The Utah Hockey Club went big this offseason after their relocation from Arizona last summer. Despite their spending frenzy in free agency, Utah stands 25th in the league with an 18-19-7 record. It will be hard to move away from players with long-term deals, so this deadline may not be shocking for Utah. However, there are three guys whose names stick out from the rest as top trade candidates.
Bjugstad is the Easiest to Trade Away
Nick Bjugstad, 32, has been the biggest name of the Utah trade block. He has tallied 12 points (five goals and seven assists) in 36 games with the club. The former first-round draft pick was ranked 25th on TSN’s trade bait list and was the only player from Utah to make the list. Bjugstad has looked promising under the Arizona/Utah organization(s), recording 57 points in 112 games (45 in the 2023-24 campaign).
Bjugstad is in the final year of his two-year, $4.2 million contract with an annual cap hit of $2.1 million. For what he brings to the rink, his contract is extremely friendly. With a height of 6’ 5”, Bjugstad is an absolute unit on the ice. His 63 hits are the third most on his team, just behind Lawson Crouse and Jack McBain.
Ingram Hasn’t Looked So Good With Utah
It was just last year that Connor Ingram, 27, took the league by storm due to his performance in Arizona. For the longest time, Arizona was struggling to find a true number-one goalie, and Ingram suited the role. His 0.907 save percentage and 2.91 GAA in 50 games was a career-best for the former Nashville Predator.
However, this season has not looked so good, as he lost his starter position to Karel Vejmelka. Ingram currently has a 0.877 SV% with a 3.49 GAA which is a career low. Karel Vejmelka, has a 0.910 SV% and a 2.54 GAA. Ingram is in the second year of his three-year, $5.85 million deal signed in 2023. Considering his ability to come in clutch in the heat of the moment, as shown by his performance in the 2022 playoffs, any team would benefit from his arrival.
Kerfoot Unable to Find His ‘Foot’ing in Salt Lake City
Alexander Kerfoot, 30, has struggled to find his place in Utah. His 15 points (6g, 9a) in 44 games is diminishing compared to his 51 points (13g, 38a) in 82 games with the Maple Leafs a few seasons ago. Kerfoot has only been able to get bottom-six minutes which is not beneficial considering his skills on the ice. He averages nearly three minutes less a night compared to his playing time in Toronto.
Kerfoot has a very team-friendly deal, only getting paid $3.5 million for this season. If he were given more ice time on a team with a weak left/center position, Kerfoot would fit the role easily. This has been proven with his career in both Toronto and Colorado, where he would score nearly 30+ points every season when given proper ice time.
Next: 3 Trade Deadline Candidates for the Chicago Blackhawks
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