Gurglesons
Registered User
I don’t see Utah doing that Karlsson deal either and I doubt they’d move Hayton for anything short of some insane over payment and Hayton struggling enough for them to consider it. Armstrong has an owner now that isn’t a muppet, I don’t see him doing anything but adding maybe some veteran depth if they go on a decent enough run into clinching a playoff berth in their first year in Utah.
From what I can see on their roster - Probably a 4th line RW, a RHD, and maybe a depth goalie as most in case something happens to Vej or Ingram. Given that Durzi and Marino are going to return and they have Kesselring, I don’t see Karlsson as an option either. A rental at best maybe.
Also, Hayton is on their top line, he’s their #1 C right now with Cooley 2C and Kerfoot 3C. They’d probably me more interested in adding Acciari for that 4th line RW and a depth d-man if one of their injured D isn’t close in their rehab by the TDL (Marino is set to return mid to late February, Durzi possibly April - rehab is not always the same as we know).
The issue for Utah is they have a lot of LHD - Sergachev, Kolyachonok, Valimaki, and Cole.
Their healthy RHD - Kesselring, Bortuzzo, and rookie Lamoureux.
I would choose violence if a bloke did that at my place.
I think that Utah would be interested at EK65 if we are retaining 50%.
Big name to add to a team that is a new market. EK65 only has two years left after this one so he doesn't really effect their cap picture. At 50% he is making less than Durzi.
I think they'd deal their 2026 1st given they have 3 2nds that year.
He also adds a ton of elite talent that they simply aren't going to get for cheaper to that top 4 D core.