NHL EDGE Stats: Utah Outlook After Sergachev, Marino Trades

NHL.com will identify key EDGE stats for major offseason moves. Today we will look at defenders Mikhail Sergachev AND John Marino after they were traded to the Utah Hockey Club in the 2024 NHL Draft.

Utah became one of the most improved teams in the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft on the Sphere, acquiring defensemen Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino in separate deals and selecting forward Tija Iginla with the No. 6 pick.

Sergachev was limited to 34 regular-season games for the Tampa Bay Lightning this season after suffering a lingering leg injury (broken fibula, tibia), but he surprisingly returned for the final two games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sergachev has historically improved in both the surface and advanced stats, and now has a chance to become the clear No. 1 option at the position in Utah after playing behind one of the league’s best players, Victor Hedman, for most of his career.

Sergachev, 26, won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021 and had a breakout season in 2022-23 with NHL career highs in points (64; tied for 10th among defensemen), assists (54; eighth at the position). , power play points (27; tied for 10th place) and equaled his best goal score (10). This was the only season in which Sergachev often played on the first power play over Hedman – use he will likely receive now that he is healthy in Utah.

According to NHL EDGE stats, Sergachev ranked in the 92nd percentile in maximum shot velocity (98.92 mph) and 96th percentile in average shot velocity (68.34 mph) this season. In 2022-23, in his best season, Sergachev ranked among the EDGE leaders in categories such as total skating yardage (253 miles; 91st percentile), maximum shot velocity (100.17 mph; 97th percentile), average shot velocity (66.16 mph; 95th percentile), long-range shots on goal (100th; 98th percentile; 10th in the NHL) and long-range goals (seven; 98th percentile; tied for sixth in the league).

Sergachev and Marino (acquired from the New Jersey Devils) have both been excellent in the neutral zone, which could help Utah accelerate its offense next season; in 2022-23, Sergachev ranked in the 85th percentile in time spent in the neutral zone (17.2 percent) on the power play, which is the percentage of time the puck spends in the neutral zone when a player is on the ice with the game clock running.

This season, Marino ranked in the 93rd percentile in neutral zone time on all strengths (18.7%) and in the 96th percentile at even strength (19.5, tied for eighth in the NHL), despite New Jersey missing the playoffs last season. In 2022-23, when the Devils made the playoffs and won the series over the New York Rangers, Marino ranked in the 71st percentile in long-range shots made (35) during the regular season.

These additional defenders will join Sean Durzi on Utah’s defense and should gain exposure to the former Arizona Coyotes’ talented young forward group of Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther and rookie Josh Doan. Iginla, the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, could also be a top-six forward in the future.

Playing in front of goaltender Connor Ingram (six clean sheets last regular season; tied for the NHL lead), Sergachev could reach new heights as a versatile defender, with a chance to once again be a top-10 player at the position — maybe even a top-five — and lead Utah to the playoffs as early as next season.

—

Full EDGE Stat Profile: Mikhail Sergeev

Full EDGE Stats Profile: John Marino