Breakaway on SI

Utah Hockey Club Seeking Championship Players

The Utah Hockey Club are seeking championship players approaching the team's first trade deadline.

Jacob Punturi

Jan 14, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Hockey Club celebrates a goal during the first period against the Montreal Canadiens at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images
Jan 14, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Hockey Club celebrates a goal during the first period against the Montreal Canadiens at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images / Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images

The Utah Hockey Club continue to impress and surprise during their inaugural season. Currently boasting an 18-18-4 record, they sit six points out of a wild card spot with plenty of regular season left.

With the 4 Nations Face-Off and Trade Deadline now on the Utah Hockey Club's radar, there is mixed signals around the league on their plans. Are they buyers or sellers?

Well, according to a recent interview with the team's general manager, Bill Armstrong, the team is keeping their plans close. There was one goal that he made clear when speaking with Frankly Speaking host and NHL insider Frank Seravalli: the team wants players that can help elevate the Utah Hockey Club into a championship franchise and is willing to part with the right assets to do so.

"We have the assets to swing," he said. "We're definitely going to try and become a championship organization and acquire championship players. So, that for us is something we're gonna take a swing all the time (at)."

The organization has shown an eagerness and willingness to improve since the franchise switched over to Utah. The acquisition of defenseman Mikhail Sergachev at the 2024 NHL Draft was a turning point, giving the team a Stanley Cup winner and an anchor for the blue line. They added on to that by bringing in John Marino, a quality right-handed shooting defender, and Olli Maatta, another former Stanley Cup winner.

Now the team finds themselves in need of reinforcements once again, but this time on offense. With the injury to winger Dylan Guenther, one of their best goal scorers, the team has a glaring hole in their top-six forward group. As Armstrong indicated to Seravalli, the team has a stockpile of assets to go and acquire a bonafide scorer if they are willing to pull the trigger. What's for certain in the meantime is that this team is doing everything they can to keep improving.

Make sure you bookmark Breakaway On SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Published
Jacob Punturi
JACOB PUNTURI

Home/News Feed Page