If there’s a common denominator in the Utah Hockey Club, it’s that the lineup has one of the best blends of young and old in the league. It also shows us that this team isn’t “rebuilding” but “building,” meaning that core talent will ultimately garner most of the attention as this pivotal campaign wears on.
That said, Dylan Guenther should be in the conversation as a full-time player who could even find himself in the top-six at least part-time. We saw this last season when he snagged 16:17 of average total ice time across 45 games, and he finished the year with 35 points and 18 goals.
If you’ve been following these player profile pieces, you know that I like to take those numbers and adjust them to an 82-game season to give you an idea of what a player like Guenther was on pace for. Taking his numbers across those 82 contests, he could have snagged between 63 and 64 points and between 42 and 43 goals.
Oh, and let’s not forget to mention that he played in his age-20 season last year and has suited up for just 78 NHL games total. This means he’s just getting started on what will be a fine career in Utah.
Dylan Guenther must play full-time for the Utah Hockey Club in 2024-25
The question at the headline of my article shouldn’t be valid since Dylan Guenther more than showed us he’s ready for the big club. Players like Josh Doan should join him, and he’ll have the brewing Logan Cooley, the always-entertaining Clayton Keller, and others along for the ride.
Yeah, if you’re someone who roots for new hockey teams and the Seattle Kraken disappointed you after earning a playoff trip just once in three seasons, and you’re trying again with Utah, be optimistic. Oh, be very optimistic, because someone like Guenther not only should be rocking the rock black and mountain blue sweater, but he should also give fans a reason to jump out of their seats.
Players like Guenther are one of a few reasons why I feel bad for hockey fans in Arizona who decided not to follow the team’s progress to Utah. The Coyotes may have been right there on the doorstep, maybe even knocking on the door, thanks to how good those younger prospects looked over the past few years.
But Salt Lake City, not Phoenix, will reap the benefits of players like Dylan Guenther, and it will start with what should be a breakout season, assuming he makes the big club.