Oh, the burning question is upon us: Will the Utah Hockey Club give its fans something to cheer for in 2024-25, or will they continue the tradition of bleakness their predecessors, the Arizona Coyotes, set? Okay, maybe that’s a little harsh, as Arizona did make it to the Western Conference Finals back in 2012 and when they left town, they had one of the best uniforms in the NHL.
That said, they lost a lot of games, but at least they looked good losing. As for the Utah Hockey Club, you could say the same, thanks to that jersey lettering that’s so reminiscent of the New York Rangers, and in a good way.
And this is coming from someone who is a harsh critic of color schemes that contain light blue entwined with a darker color (rock black, in Utah’s case) throughout sports, such as the Tennessee Titans (NFL), Memphis Grizzlies (NBA), and Tampa Bay Rays (MLB). But, somehow, Utah got this one right, and the scheme should stay regardless of what they’re called in 2025-26.
Anyway, let’s stop talking about the aesthetics and focus on whether this team will compete in 2024-25. To be frank, it’s going to be a gauntlet, thanks to how talented the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets, and Nashville Predators will be. I also wouldn’t count out the Chicago Blackhawks, mainly in part to their busy free agency, nor the St. Louis Blues, who aren’t as bad as many may believe.
Utah Hockey Club will have a tough time competing in 2024-25
I’ll never say never since there’s always that one team that will shock the NHL universe and contend. To be fair, the Coyotes did that for about half the 2023-24 campaign, and since this is essentially the same lineup but with improvements, what’s not to say they don’t shock us again this season?
The realist in me says this, though: They’ll need to outscore the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche, find a way to score on Winnipeg, and deal with the “all-in” Predators. We also know Connor Bedard will make that major leap this season, one that will become all too easy, thanks to the fact Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen are in town.
Then there are the Blues, who to be real, could be just one major trade from catapulting their chances. When breaking down Utah’s schedule, I implied that there would be a few rough months, but so much can happen during a season, such as a team building momentum early, injuries, and, of course, teams who happen to play to their competition.
But with all things being equal, my educated guess is that Utah will be in a better position to contend in 2025-26, while 2024-25 should factor in as another building year. That said, if they find themselves one year ahead of schedule, then anything can and will happen.