Overview

• Analysts continue to rate Utah’s pipeline among the NHL’s best, including a No. 3 ranking cited from The Athletic Hockey Show.
• Utah’s rookie roster featured NCAA and European absences, undrafted invitees in key spots, limited systems, and evident offseason rust, which coaches said affected cohesion.
• Defenseman Artem Duda earned heavy minutes and special-teams usage while showing defensive intelligence and offensive touch.
• Dmitri Simashev drew praise for high-end hockey IQ and steady positioning, reinforcing his case for rapid NHL consideration.
• Tij Iginla scored Utah’s lone goal and flashed puck skills, while coach Steve Potvin said Maveric Lamoureux must simplify and reporting suggests KHL champion Daniil But may start in the AHL.