Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
If you take a look at the NHL’s team stats page for the 2024 calendar year, you’ll see 33 franchises listed, not 32.
Because the Utah Hockey Club is officially a brand-new organization, its stats are recorded separately from the franchise numbers of the Arizona Coyotes.
The side-by-side data presents an interesting contrast.
Amid all the turmoil and talk of possible relocation in the second half of last season, the Coyotes collected 37 points in their last 47 games to finish 21 points out of a playoff spot.
By Dec 31, 2024, Utah had already passed that, with 38 points in 37 games under its new identity. Now, after adding three of a possible four points to kick off 2025, the first-year franchise is sitting three points out of a Western Conference wild-card spot as of Sunday morning.
The Coyotes’ best playoff showing in franchise history, including their time in the NHL as the Winnipeg Jets 1.0, was their run to the Western Conference Final in 2012.
After that, their only playoff appearance came in the fan-free 24-team bubble in Edmonton in 2020, when Rick Tocchet was still behind the bench.
Tocchet’s successor, Andre Tourigny, didn’t get his team close to the postseason during his three years in the desert. But, he was able to keep his head down through all the drama, delivering passable results under extremely difficult circumstances.
This year, Touringy is technically in his first season with a brand-new franchise. But he’s still guiding many of the same players, and they might just reach new heights in their new rock black, salt white and mountain blue uniforms.
A Better Defense
In terms of on-ice performance, the biggest difference in Utah has been in goals against. Mountain living clearly agrees with Karel Vejmelka, who has helped his team drop from 3.72 goals allowed per game in Arizona during 2024 down to 2.97 so far this year.
Blue-line upgrades have also helped, and there’s potential for more improvement when two key defensemen return from long-term injuries.
Two-time Stanley Cup champion Mikhail Sergachev has been a horse since he was acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning during draft weekend. His 25:51 per game, in all situations, trails only Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets in average ice time (26:27).
New acquisition John Marino was given a timeline of 3-4 months after undergoing back surgery in late October…