Feb 21, 2025 , 12:16 PM
General manager Bill Armstrong of the yet to be named NHL Utah hockey team smiles as he and head coach Andre Tourigny (not in photo) speak during a news conference at the Delta Center on April 24, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The NHL has allowed the sale of the Arizona Coyotes and the team will relocate to Salt Lake City, Utah.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
COLE BAGLEY
SALT LAKE CITY – In an exclusive interview with KSL Sports, Utah Hockey Club GM Bill Armstrong discussed the NHL trade deadline, Utah’s mindset regarding the final stretch of the season and the club’s future prospects.
Bill Armstrong: “I‘ve always believed that when you’re going down the stretch and you’re behind, it’s small steps and long vision. If you just beat the right teams, the teams that are kind of in front of us, we’ll close the gap down pretty quickly. It can be done.
“I think for us as a group, in the last 13 games, they’ve all gone into the third period as a tie or up one. So, we’re in the fight. Now with our guys coming back, we’re hoping to get over that hump and win some of those big ones. If we can do that down stretch, we’ve got a chance to get in.”
Bill Armstrong: “The good news for us is that the players that we’ve added, the Olli Maatta’s and DeSimone’s of the world, they’re going to make us a better team. So, some of those injuries have helped us become a better team. I think that for our group to go down the stretch, from the moment I came here, I think I was talking about meaningful games.”
“Let’s see if we can play some meaningful games down the stretch and I say we’re at 26 game sevens, you know? Here we go. I like that pressure for our group. I think it’s important that we experience it, and we learn to fight in it, and we learn to succeed in it. The only way you can do that is kind of going through it.”
Bill Armstrong: “It is great pressure to go through. I think you need to go through that. Detroit went through it down chasing last year. It toughens you up and makes you a better club, so I think that will help us.”
“If we can get in, it would give us a huge advantage knowing that we had to play stress under the last 26 games of the season and fight for our lives every night, and now you’d be in the playoffs. That would help you get you over the hump and maybe you get a chance to win a series.”
Bill Armstrong: “What we’ve got a chance to do is be one of the youngest teams in the National Hockey League with a chance to get into the playoffs, and that would be massive if we did. It would help our group immensely to go through that experience. I think the good news for our fans is that we’re healthy in a lot of ways in the sense that we’ve got five really good, elite prospects that are coming into our team over the next two to three years. It’s going to be massive to add that kind of talent.”
“At the same time with our cap under control in good shape, we’re healthy organization that is pushing to get in the playoffs. It’s a very positive message I’d like to send to them and thank them also for how loud they cheer and how they are involved in our games. They make a difference for us.”
Bill Armstrong: “We’re sitting in between being buyers & sellers. Some of that is because a lot of our buying was already done with DeSimone, Maatta, Marino, Sergachev, and signing Stenlund.”
“I’m happy with the group & the way it’s built. If we can add something that’s a dynamic piece and it becomes available, we’ll always look at that every single day…We have to be smart about where we are in the rebuild & smart with our money.”
Bill Armstrong: “A lot of that is from them and their drive to get better as players. They’re also very team orientated human beings that want to win in this club, and they’ll do anything they can. They’re big-time players in big moments and you’re talking about two guys that are under the age of 22 that have produced in this year already individually over 40 points each.”
“That’s an incredible feat in itself and we’re probably one of the only clubs that have that. They’re going to continue to push the pace, and I think as a fan, you get to start cheering for these guys when they’re young men and that’s going to go on for a long time. I believe they’re going to be two men that are pushing this club to help be a championship organization for a long time.”
Bill Armstrong: “Everybody got a sneak peek at Lamoureux and what he can do in the NHL. He’s done a good job of going back down in the American League. Duda has also had an incredible year down there. They’re two guys were really excited about there down in the American League.”
“Then you go back over to Russia, you’ve got Simashev and But coming over. Two big men that have played at a high level on one of the best teams in the KHL over there and it’s going to be exciting for those guys to come over and play. They’re going to have their rough moments too, but at this point they can play at this level and have impact. So that that’s exciting. Then you’ve got the two kids that we drafted last year, Iginla and Cole Beaudoin.”
“There’s a whole crop of them and I haven’t even mentioned Michael Hrabal, who just had a massive weekend against Boston College and produced some spectacular numbers playing against one of the best teams in the nation. We’ve got some good prospects that you get really, really excited about it…”
With the conclusion of the Four Nations Tournament, the Utah Hockey Club will return to play against the LA Kings on February 22. The game can be viewed on SEG+. Fans can also tune in on air on the KSL Sports APP or on 97.5 and 1280 The Zone. Click here for the full schedule.
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