Utah Inherits an NHL Team That Could Be a Playoff Caliber Team Next Season

It might sound crazy to some, but the Coyotes were building an entertaining roster with a bright future. Now Utah gets to mold that roster for the 2024-25 season.
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[@saviorlegend]

I tried to watch the celebration in Utah greeting the Coyotes. Had to turn it off. It hurt too much watching all the suffering that we went through to finally get a competitive team and then to have them get moved. I'm happy for the guys to be treated like the professional players that they are & have an ownership group that's willing to invest in them. Still stings, though. Take care of our boys, Utah.

[@Hoovie9596]

In Winnipeg in 1996 we said : “Phoenix, take care of our boys.” They didn’t

[@michaelbourque5978]

Did you go to the games, buy merch, watch on TV, etc.? If so, I feel your pain, but outside looking in, it seemed like walking into Utah was the first time a lot of the young guys ever felt what it was like to walk into an NHL home arena. Now that it is a realty a lot of people are complaining about the team being moved when they never supported them in the first place.

[@jnoert]

We will.

[@meltingresorts5629]

@@michaelbourque5978 Bro relax lmao

[@saviorlegend]

​​@@michaelbourque5978 Multiple Season Ticket holder & 7 Yotes jerseys. I was not aware there was an entrance fee or made up stipulations by random people online, in order to be a fan of a team. Still keeping with the "CoYoTeS DoNt HaVe FaNs" circle jerk mentality I see. Since you are from the outside looking in, I suggest you do more research on a subject before you go giving your, self admitted, uninformed opinion on it.

[@billbuehler4959]

This title is exactly why I feel bad for Coyotes fans :( So many years of futility, and just when a beacon of hope is on the horizon, they lose their team

[@Tiglath-PileserXIX]

Now you know how the Jets fans felt when they left for Phoenix.

[@peter8367]

I just hope the jersey is nice. Rooting for these players who got put in an unfortunate situation and glad to see they already have tons of support from Utah's fans.

[@G7M9W]

Jersey and the nickname. Yetis is so bad. Of those trademarked, Outlaws is the best.

[@83n80y]

​@@G7M9W I like Outlaws and one not on the list, Utah Sentinels.

[@Peacy27]

I do not understand why Swarm is nowhere. I love it, I think it fits. Thanks again for the great content Shannon!

[@tomerickson8015]

Fledgling Utah hockey fan here, I just wanted to thank you for your coverage on this situation as it continues to unfold! Your enthusiasm for Hockey and the NHL and your accessible and honest presentation style have earned you a subscriber.

[@Fatazz]

Mammoth could make a cool mascot, too.

[@alexatl89]

Glad to hear people are coming around to the name "Mammoth". I threw that name out on one of your videos about a week ago and I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one who liked that name.

[@petrpumpkineater]

COL Mammoth have been a long time Lacrosse team, playing at Ball Arena. How can Utah take that name? I would be stoked about Yetis...

[@staalman1226]

@@petrpumpkineater Different sport, different state, so it's not really relevant

[@gabrielproulx6316]

Mammoths or Yetis would both be fine by me. Or even Outlaws. So long as it doesn't end up being a boring name like "pioneers".

[@kfitz2711]

I dig it

[@creep_n]

I always thought the Salt Lake City Stags rolled off the tongue quite well. Utah Yetis was a close second.

[@pyrielrising4338]

Utah better hurry up and settle this naming situation...don't they know Shannon has magnets to make, jerseys to acquire, etc, can't have this going to the wire.😊

[@kgroves17]

You got me just on the title alone, THG. Can’t wait for the puck to drop here in Utah!!

[@cazschiller]

They sent Guenther and Doan down for Tuscon to chip in on Playoffs and get that experience. These guys are soooo tenacious in the O zone. Cant wait

[@jimejohns2191]

Keep doing these for Utahns well keep eating it up. This is great to know makes me so stoked on this new team(to us) & getting 100% behind them.

[@jcragun801]

As a new hockey fan from Salt Lake, this video was so helpful! Thanks you

[@milkduds1971]

I like the Mammoth name, you could work in a tusk design on the uniforms. You could have an elephant trumpet during a goal celebration, the fans could be called "The Herd", there's lots of possibilities

[@JonathanSeagull13]

My proposition is Utah Missionaires.

