Utah’s Connor Ingram assigned to AHL on conditioning stint

Utah Hockey Club goaltender Connor Ingram appears closer to returning from an upper-body injury as he was assigned to the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners on Tuesday, as first reported by Cole Bagley of KSL Sports.

Ingram has been out of the lineup for the past 18 games. Prior to his injury, he made 13 appearances in which he notched a 6-4-3 record alongside an .871 save percentage and 3.61 goals-against average.

Upon returning to the big club, the 27-year-old Saskatchewan native hopes to return to his form from a year when as part of the former Arizona Coyotes he saw a career high of 50 appearances in which he went 23-21-3 with a .907 save percentage and 2.91 goals-against average before ending the year with Bill Masterton Trophy recognition.

Ingram originally joined Arizona in 2022 following a waiver claim from the Nashville Predators. He had previously played three games with the Predators, but spent the bulk of his playing time with the club’s minor-league affiliate. Ingram was originally chosen 88th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Per PuckPedia, Ingram is under contract for one more season at a $1.95-million annual average value.

In Ingram’s absence, Utah has turned to 28-year-old Czech-born netminder Karel Vejmelka who through 22 appearances this season has found the win column eight times. Through it all, Vejmelka has shined as his .916 save percentage and 2.40 goals-against average both ranks amongst the league leaders. Utah has also seen impressive performances from farmhand Jaxson Stauber who remains undefeated in regulation across three outings in which he has combined for a .928 save percentage and 1.96 goals-against average.

Despite being in the midst of a four-game winless skid, Utah sits only four points back of a playoff position in the Western Conference and will look to return to its winning ways Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers.