A team that made a serious identity change has turned into a serious divisional contender.
The Western Conference is known for its physical play.
Head coach Andrew Brunette and the Nashville Predators are the prime example of how it should be used to perfection.
With an offence anchored by Filip Forsberg and a stingy defence with a lot of big bodies who throw their weight around, the Preds were already a force to be reckoned with after a sluggish start to their season.
Now, with the additions of Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei, and Jonathan Marchessault, they look to be one of the big favourites to win the Stanley Cup this season.
(Notwithstanding Marchessault, Stamkos, and even Skjei were all considered to be targets in free agency for Utah.)
Utah has the same story; the acquisitions of Mikhail Sergachev, among others, strengthened the club's blue line, seen as a weakness last season.
They also upped their physicality with the additions of Kevin Stenlund and Ian Cole, the latter of which having experience playing against this physical Nashville team.
Expect every matchup between these two teams to be low-scoring and bruising, as they know how to throw the body and use it to their advantage.
It may well come down to, as Sergachev pointed out, being smart in picking and choosing moments to use their physicality.
And it will provide Utah a great test to learn it from a team that is always fired up to lay the lumber.