On the surface, acquiring Mikhail Sergachev may be the biggest risk-reward move of the 2024 offseason. The Utah Hockey Club traded for him despite an injury that prevented him from playing most of last season.
But although Sergachev was relegated to just 34 regular season games, the two-time Stanley Cup winner is still young, and he’s heading to a young team; he’s physical with a knack of knowing who’s possessing the puck, and when healthy, he’s a playmaker at the blue line.
Consider this: Despite his 19 points in 34 regular season contests last year, Sergachev was on fire throughout most of the 2022-23 season, his penultimate campaign in Tampa. That year, he finished with 54 assists and 64 points, including 24 helpers on the power play.
Even last season, he still finished the year with seven assists on the man advantage. And while the Arizona Coyotes had a decent power play that converted opportunities into goals 21.99 percent of the time, it might be nothing compared to what Utah could be capable of this season now that Sergachev is on board.
Will Mikhail Sergachev ignite the Utah Hockey Club’s power play?
Remember, players like Logan Cooley will be primed to make a leap this season, and you also can’t count out other potential playmakers with hordes of NHL experience at forward. For a blueliner like Sergachev, who can quarterback power plays and provide adequate help at even strength when healthy, oh, don’t be surprised if and when Utah shocks a few opponents with some offensive prowess.
He was a valuable player for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Sergachev will spend the prime of his career in Salt Lake City. Sure, staying healthy is the biggest burning question out there for the 2024-25 campaign and beyond, but if Sergachev can do that, he will be a fan favorite for Utah Hockey fans everywhere.
This is also one reason it would be premature to think that, just because he’s a newcomer, to count out Sergachev to be the team captain or at least an alternate. He will face staunch competition for the role(s), but if he ends up wearing a ‘C’ or an ‘A’, you’ll know why.