Is the Utah Hockey Club good enough to make the playoffs?

After many years of frustration as the Arizona/ Phoenix Coyotes, the issues have passed and they have relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah, and have become the Utah HC. Without an official name and team colors, they will proceed under this alignment.

While many of the players are the same, there seems to be a new energy, a new focus, and a new dedication to capture a playoff spot this season and they may not be far off.

The Utah HC is looking to become one of the few teams to achieve success after relocating or becoming an expansion team.

Utah, like Arizona in the 2023-24 season, played well and was in the playoff hunt for half the season. While they do not have a top-10 player in the league on the roster they play a solid game with players who are tough to play against.

The Utah Hockey Club may be good enough to make the playoffs this season

While most of the roster is intact from last season, Utah HC general manager Bill Armstrong made moves to get them closer to that playoff spot. He acquired left winger Egor Sokolov and defensemen John Marino and Mikhail Sergachev via trade.

Sokolov had 46 points in 71 games with the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL). Marino had four goals and 21 assists for 25 points in 75 games with the New Jersey Devils.

Sergachev, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, had two goals and 17 assists for 19 points in 34 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Armstrong was not done there. He signed defensemen Robert Bortuzzo and Kevin Connauton, goaltender Jaxson Stauber, and left winger Andrew Agozzino to free-agent deals.

Most of these moves will be depth moves and they will likely be assigned to the Tucson Roadrunners, an AHL affiliate of the Utah HC.

With these moves made, the Utah HC also named Clayton Keller the first captain in franchise history. Keller is a positive influence on and off the ice and has been consistent since his NHL debut. In the preseason, he has two goals and four assists for six points in three games.

While making Keller the team captain, the organization also gets another season of Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, and Vladislav Kolyachonok, who will all play a massive role in the future success of this team.

Another reason the Utah HC could be a playoff team this season is the goaltending duo of Connor Ingram and Karel Vejmelka.

While this is not an elite goaltending duo, they have both been solid between the pipes and have been steady since they became a goaltending tandem. While Vejmalka has struggled this preseason, Ingram is 1-0 with a .925 save percentage and a 1.80 goals-against-average.

Last season, the team had a record of 36-41-5 for 77 points and finished seventh in the wild card race and Central Division. If they can stay healthy and play to their strengths, which are strong goaltending and playing as a team, they could snatch a playoff or wild card spot this season.

An underrated team, they came close last season and the additions made by Armstrong could be the difference and push them over the top.

The defense is more solid and complete with the additions of Marino and Sergachev. The offense is hard-working and plays a defensive game, and the goaltenders keep the team in the game until the end.

The first game for the team is Tuesday, October 8th against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks. The game will take place at the new home of the Utah HC, the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.