[@ermpson5799]

This is the first I've heard Mammoth as an option. I love it

[@fredirecko]

It was impressive to see the players get such a big reception by Utah fans

[@rileyford2365]

Where's Spicy Tuna on this list?!?!? Liam O'Brien, immediate fan favorite after last night, ha

[@pmart5940]

Don’t seeing O’Brien having a future with Utah. He takes a lot of costly penalties, doesn’t produce too much offense. Tourigny seemed visibly frustrated with him at times

[@jasonfox6924]

Utah Mammoth could be pretty cool.

[@generalimlerith8356]

Ngl Those Utah outlaws jerseys looked fire would be a cool name

[@rhyta5042]

Could have a tie in with Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid

[@JeffS-nb9bt]

Thanks for the video, always been a casual hockey fan but now that my home state has a team it’s nice to see some stats and some wisdom behind what’s actually going on. Always been big on football and baseball so I’m used to hearing this kind of talk but never specifically for hockey. Got a lot of learning to do and subscribed for that purpose. Thanks again!

[@rogerurbanek1564]

Clayton Keller is the man. Also we have so many young new guys that are playing great too. It’s gonna be an exciting first year for Utah.

[@tylersamoska3663]

I think Utah Hockey Club is a place holder untill there is an actual name

[@wild_lee_coyote]

This is why the Coyotes fans absolutely HATE Meruelo. The potential of this team is what was stolen from us. Through all the hardships and missed playoffs, it was this team and this GM that was not only going to get the Coyotes into the playoffs again, but make a deep run, maybe even contend for the cup. That is what scared the NHL and the NHLPA to force the move. They didn’t want the playoffs in the Mullett. Utah is a very lucky team.

[@JD200_]

I disagree with the last part of your statement as regardless of team success in the future you need to have a better arena situation. Meruelo was incapable of securing a new arena and I’m guessing the NHL will return to Arizona with no ownership. With all that said, I had predicted the yotes would contend for a WC spot this season and while that obviously didn’t happen they’re an exciting team on the rise. Gives me Nordiques to Colorado vibes

[@brycemcneil4404]

If they had gotten voter clearance to build in Tempe, the league would have happily accepted the playoffs in Mullet.

[@jlo2o199]

I think these young coyotes can really tap into their potential and dig deep here with an exciting clean slate and proper facilities. A rejuvenated passion for hockey. We all do better when we’re feeling good and mentally healthy and enthusiastic about life. These coyotes are gonna go hard and enjoy doing it! Let’s go Utah Yeti.

[@nathanspreitzer6738]

New teams doing well in their first few seasons is good for hockey and brings in new fans

[@Tiglath-PileserXIX]

I absolutely agree. Two decades of futility in Phoenix had to stop.

[@drumagus2258]

what about tanking and moving teams? is that good for hockey?

[@Sean-yt1jn]

Title, I felt the same way. Meruelo being so cheap leaves a lot of room for Utah to make a few small changes, spend some money, and have a really good team

[@mattblom3990]

I like Utah Yeti but no "S" on the end. That would be perfect.

[@ryanreynolds5536]

THG this is awesome my man! So excited to have hockey here in Utah now. Thanks for the work you put into these videos!

[@brettrossi89]

Blizzards reminds me of Diary Queen

[@alexleblanc5926]

Built in sponsorship

[@jeffhembd9471]

Very well done. Top shelf content always.

[@hunterstitzer8846]

Awesome video! I know we are ready for the season to start this fall in Utah!

[@bobbypaluga4346]

By far the best NHL site, incredibly informative

[@AwesomeZach]

Keller Schmaltz Macceli Guenther Cooley Doan Crouse Hayton Bjugstadt Carcone Kerfoot Boyd Moser Durzi Valimaki Soderstrom Kolyachonok Kesselring Ingram Vejmelka. This team has a solid core, but work def needs to be done. A couple of nhl defensemen and maybe a bit more forward depth and this team looks great

[@sadface6635]

Mammoth is the best one! It eludes to the fossils that are prevalent in the area but isn’t a copy paste of a mythical creature like the Kracken

[@neilflood6508]

Should André Tourigny be worried for his job now you have published this video?

