After an eventful offseason, highlighted by the addition of defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, right here’s a have a look at who will lead the Utah Hockey Membership in noteworthy statistical classes in 2024-25. Three Utah writers at The Hockey Writers – Chase Beardsley, Cooper Kirgbaum and I – predict the staff’s chief in targets, assists, factors, and plus/minus this season.
Targets
Parker: Dylan Guenther – 35 Targets
Ahead Dylan Guenther’s 45-game stint with the Arizona Coyotes final season was only a pattern of his potential. The 21-year-old potted 18 targets and 17 assists. With arguably the very best right-handed shot on Utah’s staff, search for him to obtain prime power-play unit minutes this season. With forwards Lawson Crouse and Logan Cooley, that line ought to stick collectively and additional his offensive manufacturing. The 6-foot-2, 174-pounder just lately signed an eight-year extension price $7.14 million common annual worth (AAV).
Associated: Utah Relying on Dylan Guenther in Inaugural NHL Season
Chase: Dylan Guenther – 38 Targets
Final season, Guenther solely performed 45 NHL video games. Nevertheless, he produced 18 targets and helped Cooley enhance his sport. Now, he’ll look to take one other step in his improvement, which may imply main the staff in targets. If he’s with Cooley or somebody completely different, like Clayton Keller – who he’s been paired with a few occasions through the preseason – the first-round choose ought to be a giant a part of Utah’s offense this season.
Cooper: Dylan Guenther – 40 Targets
Many questioned Guenther’s current contract extension, and to be truthful, he hasn’t performed a whole season within the NHL but. Nevertheless, his shot is simple, and he has the potential to be among the finest within the league. That’s why he’ll lead Utah in scoring with 40 targets. His means to attain on the ability play is elite, and his chemistry with Cooley was simple final season, thus turning into the primary Utah participant to attain 40 targets in franchise historical past.
Assists
Parker: Matias Maccelli – 40 Assists
Ahead Matias Maccelli has completed second on the staff in assists the previous two seasons (38 in 2022-23 and 40 in 2023-24). Arizona’s 2019 fourth-round choice has a gifted imaginative and prescient with the puck on his stick. His 49-point season in 2022-23 slotted him in second for the rookie-scoring race, enjoying in 64 video games. Whereas the 23-year-old could not have a spot in Utah’s prime six, he will definitely be a go-to participant on the person benefit and different open-ice conditions.
Chase: Clayton Keller – 55 Assists
Whereas ahead Clayton Keller is the secure choose to steer the staff in assists, there’s a cause for that. The longtime Coyote has led the staff in factors and assists for the previous two seasons and that streak may proceed this season. He’ll be surrounded by higher gamers, particularly on the blue line with Sergachev and John Marino, which is able to assist Keller proceed his offensive dominance in Utah.
Cooper: Mikhail Sergachev – 51 Assists
It could be a sizzling take to have a defenseman lead the staff in assists, however Sergachev will likely be put in an ideal scenario in Utah. He’s spent the previous a number of seasons behind future Corridor-of-Famer Victor Hedman and is now able to tackle the ranks of a number-one defenseman. Sergachev may have all of the instruments at his disposal to succeed, and after seeing what Sean Durzi may do final 12 months, it makes quite a lot of sense.
Factors
Parker: Clayton Keller – 81 Factors
Keller has led the Coyotes in factors the previous three seasons (63 in 2021-22, 86 in 2022-23 and 78 in 2023-24). He and ahead Nick Schmaltz have been staples on Arizona’s prime line and power-play unit. With ahead Barrett Hayton getting back from an injury-riddled 2023-24 season, the staff plans to recreate their first line. The eight-year Coyote will look to hold over his current success to Utah.
Chase: Clayton Keller – 86 factors
In 2022-23, Keller tied Keith Tkachuk’s Coyotes’ report for many factors in a single season. Most followers thought he would break it the next season, however he didn’t. Although there’s no report to interrupt this season, Keller ought to come again to being barely above a point-per-game participant, particularly if a wholesome Hayton is on the staff for a big period of time.
Cooper: Clayton Keller – 89 Factors
This one appears apparent, not less than midway via the preseason, however Keller will once more lead the staff in factors. His playmaking means and sense of the ice have been on show the previous two seasons, and he’s nonetheless solely 25 years outdated. Nevertheless, Keller’s linemate, Hayton, has to remain wholesome, as the 2 have fashioned nice chemistry.
Plus/Minus Score
Parker: John Marino – Plus-15
Regardless of posting a minus-6 ranking final season, defenseman John Marino will lead Utah on this statistic this season. He was with the New Jersey Devils final season, and so they suffered accidents and inconsistent goalie play, an ideal recipe to throw off each participant’s plus/minus ranking. In 2022-23, the 6-foot-1, 183-pounder was a plus-25. He has had a constructive plus/minus ranking in 4 of his 5 seasons within the NHL, and the right-handed shot is slotted to be the staff’s second-pair defenseman this season.
Chase: Juuso Välimäki – Plus-13
Final season, Juuso Välimäki was some of the underrated defensemen within the Western Convention, posting 17 factors and a plus-12 on a Coyotes staff with troubling protection. With the additions of Sergachev, Marino, and Ian Cole, protection is now not an issue, which ought to assist Välimäki’s sport develop much more. The Finnish defenseman has discovered a house in Utah and will find yourself being a secret a part of an incredible blue line.
Cooper: Sean Durzi – Plus-12
Defenseman Sean Durzi’s efficiency final season got here as a shock. He discovered a lot of his success on the ability play and was dynamite within the offensive zone, one thing the Coyotes had lacked on the blue line. With the additions of Marino and Sergachev, the strain received’t be as excessive, giving Durzi loads of alternative to succeed this season.
Goalie Wins
Parker: Connor Ingram – 27 Wins
Goalie Connor Ingram was tied for the league lead in shutouts final season with six. He was Arizona’s higher netminder within the second half of the Coyotes’ closing season within the NHL. The 6-foot-2, 196-pounder posted a 23-21-3 report with a 2.91 goals-against common (GAA) and a .907 save proportion (SV%). The 2024 recipient of the Invoice Masterton Memorial Trophy will look to take care of his place as Utah’s starter going into this season.
Chase: Connor Ingram – 26 Wins
Final season, Ingram stole the beginning internet job from Karel Vejmelka through the closing stretch. Nevertheless, this can be a model new season, and if there’s something we realized about head coach Andre Tourigny, it’s that he likes a 1A-1B goaltending system. Begins will probably be cut up between the 2 goalies to start out the season, and wins may very well be nearer than followers count on. Nevertheless, Ingram remains to be the higher of the 2 and can probably get a pair extra begins than Vejmelka. It wouldn’t be stunning, although, if roles in some way are reversed come the tip of the season.
Cooper: Connor Ingram – 28 Wins
Within the latter half of the 2023-24 season, Ingram took the reins because the beginning netminder, and when he was on his A-game, watching him take over video games was particular. Twenty-eight wins for Ingram this season appears like a good quantity, particularly given the improved protection in entrance of him with Sergachev and Marino. Count on Ingram to shine as soon as once more this season.
Whether or not or not these predictions come true, when it comes time for post-season play, Utah will hope that these gamers have accomplished sufficient to earn them a playoff spot by the point mid-April 2025 rolls round.
