Has the Utah Hockey Club mastered its first NHL draft? – Deseret News

It will take some time to know what the Utah Hockey Club’s first draft class will look like.

However, the first impression of the newest NHL franchise is positive.

Even though most of these players will not play for the Utah Hockey Club any time soon – if at all, as Deseret News colleague Trent Wood explained, the majority of NHL draftees spent their careers in the minor leagues – there is great optimism after the weekend.

In total, the Utah Hockey Club drafted 11 players – the organization had the most players in the league at the draft with 13 picks before shrewdly negotiating the final selection.

The big names are, of course, Tij Iginla, whom the franchise selected with the 6th overall pick, and Cole Beaudoin, whom the team acquired in exchange for another round.

On the second day of the draft, the UHC also selected a group of players including Will Skahan, Tomas Lavoie, Veeti Vaisanen, Gregor Biber, Gabe Smith, Owen Allard, Ales Cech, Vojtech Hradec and Ludvig Lafton.

Although not part of the draft, Utah also made a splash over the weekend by signing two experienced defensemen through trades: Mikhail Sergachev from Tampa Bay and John Marino from New Jersey.

How was Utah’s first draft perceived by the national media?

Here’s how five news organizations rated the Utah Hockey Club’s draft haul, from best to worst. It’s fair to say outsiders were impressed.

ESPN

Utah Hockey Club Draft Note: A note

What Rachel Doerrie said: “There is no other grade you can give Utah here. Overall, it was a brilliant weekend for the NHL’s newest club.

“Using the abundance of picks over the next few years to acquire a second first-round pick was a good deal. Both Tij Iginla and Cole Beaudoin were good choices that will be important parts of Utah’s offensive core.

“The loss of Conor Geekie hurts, but was bearable given the depth of the talent pool. Signing Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino is good business, as both will be key players in Utah’s defense. They will surprise their opponents next season.”

FloHockey

Utah Hockey Club Draft Note: A

What Chris Peters said: “Utah had 11 picks in the draft and started off with a bang by taking Tij Iginla. He will be a huge star for this franchise from the second he steps on the ice. Cole Beaudoin is a player who will also help them win with his combative two-way style. With their first pick on Day 2, they also chose an old-school, physical defenseman in Will Skahan for the blue line. In the end, six players were selected from FloHockey’s top 100, including the first three picks, Tomas Lavoie, Veeti Vaisanen and Owen Allard. In addition, Utah made an instant winning move by adding Mikhail Sergachev via trade. It was a very, very big weekend for the NHL’s newest team.”

Daily Faceoff

Utah Hockey Club Draft Note: A

What Steven Ellis said: “Will Iginla be Utah’s first 50-goal scorer? That’s what they’re hoping for. He had a monster season with the Kelowna Rockets and will be one of the team’s most marketable stars. I also love the selection of Beaudoin and Skahan because they do so many things well, and Tomas Lavoie, Veeti Vaisanen and Gregor Biber all have some interesting upside on defense. I also liked the selection of Owen Allard and Ludvig Lafton. Given the picks and all the work they did off the draft floor today, it was a good day for Utah fans.”

The athlete

Utah Hockey Club Draft Note: B+

What Corey Pronman said: “The Utah Hockey Cubs’ valuation does not reflect the trades they made, as it’s all about the talent they acquired in the draft. That being said, I’m a huge fan of the deals they made. By adding Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino to a defense that will soon have Dmitri Simashev and Maveric Lamoureux, Utah’s defense could be pretty fearsome given the size and mobility of this group. As for picks, Tij Iginla at No. 6 was a bit high for me, although I see him as a potential top-6 wing in the NHL and he wasn’t far behind that spot on my list. Utah’s next three picks are extremely competitive big men like Cole Beaudoin, Will Skahan and Tomas Lavoie, all of whom have clear, predictable paths to the NHL. Beaudoin looks like a full-time NHL forward and those two defensemen have real chances to make it as well. Owen Allard is a fast player who was also one of my favorites in this class. I could imagine that three NHL regulars will come out of this group, with Iginla having a high chance of scoring a lot of goals in the league.”

Bleacher Report

Utah Hockey Club Draft Note: B+

What Hannah Stuart said: “If Utah wanted to make a splash with their very first draft pick, they got it. Tij Iginla was a terrific starter and he will bring his appealing offensive game to their roster sooner rather than later. The trade to get Cole Beaudoin at 24 was a bit over the top, but if they wanted him and heard others wanted him too, well – we get it. The kid is a threat in the best possible way. Notable picks on day two include NTDP defenseman Will Skahan. Skahan is a defensive defenseman who skates well and pressures opponents well.

“One note: If we were to consider all draft weekend activity and not just draft picks, this would be an easy A thanks to Utah’s signing of defensemen Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino.”