[@Walgriff]

Utah Yetis vs Utah Mammoths?

[@xXxXcrosbykidXxXx]

Utah Mammoth could be interesting, that's the name of Colorados pro lacrosse team in the NLL. I've always thought theyve had great jerseys, sort of a unique logo, take a look!

[@kendrickl5913]

Honestly it's such a shame that the yotes left AZ just as they were about to be able to compete

[@slapshotjack9806]

They were in the bottom of the standings this season quit making up lies to try and justify having that team stay in Arizona when they should’ve left like 20 years ago

[@RoscoMontana21]

They made the WCF in 2012..and have been a joke ever since. They should’ve left 10 years ago.

[@TylerMorganShow]

Great video

[@LeeorEngelstein]

SL,UT Hockey Club has a nice ring to it 😂

[@ssmith87]

😂

[@larslan1975]

What would the mascot be?😅

[@RedReaper303]

Bruh. Hahaha.

[@BuddaBoomer]

Purple jersey would go hard

[@alexleblanc5926]

From what I've read they want the branding to be similar to the Jazz, I hope that means the retro Jazz with the purple and not their current colour scheme. Purple would be unique as LA is the only team that really uses it.

[@BuddaBoomer]

@@alexleblanc5926 yeah the NHL doesn't need more yellow jerseys. I don't even think LA does, maybe a retro one they wear occasionally but that's it. There have been a few third jerseys over the years that used purple but I think it would be a guaranteed way to stand out if they used it more.

[@midnightman5139]

This is what angers coyotes fans the most about the move, building a playoff ready team only to be taken away. Imagine the Utah team going far in the playoffs or even win the cup in a few years?!

[@Dratchev241]

I will be so f'n pissed if they made it to the cup final in the next couple years, I will have been robbed to watch the SCF being played in mullet.

[@LargeOhioSon]

It all depends on if Smith spends to the cap and stays hands off and lets the hockey people do hockey things. it's understandable why he gut the Jazz but he hasn't put real money up to rebuild yet. The former Yotes are rounding the corner. The time to spend for talent is now. Let's see if he does it

[@Moistte]

Smith defers to the experts he's hired, i.e., Danny Ainge is the one calling the shots on the rebuild and the Jazz have amassed quite the trove of picks. End of season interviews point towards the Jazz transitioning from asset acquisition to spending and being more aggressive on trades. Honestly, Jazz are probably one season behind on the rebuild with respect to the NHL team.

[@vipeholmskolan6052]

It's indeed great timing to pick up this team now. They should start out pretty good and have the potential to build towards top contender.

[@markhalloran9549]

Trevor Lewis to Utah in Free Agency. The only current home grown player from Utah. He could provide leadership and help on 4th line.

[@prestonpatterson7231]

I'm hoping Trevor Lewis will sign this summer. Local guy, 2 cups with the kings, provides some good leadership and experience on the bottom lines.

[@lowtierduster-7254]

come onnnn yetis!

[@bigjohn08865]

Blizzard sounds too close to Avalanche for me.

[@NothingToPointOut24]

Goaltending will still be their main issue. Ingram is solid but IDK if he's a guy that you can count on for 60+ games and then a playoff run. Vejmelka is in a contract year so maybe he turns in a better than his average performance. He's definitely not a guy that can be counted on for an extended amount of games though. Maybe if the coaching uses both of em smartly they could be better than I expect. To me, the west is too stacked, even with their non playoff teams, for them to sneak in. I dont see any current West playoff teams dropping off too much next season.

[@tylersamoska3663]

Shannon can you make a video of Nashvilles bad contracts and how much deadcap space they have?

[@Fatazz]

Bright future for them. Speaking of bright futures - Notable NHL draftees playing in the Frozen Four and how they did this season and the tournament - summer video idea.

[@just_another_guy_with_opinions]

just an FYI, Geeke was signed to an ELC last year...he's under contract and will probably start the year in Tucson

[@keldzh]

Why stats are the same for defensemen and forwards? Is +/- rating any good as a defensive capability of a defenseman? Is there any good stats for defensemen at all?

