Proposal: Top 4 defenceman to Utah

[Mosby]

The Utah Whatevers need to add a Top 4 D, similar to what the club did last summer in moving a second rounder for Sean Durzi.

Ideal add is 27 or younger and is on a short-term deal who can fill a role until guys like Simashev and Lamoureux are ready. Open to either a LD or RD.

Expectation is Utah is willing to package picks in order to accomplish this, outside of the 1st round. Second-tier prospects like Soderstrom, Jenik, Raty are likely available as well.

So who is a good fit?

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[Ledge And Dairy]

Sign Skjei. He'd be a good fit there

 

[Mosby]

Sign Skjei. He'd be a good fit there

GM Bill Armstrong was pretty unequivocal in a recent radio hit that he has no interest in giving long-term deals to these types. Skjei is a great D, but he's 30 and going to be looking for term. That has mistaken written all over it.

 

[unassisted]

I hear Chychrun is available

 

[rt]

I hear Chychrun is available

I’d offer the two 2nds we got from Ottawa.

 

[lanky]

I’d offer the two 2nds we got from Ottawa.

Contingent on extension? Or straight up, knowing that he's probably waiting to sign with the Panthers?

 

[rt]

Contingent on extension? Or straight up, knowing that he's probably waiting to sign with the Panthers?

If he doesn’t sign by the deadline then I’ll trade him for a 2nd and a 3rd.

 

[Szechwan]

Vancouver has some tough decisions to make regarding Zadorov/Hronek/Joshua, wouldn't be surprised if they keep Zads and make Hronek available

 

[Gurglesons]

I would do Marcus Pettersson for Vejmelka, Carcone and a pick.

I would do Ryan Graves + 2024 2nd for a 3rd.

 

[majormajor]

They might as well sign a guy like Skjei to a long term deal, maybe two guys.

"Short term until Simashev and Lamoreux are ready for top pair minutes" could be five years away.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Its still super weird to see Utah, sure takes time to get used to that.

---

do they need though? should they be too hasty and not let their actual top 4 develop more?

Durzi, 25 (6 foot 0 / 195 lbs)
Kesselring, 24 (6 foot 5 / 222 lbs)
Moser, 23 (6 foot 1 / 190 lbs)
Välimäki, 25 (6 foot 2 / 215 lbs)

avg age : 24.2

that 4 doesn't sound/look much for an average NHL fan, but i don't see anything wrong with that for them, for their inaugural season
3 x two-way d-men and 1 offensive mind d-man, 2 x RD, 2 X LD, looks good to me, all 4 skates really well and are good passers

 

[Artorius Horus T]

They need to improve their 5 on 5 overall defending, that comes from forwards engaging to play d, also better coaching would help too
They should get #5 and #6 guys, if one would think improving their d. as much as i like Josh Brown, like his skating for a big guy, also, sometimes he makes pretty good plays in the o-zone as well, nothing that leads to goals, nor to points, but first pass stuff, they need someone better, also, they should not bring back Dermott..

 

[Iwishihadaspacebar]

Low risk gambles
Liljegren
Brannstrom
Perunovich

More experienced
Ryan Lingren
McNabb or Hague from Vegas if they need cap space

 

[bernmeister]

Lindgren
what do you offer?

 

[BKarchitect]

Low risk gambles
Liljegren
Brannstrom
Perunovich

More experienced
Ryan Lingren
McNabb or Hague from Vegas if they need cap space

I think they need guys tough to play against in their own zone which kind of eliminates the first group - at least as the "main" acquisition. I know they have a couple of big boys on the way in Lamoureux and Simashev but ETA on them is still very much TBD.

Your second group of Lindgren, McNabb, Hague - that seems more in the ballpark of what I'd be looking for if I'm Utah. Hague would be really intriguing - I think there's more meat on the bone there with his size/skillset - but he makes only $2.3 million next year and is still only 25 which doesn't make him an immediate candidate for cap slashing if I'm Vegas. I doubt Vegas trades McNabb, he's way too important and cheap still for next year, they can just let him walk after 2025. Whitecloud sems the more likely RHD to move although he's more of a pure 4/5 type than a top 4 upgrade.

 

[CanMerc]

Neal Pionk
28/29 yrs old
6ft, 186lbs
1 yr @ 5.875m
5 G, 28 A, for 33 pts in 82 GP this season

Offers?

 

[Heldig]

Its still super weird to see Utah, sure takes time to get used to that.

---

do they need though? should they be too hasty and not let their actual top 4 develop more?

Durzi, 25 (6 foot 0 / 195 lbs)
Kesselring, 24 (6 foot 5 / 222 lbs)
Moser, 23 (6 foot 1 / 190 lbs)
Välimäki, 25 (6 foot 2 / 215 lbs)

avg age : 24.2

that 4 doesn't sound/look much for an average NHL fan, but i don't see anything wrong with that for them, for their inaugural season
3 x two-way d-men and 1 offensive mind d-man, 2 x RD, 2 X LD, looks good to me, all 4 skates really well and are good passers

But to improve in the standings they need that top four to be D numbers 3 to 6. They need 2 top 2 Dmen.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

But to improve in the standings they need that top four to be D numbers 3 to 6. They need 2 top 2 Dmen.

You have a point. But, i think that 4 can improve and be that, that force that can improve their placement in the standings.
But i do understand what you are trying to say.

 

[Jared Dunn]

GM Bill Armstrong was pretty unequivocal in a recent radio hit that he has no interest in giving long-term deals to these types. Skjei is a great D, but he's 30 and going to be looking for term. That has mistaken written all over it.

They also have more cap space than anyone and could afford to give him like $8 million a year on a 4 year deal and avoid that risk. They should just add Skjei and one of Pesce/Roy

 

[Mosby]

Fair. But if Utah offers Skjei 4x8m and some other team offers 7x6m, he's not going to Utah.

 

[BKarchitect]

Neal Pionk
28/29 yrs old
6ft, 186lbs
1 yr @ 5.875m
5 G, 28 A, for 33 pts in 82 GP this season

Offers?

Depends if Bill Armstrong watched the playoffs or not.

 

[Jared Dunn]

Its still super weird to see Utah, sure takes time to get used to that.

---

do they need though? should they be too hasty and not let their actual top 4 develop more?

Durzi, 25 (6 foot 0 / 195 lbs)
Kesselring, 24 (6 foot 5 / 222 lbs)
Moser, 23 (6 foot 1 / 190 lbs)
Välimäki, 25 (6 foot 2 / 215 lbs)

avg age : 24.2

that 4 doesn't sound/look much for an average NHL fan, but i don't see anything wrong with that for them, for their inaugural season
3 x two-way d-men and 1 offensive mind d-man, 2 x RD, 2 X LD, looks good to me, all 4 skates really well and are good passers

I don't think either Kesselring or Valimaki have shown enough that they should be assumed as top 4 D or given those spots, and average age being 24 there they definitely need some veteran presence.

 

[Mosby]

This is the group for next year, as it stands:

xxxx - Durzi
Moser - xxxx
Valimaki - Kesselring

We can get away with one of Durzi or Moser on the top pair, but not both.

Extras are Soderstrom, Kolyachonok, and Szuber.

 

[Jormungandr]

Kesselring should be in the AHL. He’s a big, right shot defenseman who can skate, so people fall in love with him. But man is he horrendous. Turnover machine, and is constantly out of position.

Valimaki should just be let go. Not a fan of his either.

 

[blackjackmulligan]

travis sanheim.