Utah Trade Rumors: 2 Players Who Could Involved in Offseason Trade Talks

Utah's hockey club may not have a nickname yet but they certainly have some aspirations this offseason to get better. In their final season as the Arizona Coyotes, they finished 36-41-5 and are lined up to select sixth overall in a couple of weeks in Vegas. While Utah is loaded with draft picks, they also could be looking to the trade market to improve their hockey club.

Here are two players Utah could involve in trade talks this offseason:

Karel Vejmelka

The 28-year-old southpaw finished last season with 13-19-2 record along with a 3.29 GAA and .897 save percentage. It was Vejmelka's worst NHL season as far as save percentage goes. He has just one season left on his deal at $2.75 million and is a unrestricted free-agent after next season. Vejmelka lost his starting job to Connor Ingram and with a number of teams looking to make a change in goal, Utah could put their one-time starter on the block. The netminder does not have any trade protection.

Lawson Crouse

Crouse has been rumored to be involved in trade talks for a few seasons now. The 26-year-old has three seasons left on his deal at $4.3 million per season and also doesn't hold any trade protection. Crouse is one of the league's best power forwards and it's going to take a significant offer to get him out of Utah. The former first-round pick recorded 23 goals and 42 points in 81 games last season, which was just off career highs. The Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks could be interested, and same goes for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens.

Utah enters the 2024 NHL Draft with one first rounder, three seconds and three picks in the third round. The team has been rumored to be asking prospects at the draft combine in Buffalo about their Uber ratings and Snap Chat scores.