[@jsmusicanddrums]

Armstrong turned the roster around in a few years so sad for the yotes fans that dealt with so many terrible rosters. They will definitely be 7th 8th seed next year.

[@quackingplatypus]

Utah outlaws!

[@timw4369]

Great young players and a boatload of draft picks

[@ryanbrown3283]

I think I'm going to have to wait until the season starts to support the boys again. It was pretty sad watching the event in Utah. I am happy for the players and staff, it seems like there's going to be great support for them the first few years at least, and if they can play to their potential in those first few years they should be able to build long term support. I wish them success, but it sucks that it's gonna be in Utah rather than Az

[@trevortomah8508]

New environment, a new start, skate with that Utah NHLers.

[@Tiglath-PileserXIX]

Yup. Two decades of futility was more than enough.

[@malakaspawt3190]

The "Coyotes" a playoff team next year? LMAO 🤣

[@GettysburgLentz]

This reminds me of when the Nordiques moved to Colorado. The Utah team is not too far away from being a playoff team and could be a great dark horse pick next year.

[@berteadeh4597]

Why not the Utah Ram??? A Big Horn Sheep as the primary with the arch rock formation as a secondary could look great

[@elosogonzalez8739]

Geeky and Josh Doan both need to be on this team next year. Great talents.

[@doughboy15237]

If they go with yetis they will be getting my money for a sweater

[@Dnt461]

I’m not sure I’m completely sold on Tourigny as our head coach. Guenther should be playing for Utah this year correct? Sounds like we will have a solid roster and then some if management plays their cards right.

[@bdonaghu]

The Utah Ice would be a pretty cool name, but do they really want UTI as their initials?!

[@TheHockeyGuy]

I had the same thought, so that gets my vote.

[@rorynoblett7948]

Utah UFO/UAP, with the mascot being an alien! Utah Greys, still the alien mascot.

[@cooperhunt1406]

Utah Skinwalkers

[@RobbotChong]

Uethis✌️ Of the trademarks Yetis makes most sense for branding, logos and mascot to me

[@pagejames8754]

Awful

[@cdfmmcc]

Surely there can't be a Utah Mammoth 🦣 without the Irish caveman Liam O'Brien ☘️ aka "Spicy Tuna"

[@m00rtin4]

bettman wants new fans. not already established fans like canadian cities. SLC is a untapped market, even tho they hosted the olympics 02 with NHL players.... it has always with that in mind felt odd they didnt have a team earlier. btw looking forward if utah picks Mammoth. imagine the ice age battle between the Preds and Mammoths lul

[@al3xschmutzig249]

Diego vs. Manny

[@rhyta5042]

Salt Lake has had minor league hockey teams here since the 70's

[@xqou]

The problem with Mammoth is the NLL team from Colorado. I think Yeti(s) and Venom (Scorpion mascot) is the best picks.

[@defaultuser1447]

Why is that a problem? The NHL already has duplicates of major league sports.

[@xqou]

@@defaultuser1447 Rangers, Kings, and Jets were named in a different era. It doesn't hurt to be a little more creative. Although, I'm a bit bias because I am a fan of the NLL, I can recognize it is a small league and doesn't come to everyone's mind right away.

[@xqou]

@@defaultuser1447 How about Mastodons?

[@pagejames8754]

​@@defaultuser1447Because, being unoriginal is stupid

[@antoinelegendre-belanger9463]

How about they go get Chychrun back to anchor their new defence core ?

[@DANGMQ]

I wonder how many jerseys Shannon will get of the Utah NHL team when they announce their team name and have those jerseys for sale?

[@IxDEVOUTxI]

What's the outlook for Liam O'Brien or Jack McBain? Can Utah just give them a contract next year, were they Free Agent signs from last year?

[@Tapewars]

A good young core, tons of assets and pics, and a crapload of cap space. This looks like a real proper rebuild that could turn into a contender for years to come

[@JohnnyReno71]

I wonder if Arizona does get lucky and get an expansion team does a player like Josh Doan say he wants to be traded back to them?

