The Utah Hockey Club had a quiet trade deadline comparatively speaking. Other division rivals, like the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars, made a flurry of significant, big-name moves. In contrast, the Hockey Club maintained a low profile.
But just because the Hockey Club didn’t pull off a franchise-altering move, it doesn’t mean the trade deadline wasn’t successful. In fact, there is a lot to be said about not making moves for the sake of making moves.
With that in mind, the Hockey Club made a number of savvy moves, mainly, extending current players. Those extensions signal that players are happy to stay in Salt Lake City. Moreover, these moves highlight how much the players themselves believe in the team around them.
Let’s start by talking about Alex Kerfoot’s extension. Kerfoot is a unique player given his versatility. He allows the Hockey Club to plug holes as need be and maintain a high level of flexibility depending on line-up needs.
While there was talk of trading Kerfoot, the fact is that it was a smart move, considering how difficult it can be to find high-quality veteran players to support young, up-and-coming stars (just ask the Chicago Blackhawks).
Then, there’s Olli Maatta. Maatta came over from the Detroit Red Wings earlier this season in an emergency trade. Maatta has provided a solid blue line presence, the kind that a maturing team needs. Maatta has delivered on everything the club hoped he would. So, his extension is justified.
Lastly, there’s Karel Vejmelka. Vejmelka has emerged as the Club’s number-one goaltender. Again, that’s something that cannot be understated. Having a solid netminder allows the team to prioritize other areas.
All told, the Utah Hockey Club had a successful trade deadline without making a blockbuster trade. It may sound paradoxical, but it’s one of those often overlooked aspects of pro sports.
Utah Hockey Club moved on from Shea Weber’s contract
Another detail buried in the salary cap’s fine print was Shea Weber’s contract. For anyone unfamiliar with the context, Shea Weber was a high-end defenseman back in the late 2000s and 2010s. He was involved in the one-for-one blockbuster swap between the Nashville Predators and Montreal Canadiens that sent Norris-Trophy-winning blue liner P.K. Subban to Music City while Weber went to Montreal.
Weber led the Canadiens to an improbable Stanley Cup Final appearance during the 2021 bubble playoffs. While the Habs fell in the final to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Weber’s commendable performance playing on a broken ankle ultimately cost him the rest of his career.
Weber was in the ninth year of a 14-year contract when he unofficially retired. Weber couldn’t officially retire lest the Canadiens faced salary cap penalties. So, Weber’s contract was moved to LTIR, giving the Canadiens extra cap space to play with.
But with the Canadiens rebuilding after the 2021 season, Weber’s contract became a hot commodity among teams looking to add a little extra cap space. Weber’s contract changed hands multiple times before landing in Arizona.
Utah inherited the contract, however, as Hockey Club GM Bill Armstrong stated, it was time to move on. So, the Hockey Club traded the final year of Weber’s contract to the Chicago Blackhawks, along with other pieces, to the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2026 fifth-round pick.
All told, the Hockey Club set the foundation for what looks to be a bright future. A full season of a healthy Sean Durzi and John Marino, Clayton Keller looking like the real deal, Karel Vejmelka manning the pipes, and an enviable supporting cast, the Utah Hockey Club could be poised to make the playoffs next season.
Hopefully, the rest of this season will set the tone for a highly successful 2025-26 campaign.