Projected Lineup
C. Keller - B. Hayton - N. Schmaltz
L. Crouse - L. Cooley - D. Guenther
M. Maccelli - N. Bjustad - J. Doan
A. Kerfoot - J. McBain - K. Stenlund
M. Sergachev - S. Durzi
J. Valimaki - J. Marino
I. Cole - M. Kesselring
C. Ingram
K. Vejmelka
Via: Daily Faceoff
I think Utah’s lineup is solid, with great depth, and a great defence core. I think Utah could certainly attempt to push for the playoffs.
Best Players
Here are my predictions for the best players in Utah next season. Clayton Keller will have 40 goals, 47 assists, and 87 points. I think Mikhail Sergachev will have 24 goals, 59 assists, and 83 points.
I see Clayton Keller as a top player for Utah Hockey Club next season because he finished his 2022-23 Season with 86 points in 82 games and his 2023-24 Season with 76 points in 78 games. I think he will have a breakout year because of his ability to always play well even when his linemates are not that great.
I think the 4-time All-Star will easily score over 40 goals and finish with above or below 90 points next season because he now has the linemates he has always needed. With a better top 6, I see Keller being deadly on the power play with Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley probably breaking out next season.
I see Mikhail Sergachev as a top player for Utah next season if he stays healthy. Mikhail Sergachev was acquired by Utah from the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2024 NHL Draft in exchange for J.J. Moser and forward Conor Geekie, a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Mikhail Sergachev missed most of his season with the Tampa Bay Lightning last year due to injuries. He only played 34 games.
In his 2022-23 Season, when he played in 79 games, he finished the season with 64 points. I think with a fresh start in Utah, Mikhail will be able to be that “top-pair” defenseman that Utah has needed since they lost Oliver Ekman-Larsson in 2021. I think playing alongside Sean Durzi he will have the best season of his career, scoring 24 goals and finishing with just above 80 points.
Bounce Back Candidates
Juuso Valimaki and Barrett Hayton both had strange years last year. Valimaki finished with 17 points in 68 games and Hayton finished with 10 points in 30 games as he was injured for most of the season.
In the 2022-23 Season, Valimaki finished with 34 points in 78 games, which was pretty decent for him. Also, in that season, Hayton finished with 43 points in 82 games which is very solid for a bottom-six player.
Now that Utah has significantly upgraded their defence core I could see Valimaki getting back in that 30-40 point range next season. With Hayton being projected first as a line center for Utah, I think we could see him put up at least 60 points playing alongside Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz and possibly on the first power play unit.
If neither of these players could bounce back next season, could Utah be looking at trading them at the deadline?
Season Statistics
I think Utah will finish 3rd in the Central Division, 7th in the Western Conference and 14th in the league.
With another disappointing year with the Coyotes not making the playoffs, I think with a fresh start in Utah the team will be “all that” and make the playoffs. I don’t like to compare Utah to other teams but I do think that Utah is significantly stronger than the Colorado Avalanche. Why do I think this you may ask?
Utah fully rebuilt their defence core in the offseason and signed 2024 Stanley Cup Champion, Kevin Stenlund, to a 2 year deal. Also with rookies Tij Iginla and Cole Beaudoin possibly cracking the roster, Utah could be very deadly on offence, and be lights out on defence. This team is probably one of the strongest in the Central Division, only behind teams like Dallas and Winnipeg.
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