[@Jlalo747]

I hope no player from this relocation move gives anything worthy to Meruelo down the line

[@Newbobdole]

Anyone else noticing the Mega Man X boss naming convention is these trademarked names lol (agreed that Mammoth & Venom are pretty cool)

[@bspangenberg3002]

Imagine when the get Celebrini too

[@Shuffledhearts]

Here's a question. Will Utah keep Shane Doan's number retired? If I recall, Phoenix unretired some of the Winnipeg Jets' numbers

[@pagejames8754]

The franchise history stays in AZ, so no

[@TylerMorganShow]

Rip coyotes

[@cdfmmcc]

A couple of proven top 6 forwards could really turn things around quickly

[@jeffreypeterson1364]

Your ability to blame yourself for existential correlative effects is most astounding 0:15. Hehe!

[@williammortensen1889]

Having watched these kids for years, I think Guenther is going to be the best of all of them. Geekie is signed and playing with Tucson in the playoffs.

[@garthdanicich7145]

Just wait until they add Celebrini.

[@alexmathews9901]

Does the old owner for Arizona buy land and say hey Im bringing an NHL team back to the desert in a new NHL arena?

[@bostonwarrior4824]

Jan Jenik is pretty underrated too, I think he’s a good player and can be really good in the NHL. It’s just a matter of his talent being shown.

[@Authorangelaguajardo]

That's one reason why this team relocation hurts so much. We were finally seeing hope for the future, and now they're gone. I'll follow the boys. Some fellow diehards are turned away from the NHL altogether. I can't, especially not Josh Doan, among others. I don't cry every day anymore, but this hollow cavity in my chest still lingers. #YotesForever

[@ToaastyKoyote]

I’m watching this coming season. Let’s go Cooley

[@slapshotjack9806]

So a team that has been rebuilding since 2010 is somehow going to be in contention for the cup?

[@user-yh7zv2ep4p]

The Utah Frozen fury

[@pagejames8754]

Minor league caliber

[@Moekoffee2001]

It will be Venom

[@Pineomano]

this coyotes/Utah team feels like Detroit in 2022/2023 had stretches of success and many period of tragic play. i definitely think both teams Detroit, and this Utah/Coyotes team will be playoff teams next year.

[@dumbcow1]

So many years of supporting my Yotes...through the sneers and jabs. I was so excited to have Doan, Geekie, Cooley, Gunther....all hungry. GMBA built a team...and it's gone..

[@derekparsey1168]

Gotta love the rebuild when you have young players already lol

[@BestDraftClass]

+1 for mammoth. Would dig fury as well. Gooo team Utah, fan from day one 😉

[@tIhIngan]

Shea Weber is turning into a journeyman. The man played for 2 teams (Habs and Preds), and his contract has been retired on 3 different teams already (Vegas, Arizona and Utah).

[@jamesgarvin29]

I would really like to see them be aggressive and sign maybe one or two of the top RFAs to offer sheets. Lucas Raymond is a prime candidate, yes Detroit has cap space, but how much would they be willing to spend? New ownership wants to be competitive and that a good start at least for this team

[@Tickleyourpickle420]

Are you willing to give up the 6th overall pick + other picks as well to acquire said player? Arizona is picking early this draft. I dont think offer sheeting someone is a wise idea

[@bostonwarrior4824]

Nobody really talks about John Chayka anymore. I mean, he had to have known that all this was coming in the future so that’s why he just got up and left randomly in abandoned ship, right before the playoffs in 2020, even though he was super young at the time. It’s just nobody really talks a lot about that situation and how weird it was at the time but now it kind of makes sense if you look back at it.

[@mrbigstuff4448]

Utah Knockers❤

[@kftc1980]

They were the opposite of an ideal free agent destination before. Now they are probably near the top.

[@Moistte]

This is hilarious to read given how absolutely no NBA players want to sign here in free agency lmao

[@xlr0gd205]

tbh I could see Utah signing Jonathan Marchessault

[@kftc1980]

@@Moistte different league, different culture, etc

[@andrewgreen815]

The roadrunners are a good franchise with a good roster of young but raw talent. Utah will be good for quite some time. -Go Jets!

[@haidodinho7635]

Yetis doesn’t hit as hard as just Yeti. Idk why.

[@DH-vj2bw]

Kind of surprised they haven’t trademarked Utah Lakers

[@alexleblanc5926]

Are you serious? They're not going to name their NHL team the same name as their NBA rivals.,