The Utah Hockey Club made a splash on Day 2 of the draft with two separate trades.

In the first trade, Utah acquired Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for J.J. Moser, Conor Geekie, a 2024 seventh-round pick, and a 2025 second-round pick.

In the second trade, Utah acquired John Marino from the New Jersey Devils for the 49^th pick in this season's draft and a 2025 second-round pick (via Edmonton).

What Utah Receives

Sergachev is an offensive-minded defenseman who was held to just 19 points in 34 games in 2023-24 due to two separate stints on IR with a lower-body injury. He was able to return to Tampa's lineup during the playoffs, so he is fully healed from a fractured tibia/fibula. He should slot in as Utah's top defenseman (pending other acquisitions) and first power-play option. Sergachev registered 64 points, including 27 power-play points, in 2022-23 while spending some time on the top power play. He had lost power-play time to Victor Hedman in 2023-24, which also cut into his value further.

Marino is a more defensive-minded blueliner who gives Utah a right-shot d-man under contract. Right-shot defensemen in particular are a scarce commodity at this time of year. Currently Utah has three experienced NHL defensemen under contract, and all have either been acquired by trade or signed over the past 24 hours: Sergachev, Marino, and Michael Kesselring (signed on Friday). Both Sean Durzi and Juuso Valimaki are currently arbitration-eligible RFAs.

Sergachev is more likely to receive power-play minutes on Utah than he would have been on Tampa. In other words, Hedman should be more of a threat for power-play time than Sean Durzi. As a result, Durzi is the player most likely negatively affected by the deal. It's also possible that because of Utah's relative inexperience up front, they may decide to go with both Sergachev and Durzi with three forwards on the top power play. Since Utah has a fairly young core, their power play could be stronger in a few years.

What Tampa Bay Receives

Moser has averaged over 20 minutes per game and nearly 30 points per season over the past two seasons. He has some power-play experience and would likely fit in on Tampa's second-unit power play, which is where Sergachev was projected to be.

Geekie was the Coyotes' first-round pick (11^th overall) in 2022. He spent the past season in the WHL, scoring 99 points in just 55 games for Wenatchee and Swift Current. The cupboard is bare in Tampa when it comes to prospects, so Geekie should be at the top of the list of Bolts prospects. He is most likely AHL-bound this coming season.

Everything is fluid at this time of year, but shedding the contracts of Sergachev and Tanner Jeannot (traded to LA) may create the necessary room to re-sign long-time Bolt Steven Stamkos.

Who This Helps

Hedman

Sergachev

Moser

Who This Hurts

Durzi

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Discuss the trade in this thread on the Forum.