The Utah Hockey Club has nearly gotten everything perfect this off-season.
General Manager Bill Armstrong has masterfully rebuilt the blue line, strategically positioning the forward group to accommodate their young players. Plus, he made a wise decision to keep Connor Ingram and Karel Vejmelka, both of whom have proven to be great assets.
The duo of Ingram and Vejmelka deserves recognition as one of the NHL's most underrated tandems.
Ingram, at 27, has established himself as a standout player in the NHL over the past few seasons.
Starting his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning's organization, Ingram moved on to the Nashville Predators before joining the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022-23 season. It was only after his time with the Coyotes, now known as the Utah team, that he was able to fully showcase his talent and become a consistent starter.
Ingram has openly discussed his battle with OCD and his unwavering dedication to his craft, earning him the 2024 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
Last season, Ingram recorded a record of 23-21-3 with a 2.91 GAA and a .907 SV%.
Vejmelka, recognized as one of the top fantasy hockey goalies, faced a challenging situation with the Coyotes. The team's high shot-against rate meant Vejmelka had to exert more effort than most other goalies in the NHL.
However, with Armstrong's significant improvements to the blue line, Vejmelka is poised to excel and become even more dependable for the team.
In the 38 games of the last season, Vejmelka's performance was slightly below average, with a record of 13-19-2, a 3.29 GAA, and a .897 SV%.
As Utah continues to improve, the expectations for Ingram and Vejmelka are on the rise. Both players are on the cusp of making a significant impact, yet their talent remains largely unrecognized.