Utah Hockey Club News

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.

Agozzino had a goal and two assists with nine SOG through four games with San Jose in 2022-23 and has been traded to Anaheim for Andrej Sustr. The 32-year-old travelling left-winger has three goals, and 12 points across 51 NHL games played.

Ingram was 6-13-8 with a 3.37 GAA and .907 SV% during 2022-23 and has signed a $1.95 Million contract extension with Arizona to remain in a goalie tandem with Karel Vejmelka. The 26-year-old goaltender will be entering his third NHL season in 2023-24, having played in 30 games with both Nashville and Arizona.

Durzi had nine goals, 38 points, 110 SOG, 50 PIMs and a -12 plus/minus through 72 games in 2022-23 with Los Angeles but has been traded to the Arizona Coyotes for a 2024 2nd Round Pick (via Montreal). The 24-year-old heads to the desert having collected 136 career NHL games with Los Angeles, picking up 65 points across that span (12G/53A).

Carcone had two goals, three points, 15 SOG, two PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through nine game with Arizona in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, one-way contract ($775,000 AAV) through 2024-25. The 27-year-old left-winger has nine points (6G/3A) in 30 career NHL games played across two seasons since debuting in 2021-22.

Koch was an undrafted free agent, who has spent the lat eight years in the top tiers of Slovakia and Czech Republic. Most recently he's been with Vitkovice HC of the Czech Extraliga, where he had 12 points (3G / 9A) in 46 games in 2023.

Räty was a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and signed with Arizona after spending the last four seasons in Finland. The 21-year-old winger had 42 points (18G / 24A) in 53 games with Ilves Tampere (Liiga).

Szuber was a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. The 20-year-old defenseman spent the 2023 season in Germany, posting 10 points (3G / 7A) in 46 games with Munich EHC (DEL).

Connauton has been traded to the Los Angeles Kings as part of a three-team blockbuster trade involving Columbus and five players and three draft picks. The 33-year-old defensemen had three goals, 12 assists, 49 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus through 63 games played with Lehigh Valley (AHL) in 2022-23 and has 360 career NHL games played with 80 points (28G/52A) across that span.

Walker did not appear in any playoff games for Minnesota through two games and will head back to Iowa (AHL) for their playoff push. The 23-year-old had 27 goals, 21 assists, 23 PIMs and a +19 plus/minus through 56 games played with Iowa (AHL) during the regular season.

Stenlund was considered a game-time decision but is on the ice for warmups and will play in Game 1 in Vegas. Stenlund had just nine points (6G / 3A) in 54 games this season.

Stenlund left the Jets' final game of the season after just 8:36 TOI due to a lower-body injury and will be a game-time decision Tuesday vs. Vegas. The 26-year-old had six goals, nine points, 63 SOG, 20 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 54 games during the regular season.