Hot take: Utah powerplay might be one of the better ones this season

[Reijo]

They got Sergachev and Durzi options in the line. Guenther might score 35+ goals and is super talented, full season. Keller we all know, world elite talent. Schmalz doing big things, always consistant. The only question is does hayton play net front or is cooley going to play a diffrrent role there somewhere?

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[NVious]

This is finally the Yotes year (in Utah)

 

[BKarchitect]

Agreed it could be very good. They were 15th on the PP last year but a look at the %, you’ll see they were closer to 9th than 17th.

Adding Sergachyov to go along with Durzi (either together of separately), a full year of Guenther and more development from their young forwards and it could definitely be a top 10 unit.

I expect this to be a very good offensive team this year. The only sub 0.500 team that scored more than them last year were the Devils and we all know that record was likely a blip for them. They were a higher scoring team than the likes of the Sens and Sabres who get a lot of hype for their collection of scoring stars and Utah is just as young up front.

Ingram is for me possibly the best Canadian goalie going as well. The real question is kind the likes of Marino and Valimaki hold up enough defensively on that blueline - which is improved and good offensively but clearly still the weak point. Help is on the way with giants like Lamoureux and Simashev but until then, seems like it’s going to be the Achilles heel.

Should be a fun team to watch for the new fans in Utah, even if they aren’t quite there yet as a fully-formed complete team.

 

[Evergreen]

I think they need someone better than Hayton to be the net-front guy if they want the PP to improve. Maybe just stick Sergachev there instead.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Utah seems like a team that could do things. Not only is it a fresh start for everyone and a wakeup in that way, but it would also result in the maximum amount of pain for Coyotes fans which the universe seems intent on maintaining

 

[GeeoffBrown]

You have to wonder if the constant drama in Arizona was a distraction to the players too

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

You have to wonder if the constant drama in Arizona was a distraction to the players too

Yup was around a 500 team prior to all the moving / politics got involved . And look to have improved . Sergachev could be a big add , but I’m a bit dubious to the comment above . He’s not a net front guy on the pp , he has a laser , you want him throwing bombs from the point . Utah was / is my breakout team pick ( from prior threads ) . Accumulated a ton of talent now it’s time to roost .

 

[Z-Diddy]

You have to wonder if the constant drama in Arizona was a distraction to the players too

Durzi said it himself, when they went on the mid season 11 game slide, it was in the back of their minds, although not spoken out loud, can't blame em

 

[Indrid Cold]

I'm quietly rooting for the Utahotes this year.

 

[Frank the Tank]

Lots of potential in Utah, but most teams in the league can put 5 talented players on the ice for the PP. The PK units in the league are very good. Success comes down to execution, deception, and running the same play with multiple options to score. And that's with the puck, the elite PP units have effective zone entries, faceoff wins, and loose puck retrievals.

 

[Deadly Dogma]

IMO Keller-Schmaltz-Crouse(net front)
then Serg-left point and Guenther on right point looks like a good PP1
for PP2
Maccelli-Hayton-Bjugstad(net front)
Cooley left point and Druzi on the right point

edited:Swapped Hayton in for Kerfoot on pp2

 

[Reijo]

Lots of potential in Utah, but most teams in the league can put 5 talented players on the ice for the PP. The PK units in the league are very good. Success comes down to execution, deception, and running the same play with multiple options to score. And that's with the puck, the elite PP units have effective zone entries, faceoff wins, and loose puck retrievals.

That is definitely true yeah. Utah was 15th last season so interesting to see if they pop that up even more

IMO Keller-Schmaltz-Crouse(net front)
then Serg-left point and Guenther on right point looks like a good PP1
for PP2
Maccelli-Kerfoot-Bjugstad(net front)
Cooley left point and Druzi on the right point

Hayton will play in one of these. That is a guarantee though. He will play on a powerplay unit.

 

[HockeyScotty]

They got Sergachev and Durzi options in the line. Guenther might score 35+ goals and is super talented, full season. Keller we all know, world elite talent. Schmalz doing big things, always consistant. The only question is does hayton play net front or is cooley going to play a diffrrent role there somewhere?

I think they need someone better than Hayton to be the net-front guy if they want the PP to improve. Maybe just stick Sergachev there instead.

Yup was around a 500 team prior to all the moving / politics got involved . And look to have improved . Sergachev could be a big add , but I’m a bit dubious to the comment above . He’s not a net front guy on the pp , he has a laser , you want him throwing bombs from the point . Utah was / is my breakout team pick ( from prior threads ) . Accumulated a ton of talent now it’s time to roost .

There is Josh Doan, Lawson Crouse and Jack McBain also; but with Schmaltz-Guenther on the PP1 I think they will rotate in between those spots.

In a pinch even Carcone could fill that role; despite his size he has the skillset.

PP1: Schmaltz-Cooley-Guenther...........Sergachev-Keller
PP2: Crouse-Hayton(McBain)-Doan.....Durzi-Maccelli

Kerfoot will also rotate in PP2 there as he is the multi-tool guy also.

I think their biggest forward question mark is 2C: I think they'll give Hayton every chance, but Bear seems to love McBain a bunch and has a lot of time for him in a top 6 role also. But they have 10 quality guys for 9 spots so the musical chairs in camp is going to be interesting. That is assuming Carcon-Stenlund-Bjugstad is the 4th line which is a quality group as well; so their defensive contribution from their forwards can be better this year.

2nd pair defense on down is where this team could fall apart however, as was posted. Ian Cole is there as band-aid if Valimaki doesn't step up; and I like what Kesselring did last year so there is a decent hope for improvement but not the quality of their defense just isn't there to weather the storm of a full season. With Bortuzzo and Kolyachonok they have some decent depth as an 8 man unit.

Do you trust Valimaki/Cole - Marino going up against the best 2nd/3rd lines in the Central?

 

[Deadly Dogma]

That is definitely true yeah. Utah was 15th last season so interesting to see if they pop that up even more


Hayton will play in one of these. That is a guarantee though. He will play on a powerplay unit.

swap him in for Kerfoot, or I will go edit my post cuz you're 100% right, I gapped him

 

[thebestnic]

West is wide open. I could see them making the playoffs as well

 

[Rebels57]

All depends on coaching, not the personnel. The Flyers have had enough firepower to have a decent powerplay the past few seasons and instead, it's historically bad because Torts hired a former goon with brain damage named Rocky Thompson to run it. Make it make sense.