O'Brien (lower-body) went back to Utah to be evaluated.
Utah Hockey Club News
Goalie Start
Vejmelka will start Sunday in Vancouver.
Bjugstad (upper-body) has been activated from the IR but will remain out on Friday in Seattle.
Bjugstad has not played since March 1st and will remain out of the lineup on Friday despite being activated from Injured Reserve. The 32-year-old Bjugstad is averaging 12:39 time-on-ice and has 15 points (5G / 10A) in 53 games this season.
Goalie Start
Vejmelka will start in Seattle on Friday.
Utah HC has points in four straight (2-0-2) and will turn to Vejmelka between the pipes on Friday against the Seattle Kraken. Vejmelka was solid in his most recent outing, saving 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The 28-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.47 GAA and .909 SV% in 42 appearances this season (18-16-6). Utah enters the action on Friday as -149 road favorites against a Seattle team coming off a 5-4 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens.
Goalie Start
Vejmelka was the first goalie off the ice at Utah's morning skate.
Utah HC has points in four straight (2-0-2) and will likely turn to Vejmelka between the pipes on Friday against the Seattle Kraken. Vejmelka was solid in his most recent outing, saving 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The 28-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.47 GAA and .909 SV% in 42 appearances this season (18-16-6). Utah enters the action on Friday as -149 road favorites against a Seattle team coming off a 5-4 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens.
Goalie Start
Vejmelka will start vs. Anaheim on Wednesday.
Utah HC has lost two straight and will hope to return to the win column on Wednesday, with Vejmelka tending the twine against the Anaheim Ducks. Vejmelka has a sub-.900 SV% in three of his last four games (1-1-2), an uncommon trend for the Czech netminder this season. In 41 appearances (17-16-6), Vejmelka has a 2.49 GAA and .909 SV%. Utah HC enters Wednesday's contest as sizeable -278 home favorites against a Ducks squad that was defeated 7-4 by the Washington Capitals last night.
Goalie Start
Vejmelka is in the starter's crease at Utah's morning skate.
Utah HC has lost two straight and will hope to return to the win column on Wednesday, with Vejmelka tending the twine against the Anaheim Ducks. Vejmelka has a sub-.900 SV% in three of his last four games (1-1-2), an uncommon trend for the Czech netminder this season. In 41 appearances (17-16-6), Vejmelka has a 2.49 GAA and .909 SV%. Utah HC enters Wednesday's contest as sizeable -278 home favorites against a Ducks squad that was defeated 7-4 by the Washington Capitals last night.
Goalie Start
Vejmelka will start vs. Toronto on Monday.
Utah is coming off a disappointing 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks and will roll with Vejmelka between the pipes on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 28-year-old has a 2.48 GAA and .910 SV% in 40 appearances this season (17-16-5). Vejmelka has had some strong performances against the Maple Leafs in his career, posting 3.02 GAA and .915 SV% in five games (3-2-0). Utah enters the action on Monday as +102 home underdogs against a Maple Leafs squad amid a three-game losing skid (0-2-1).
Valimaki underwent successful surgery to repair a torn ACL is expected to miss the next 8-9 months.
Valimaki has not played since January 26th and will be sidelined for 8-9 months, recovering from ACL surgery. The 26-year-old defenseman averaged 16:33 time-on-ice and recorded five points (2G / 3A) in 43 games with Utah this season.
Bjugstad (upper body) practiced on Sunday but remains day-to-day.
Ingram has entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and will be out indefinitely.
Stauber was recalled from Tucson (AHL).
Goalie Start
Vejmelka will start in Chicago on Friday.
Utah HC has won four of their last five (1-4-0) and will roll with Vejmelka between the pipes on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Vejmelka was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 38 of 40 shots (.950 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Czech netminder has a 2.44 GAA and .912 SV% in 39 appearances this season (17-16-4). Utah enters Friday's contest as -163 road favorites against a Chicago team with points in three straight (2-0-1).
Bjugstad (upper-body) was placed on injured reserve on Thursday.
Bjugstad was originally said to be missing from practice due to an illness, so it's unclear whether or not this is actually a new injury. The team added he is considered day-to-day, so he is not expected to be out long-term.
Carcone (lower-body) will draw back into Utah's lineup on Thursday in Detroit.
Carcone has not played since February 25th, but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 28-year-old Carcone is averaged 11:39 time-on-ice and has 13 points (5G / 8A) in 41 games this season.
Goalie Start
Vejmelka will start Thursday in Detroit.
Fresh off a five-year, $4.75M AAV contract extension, Vejmelka will be between the pipes on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. Vejmelka allowed three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. The 28-year-old Czech netminder has a 2.45 GAA and .910 SV% in 38 games this season (16-16-4). Utah HC enters the action on Thursday as -132 road favorites against a Red Wings club amid a three-game losing skid (0-3-0).
Utah has signed Cameron Hebig to a one-year, two-way contract through the rest of the 2024-25 season.
Hebig an undrafted 28-year-old forward that has yet to play an NHL game. He has spent most of the previous seven seasons in the AHL, including scoring 37 points (20G / 17A) in 48 games with the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) this season.
Utah has re-signed Karel Vejmelka to a five-year contract worth $4.75M AAV ($23.75M total).
Vejmelka is in the final year of a three-year, $2.725M AAV contract and is now signed though the 2029-30 season. Vejmelka has enjoyed the best season of his four-year career so far, going 16-16-4 with a 2.45 GAA, .910 SV% and one shutout in 38 games (35 starts).
Utah signed Cole to a one-year contract extension on Wednesday.
Cole was set to become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1st, but will instead remain in Utah for the 2025-26 season. The 36-year-old defenceman has one goal and 12 assists in 61 games for Utah this season and leads the NHL with 160 blocked shots.
Utah signed Kerfoot to a one-year, $3-million contract extension on Wednesday.
Kerfoot was set to become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1st, but will instead remain in Utah next season on a $3-million dollar cap hit. Kerfoot has seven goals and nine assists in 61 games this season.
