With the trade deadline just days away, Utah must assess whether to buy or sell players in its late push for the postseason.
So far Utah’s only move is the recent extension of defenseman Olli Määttä. The move signifies that Utah can find ways to improve both its present and future by simply looking inward rather than outward.
After all, Utah is becoming healthier on both offense and defense, so maybe the smartest move is to bet on its own players, like Määttä, to continue to elevate their performances. Utah HC general manager himself has said in a recent team statement that the team is “in a period where there’s a lot of guys that have to develop in front of us before we go chasing rentals.”
So to me, I think Utah should continue this trend and start by extending goalie Karel Vejmelka. In fact, I think Utah needs Vejmelka if it wants any chance of making and competing in the postseason.
According to a recent article by Belle Fraser of the Salt Lake Tribune, Vejmelka is also looking for an extension specifically with Utah. The team would be wise to work out a deal now rather than risk losing him, especially since it's mutually beneficial for both parties.
Throughout the season, there has been widespread discussion about Vejmelka’s value. Should he be used as a potential asset in the trade market for other teams looking to strengthen itself at the position? Does Utah plan on keeping him? Given that he is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, this would be the last chance Utah could get value for him.
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However, Vejmelka’s importance to this team far exceeds that of a typical backup goalie. He has been a key presence, stepping up when starting goalie Connor Ingram was sidelined due to injury and personal tragedy.
Vejmelka has been more than just a fill-in; he has played like a starter and has even performed better than Ingram this season. Vejmelka has allowed an average of only 2.45 goals per game with a save percentage of .910, while Ingram has allowed an average of 3.27 goals per game with a save percentage of .882 when he starts.
“He's been unreal all season long. He's been a rock back there for us and an unbelievable goalie,” said defenseman Mikhail Sergachev after Utah’s most recent game, a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. “Obviously it gives you confidence to play when you have a great goalie back there. He makes timeless saves for us.”
Vejmelka’s overall performances—including his career-high 49-save game in a 4-1 win against the Hurricanes—have been crucial to the success of this team. Whether during Utah’s impressive seven road-game winning streak or its rough patch that saw Utah go 2-8-2 across 12 games, Vejmelka remained phenomenal and was arguably Utah’s best player during this tough stretch.
Utah initially attempted to reintegrate Ingram back into his starting role, but his play has been inconsistent largely due to a lack of playing. During this time, Vejmelka’s performance also declined as his starts decreased and the difference in play was noticeable. It was arguably the most inconsistent stretch Vejmelka has had this season.
But even with inconsistent play, Vejmelka showed he could still perform at the caliber he has all season when he stepped in midway through the first period for an injured Ingram, leading Utah to its first franchise shootout win over the Capitals.
Despite allowing a season-high six goals in a 7-3 loss to Carolina just days before, Vejmelka responded immediately by stepping up in critical moments, including a flawless shootout performance where he didn’t allow a single goal. This ability to rise to the occasion is an essential trait for playoff success.
While Ingram started in Utah’s 5-3 loss to the Kings following its win against the Capitals and the Four Nations Face-Off break, Vejmelka has since started four consecutive games.
And that’s with Ingram back and healthy. It seems that even Utah has recognized it benefits more from having Vejmelka as the consistent starter rather than trying a two-goalie system or trying to force Ingram back into his starting role.
Ultimately, Vejmelka has been critical for Utah up to this point, and if it wants to keep winning and reach the postseason, he will need to start the majority of games.
This is not to say that re-signing Vejmelka means Ingram must be relegated to a backup role next season. After all, Utah was confident enough Ingram to initially give him the starting role.
However, Vejmelka’s play has been impossible to ignore, especially since Ingram has not displayed the same level of elite performances or consistency this season.
While it may be tempting to trade a player in his contract year, moving Vejmelka would essentially mean parting with a starting-caliber goalie who can be the difference between winning and losing a playoff series. I think Utah likely understands this reality.
Plus, Ingram is under contract for one more season, so if Utah really wants to trade one of its goalies, it can do so next year. Otherwise, Utah can just keep both goalies and be happy knowing it won’t need to worry about a goalie issue in the offseason.
Rather than waiting for the offseason, Utah should go beyond just extending Määttä and ink Vejmelka to a new contract as well.
Vejmelka’s play has earned it.
