The 2024-25 NHL Season is closer than we think, even if it seems like a long way off here in August. But before you know it, your Utah Hockey Club will take the ice for its inaugural season, and optimism will be at an all-time high for NHL fans in Salt Lake City.
So, who will Utah face in its preseason slate, and how could these teams fare when they ultimately square off against one another in the regular season? Keep reading for a quick rundown of who Utah has on the schedule and what hockey in late September will look like.
Who are the Utah Hockey Club’s preseason opponents?
- September 22nd, 5:00 PM vs. St. Louis Blues
- September 23rd, 7:00 PM vs. Los Angeles Kings
- September 27th, 8:00 PM at Vegas Golden Knights
- September 29th, 5:00 PM at Colorado Avalanche
- October 1st, 8:00 PM at San Jose Sharks
- October 2nd, 8:00 PM at Anaheim Ducks
- October 5th, 5:00 PM vs. Colorado Avalanche
Source: NHL.com - All times Mountain Standard
Mixture of good and bad on Utah Hockey Club’s preseason schedule
The Utah Hockey Club will face some good and not-so-good competition, beginning with a manageable opponent in the St. Louis Blues. Should the Blues bring their “A Squad” to this game, it will give Utah a good measuring stick regardless of which group they use.
Ditto for the Los Angeles Kings, even if they’re more of a wild card opponent at this point, while the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche may also provide a useful measuring stick. It depends on which group the latter two will bring, as Utah’s dynamic list of prospects could find themselves in a couple of heated battles against an “A Squad,” or perhaps some rather easy matchups against likely minor-leaguers.
Two games fans should look forward to more than any other are the pair of road matchups against the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks. Both of these teams, regardless of who they bring, could provide a sound challenge for the younger players if they haven’t reassigned them to the AHL or another league at this point.
Finally, they wrap everything up at home vs. the Colorado Avalanche, in a game that should figure to be the “dress rehearsal” for the regular season. At this point, most of the players not slated to make Utah’s big club will be elsewhere, so if there’s any chance of a measuring stick matchup, it’s this one.