Utah Hockey Club News

Maatta was a healthy scratch in the Red Wings' season-opening loss in New Jersey. With Robby Fabbri day-to-day with an injury, Maatta will suit up as the Red Wings' No.7 defenseman. He had 23 points (6G / 17A) in 78 games a season ago.

Vejmelka will get the start for the Coyotes in their season opener against the New Jersey Devils on Friday night. Vejmelka is coming off a 50-game campaign (18-24-6) that saw him record a 3.41 GAA and .900 SV% along with three shutouts. The Coyotes should see some improvements on their 28-40-14 record from last season but will be put to the test in their opening matchup against Jack Hughes and the high-flying offence of the Devils.

Vejmelka is likely to get the start for the Coyotes in their season opener against the New Jersey Devils on Friday night. Vejmelka is coming off a 50-game campaign (18-24-6) that saw him record a 3.41 GAA and .900 SV% along with three shutouts. The Coyotes should see some improvements on their 28-40-14 record from last season but will be put to the test in their opening matchup against Jack Hughes and the high-flying offence of the Devils.

Maatta appeared in 78 games for the Red Wings in 2022-23 picking up six goals, 17 assists and a -9 plus/minus but will be a healthy scratch for their season opener Thursday vs. New Jersey. The 29-year-old signed a two-year, $6 million contract extension in February but was the odd man out for newly signed Justin Holl Thursday. He should find himself in Detroits' lineup more often than not.

Guenther made the Coyotes roster out of training camp last season, tallying 15 points (6G / 9A) in 33 games before finishing his season with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. This year, the ninth overall pick from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft will debut the season in the AHL. Guenther proved that he could compete in the NHL last season and could find his way back with the Coyotes at some point this year.

Sokolov appeared in five games for the Ottawa Senators in 2022-23 and picked up a goal and an assist with a +2 plus/minus and signed a one-year, two-way contract extension Tuesday. The 23-year-old winger also had 21 goals, 38 assists, 72 PIMs and a -15 plus/minus through 70 games with Belleville (AHL) last season. He will provide Ottawa with more lineup depth after earning 13 games of NHL experience in the last two seasons.

McBain had 12 goals, 14 assists, 85 SOG, 64 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 82 games in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $3.2 million contract extension with Arizona. The 23-year-old centre was drafted by Minnesota in the third-round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft (63rd overall) and has 14 goals and 29 points across 92 games and two seasons with Arizona.

Cooley had originally committed to the University of Minnesota (NCAA) for the 2023-24 season but has decided against that decision as he signed a three-year, entry-level contract Thursday with Arizona. The 19-year-old centre was Arizona's 2022 1st round-pick (3rd overall) and had 22 goals, 38 assists, 42 PIMs and a +38 plus/minus through 39 games with the University of Minnesota in 2022-23.

Maccelli broke out in 2022-23 with Arizona as he finished second in rookie scoring with 11 goals, 38 assists, 18 PIMs and 61 SOG and has signed a three-year, $10.275 million contract extension ($3,425,000 AAV).The 22-year-old left-winger was drafted by Arizona in the fourth-round (98th overall) and has 12 goals and 55 points in 87 career games.

Onyebuchi is an undrafted free agent out of the WHL, that played 81 games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) over the last two seasons. The 6-foot-3, 210 lbs. defenseman has commonly been found among the team's PIMS leaders during his WHL and AHL stays.

Barron sticks with the Coyotes' organization after pocking up 19 goals and 23 assists (42 points) in 114 AHL games with Tucson over the last two seasons.

Villalta was a third-round pick of the Kings in 2017 and played for their AHL team for the last four seasons. In 2023, Villalta went 12-8-1 with a 2.65 GAA and .910 SV% in 22 games with Ontario (AHL). Villalta will likely start the 2023-24 season in the AHL, as he sits behind Karel Vejmelka, Connor Ingram and Ivan Prosvetov (RFA) on the depth chart.

Kerfoot played the last four years in Toronto, where he had a career-high 51 points (13G / 38A) in 82 games during the 2022 season. His role diminished in 2023 and he finished with just 32 points (10G / 22A) in 82 games. Kerfoot has the versatility to play all three positions and will likely move up and down the Coyotes' lineup throughout the 2023-24 season.

Bjugstad had 23 points (13G / 10A) in 59 games with Arizona last season before being traded to the Oilers at the deadline, where he added another six points (4G / 2A) in 19 games. The 6-6, 209 lbs. centre provides some stability and a veteran presence in the Coyotes middle-6, but has not had more than 29 points in a season since 2018.

Stenlund had six goals, three assists, 63 SOG, 20 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 54 games with Winnipeg in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $1.0 million contract with Florida. The 26-year-old Centre was drafted in the second-round of the 2015 NHL Draft (58th overall) by Columbus and has 17 goals, 29 points and 168 SOG through 125 NHL games played in his career.

Yamamoto was dealt to the Red Wings alongside Klim Kostin for future considerations on Thursday and has now been placed on unconditional waivers with the purpose of a buyout. The 24-year-old right-winger had 10 goals, 15 assists, 97 SOG, 24 PIMs and a +12 plus/minus through 58 games with Edmonton in 2022-23 and will test the free agency on July 1st. The winger has played six NHL seasons, racking up 118 points (50G/68A) in 244 career NHL games.

Yamamoto has one year left on his deal that carries a $3.1M cap hit. The move provides the Oilers with some much-needed cap space and gives the Red Wings added depth on the wing. Yamamoto was the No.22 overall pick in 2017 and has 118 points (50G / 68A) in 244 career games with the Oilers. Most recently, he had 10 goals and 15 assists (25 points) in 58 games during the 2022-23 season.