contribute offensively, Sergachev will give Utah stability in their top pairing and help ease the workload on returning defensemen like Juuso Välimäki and Sean Durzi. Marino and Cole bring valuable experience and defensive reliability, rounding out what is now a solid defensive core. In the forward group, the Utah Hockey Club added Kevin Stenlund, who will likely serve as a fourth-line center.
However, Utah’s forward group remains young and full of potential. Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, Matias Maccelli, and Josh Doan are all still in the early stages of their careers and have room to develop. Cooley, in particular, is expected to take on a larger role and could be a future star for Utah if his game continues to grow. If these young forwards take a step forward this season, it could help Utah exceed expectations.
Goaltending Situation:
The goaltending tandem of Connor Ingram and Karel Vejmelka remains unchanged from last season. While neither goaltender posted eye-popping numbers in 2023-2024, Connor Ingram outperformed Vejmelka based on ESBC Power AI goalie metrics. Ingram's performances, particularly in high-danger situations, suggest that he will likely get the majority of starts for Utah in 2024-2025.
However, for Utah to truly improve in the standings, their goaltenders will need more support from their upgraded defense. The defensive reinforcements should help reduce the number of high-danger chances the team allows, but it will also be crucial for both Ingram and Vejmelka to elevate their play, especially in tight games.
2024-2025 Season Outlook:
The move to Salt Lake City marks the beginning of a new chapter for the franchise, and that fresh start could provide a mental and emotional boost to the players. The change in scenery could help reenergize the team, and that added motivation might push Utah to improve their performance compared to last season.
With a revamped defense and several promising young forwards, the Utah Hockey Club is likely to be more competitive this season than they were as the Coyotes. However, the road to the playoffs still seems distant. While their offseason moves have improved the team's foundation, Utah is still in the process of developing their roster. The forward group, while talented, is young and likely a few seasons away from reaching their full potential. Cooley, Guenther, Maccelli, and Doan will be key to the team's future success, but they are still in the early stages of their NHL careers.
In terms of head coaching, André Tourigny returns for his fourth year behind the bench. His familiarity with the roster and his experience managing a young, developing team will be valuable as Utah continues to build. Tourigny has done a good job of fostering player growth, but the challenge will be translating that into consistent results on the ice.
The big question for Utah remains whether they can improve enough to make a serious push for the playoffs. While the new defensive additions will help, and the young forwards are brimming with potential, this team is still a work in progress. The gap to reach playoff contention is significant, and unless several players exceed expectations, Utah is likely to remain on the outside looking in when the postseason arrives.
X-Factor: The Fresh Start
One potential X-factor for Utah this season is the mental boost that could come from their move to Salt Lake City. Sometimes, a change of environment can galvanize a team, especially one coming off a string of disappointing seasons. The excitement of playing in a new market, along with a sense of renewal, might bring out the best in some players. While this kind of intangible factor is difficult to measure, it could be the spark Utah needs to exceed expectations.
Conclusion:
While the Utah Hockey Club is likely to improve from their 2023-2024 results as the Arizona Coyotes, the playoffs may still be a bridge too far. With a young core and promising pieces in place, Utah is trending in the right direction, but it may take another season or two before they are truly ready to challenge the NHL’s top teams.
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