Utah Hockey Club 2024-25 Season Preview & Betting Odds

Utah is the newest team in the NHL. They made some big changes in the offseason that they hope will put them into the Stanley Cup playoffs. My 2024-25 Utah season preview, will focus on if those changes can get them there.

Utah Hockey Club 2024 Offseason Additions

Utah Hockey Club 2024 Offseason Departures

The Impact Of Utah's Revamped Blue Line

Utah management knew change was required. Switching from Arizona sweaters to ones with "UTAH" on them wasn't enough. They went big in the offseason and acquired a new top defensive duo with Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino; seasoned NHL vets who are both under 28.

While Arizona didn't score a ton of goals last year, they were still a respectable 17th in the NHL. The big issue was defense. With 274 goals against, Arizona had the eighth-worst defensive record in the league. Their inability to keep the puck away from their end with the 22nd-best CF% at 48.53% was to blame for their poor defensive numbers.

Getting Sergachev who's excellent in transition and keeping puck possession above 50% for his team was a big win. Not to mention that Sergachev has shown he can put up double-digit goals from the blue line and score 60+ points in a season.

Landing Sergachev will impact the roster in more ways than one. Specifically on his teammates like new captain Clayton Keller.

Introducing: 𝗖layton Keller pic.twitter.com/N2Z1ZbUZ8G

— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) October 4, 2024

Keller might have only scored over 34 goals once in his last three years but he was pacing to OVER 33.5 goals in the two other years. So if Keller plays a full 82-game season he will score more than 33.5 goals. That's before considering the impact Sergachev will have. 

Keller's points total is set at 81.5. Over his last three seasons, he's averaged 81.3 points per year. Again, that's before considering Utah added a defenseman like Sergachev who can create a lot of opportunities. 

Odds as of October 4

I say Keller hits the OVER on both his season total props. That's $17.40 in profits on a $10 bet for both bets. Or you can parlay both bets together to up that payout to $24.95 on a $10 bet. 

Can They Make The Playoffs?

Arizona's poor defense surely cost them a playoff spot last season. Remember, that on Jan 1, 2024, Arizona was in a playoff spot. But from Jan 2 to April 18, they went 17-27-3 with a gross -29 goal differential and missed the dance by 12 points. 

So can these changes push them into the playoffs? Oddsmakers are putting their points total at 87.5 with the UNDER favored at -130. That's not enough to make the playoffs 

Odds as of October 4

Last year no Western Conference team made the playoffs with less than 98 points. So Utah has to hit the OVER if they hope to make it. 

Unfortunately for Utah, they play in the tough Central Division where they've got the sixth-lowest points total in the division. Only Chicago (74.5) and St. Louis (86.5) have lower totals Clearly, Utah is expected to struggle mightily in their division this season. This would be a continuation of last year when they went 9-14-3 (0.404 pts%).

A third of those division wins came against Nashville where Arizona went 3-0-1 last year. As you know, Barry Trotz didn't sit on his laurels in the offseason with major free-agent acquisitions. Don't expect Utah to have the same domination over the Preds this year.

Stay Away From Utah

I might just stay away from any futures bet on Utah. Their division is the toughest in the league without question. Even the Blackhawks won't be the doormat they were last year. 

But, there's something to be said about a team being able to find a higher gear when starting over fresh with a new team. We all dismissed the Vegas Golden Knights in their first season and the misfits powered their way to a Cup final!

It wouldn't shock me if the former Coyotes found a new gear while wearing UTAH sweaters and the new additions on the blueline fix their biggest issue from last year.