From the NHL to the Olympics: How Ryan Smith Is Making His Vision Come True

A month ago, Utah Hockey Club owner Ryan Smith spoke before the media 100 days before the biggest opening night event in Beehive State sports' history.

Now, 72 days before then, he's celebrating the arrival of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Smith said how fighting for Utah has been his main goal since taking control of the former Arizona Coyotes in April, and he's bringing it to life.

Think about it: the man took Qualtrics, a PR brand that would become a global household name, out of his basement in his home.

He took over the Utah Jazz and immediately made major decisions that would shake up the NBA for years to come, including the trades of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.

Now, he's put his full trust in his good friend, president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong, general manager Bill Armstrong, and head coach Andre Tourigny, to build a contender now and into the future.

It's just another example of how Smith, who looks at the Armstrongs and Tourigny as his business partners, sees the potential of something rather than what the numbers and the news say.

And the fact he's already promoting the brand in his time in Paris should tell you just how aggressive he is and how aggressive he's going to get in the lead up to the 2034 Winter Olympics.

While Chris Armstrong, Bill Armstrong, the Smiths, and Tourigny may state it differently, their ambitions are the same, and their causes are common. It's not surprising at all that Smith is making his vision come true.

And 72 days from now, it will be on display for the nation to see.