Official 2025 Utah HC Off-Season Discussion.

[rt]

Teams are built through the back end out and the middle of the ice. Right now we have two holes to fill.

A top 6 Center. I still do not think Hayton is one. I project Beaudoin to be a third line energy guy. So that leaves the team with a hole that is going to be hard to fill unless we find a needle in the haystack in the draft or work out a trade.

A #2 D-man. I have changed my opinion and think Sergachev is a #1 in this league, but I do not think Marino / Durzi are #2 D-men. Hopefully Simashev, Lameroux, or Duda can turn into one, because you rarely find one in free agency.

I think this team needs to draft another D-man with our first round pick. Does anybody know anything about Blake Fiddler?

I see he is a 6'4 210 lb right-handed shot, young for the draft, and looks to project as a shutdown top 4 D-Man. His dad Vernon played in the NHL. Isn't this a guy that checks a lot of BA's boxes?

Competes hard? check.
Good skater? check.
young for the draft? check.
BIG? Check.
Dad played in the NHL? check.

Like I stated before in another post, Jake O'Brien also intrigues me. I could see him being another guy that Bill goes after.

I watched Fiddler at the Gretzky Hlinka and quite a bit throughout the year with EOK. I like him. I’d be ok with him at 14th. I do like other kids more. I’ve got him 17th on my current list which will change between now and draft day. But he’s close enough to 14th that I’d be happy with him.

I like O’Brien a lot. But I’ve got him 7th and I’m not sure he goes much later than that. I suspect he’s top 10 easy.

 

[rt]

High praise for Bear from OB on our show today.

 

[Schemp]

Been watching YouTube and reading other reviews... Sadly getting 4th Dman vibes

From NHL.com

Dmitri Simashev

Nothing in Dmitri Simashev's statistics would indicate improved play this season. His ice time has not changed significantly from last season. His point total may not even match last season's total, and there are still nights when the top team in Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, asks Utah Hockey Club's 2023 first-round pick (No. 6 overall) to take a night off as a healthy scratch

But then Lee says he's big and big and he's developing how they hoped

Russians have a reputation of not playing people if the coach thinks the players aren't a long term commitment.

Smash was drafted as an elite shutdown defender , I don't see how he could possibly get worse.

Still wondering about Fedotov!

 

[Schemp]

Will Vancouver do a major housecleaning this off-season? There may be a lot of people involved if it includes Hughes to NJ and Pettersson!

Trying to figure out what NJ would be trading and Silayev comes to mind as NJ doesn't have a '25 1st.

 

[lanky]

Russians have a reputation of not playing people if the coach thinks the players aren't a long term commitment.

Smash was drafted as an elite shutdown defender , I don't see how he could possibly get worse.

Still wondering about Fedotov!

Fedotov isn't the correct spelling. The correct way is V-a-d-i-m M-o-r-o-z.

 

[Mangosteen]

Russians have a reputation of not playing people if the coach thinks the players aren't a long term commitment.

Smash was drafted as an elite shutdown defender , I don't see how he could possibly get worse.

Agreed, that's what you are looking for as a good number 4 Dman. I don't see his offence transferring greatly to the NHL. He will be an NHL Dman just a 4th. Kinda 6 is kinda high for a 4 Dman. Hopefully he could be a number 2. Serg and him yelling in Russian and nobody would know what they are saying but I don't see it. I always enjoy your posts makes me think

 

[Mangosteen]

Trying to figure out what NJ would be trading and Silayev comes to mind as NJ doesn't have a '25 1st.

Please sign me up!!! That would be incredible

 

[LittlePipes]

Much better and I do believe that But will be on the opening day roster in that exact position and here's hoping that Bennett signs here, as it would be a good fit. Those are 4 solid lines that should land us in the playoffs.

I will have high hopes if we sign Bennet and But pans out. I’ve been watching Bennet for a few yrs. Just what this team needs!

 

[lanky]

He's a few years too late to play with country-mates Klok and Knot but I think Kunc will fit right in.