Utah is in a very unique situation going into their first off-season as an NHL organization
Utah is in a very unique situation going into their first off-season as an NHL organization
Utah has a very unique opportunity as they prepare for their first off-season as an NHL organization.
With $43 million in projected cap space, they can be in on almost every big-named NHL free agent out there.
They can also outbid just about any other NHL team that is looking to be competitive next season on those top-named players.
For example, if a Cup contender is in talks with Elias Lindholm and the tabled offer is in the neighbourhood of $7 million over seven seasons, Utah can offer $8 million per seven seasons.
This may make them the frontrunner for the player, but it can also force the other team involved to up their offer for that said player. This can essentially take the other team out of the running for other players, allowing Utah to be in on more players they want.
Of course, this can also backfire, and teams may catch on to their strategy and use it against them, ruining Utah's off-season plans.
Utah can also be very involved in trade talks for players like Patrik Laine at the NHL Draft on June 27–28.
They will likely be open to trading some of their 13 draft selections in the upcoming draft to help improve their roster.
As we approach the draft and free agency, Utah should be at the top of most people's lists for the team to watch for. They will be one of the more interesting teams since they want to be competitive next season and have a lot of work to do.
Coupling that with $43 million in cap space and 13 draft picks that could be available for trade, they will be fun to watch over the next few weeks.