*Photo from The Hockey News*
Want a big move? You've got one. The Utah Hockey Club has acquired D Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for C Conor Geekie, D JJ Moser, a 2024 7th round draft pick, and a 2025 second round draft pick, according to both teams.
No salary retention is involved in the deal, which is the first major move for Utah in franchise history. Sergachev is entering year two of an 8 year, $68 million contract, with $6 million due as a signing bonus this year as part of an $8.5 million AAV. He has a full no trade clause taking effect Monday.
Utah GM Bill Armstrong said of Sergachev that "He is a number one and that's the reason for the deal is we wanted to cement that top end defenseman that can play a ton of minutes. Good thick body on him, plays hard, blocks shots, can play in the offense and defense and he's won. He's got a lot to bring into our culture. The other thing too is we've got some Russian players in Daniil But and Simashev that are coming to our organization that are high-end players, and he's going to have a great impact on them also as a leader."
This past season was basically a lost year for Sergachev, who fractured his tibia and fibula during the season. He had two goals and 17 assists in 34 games, posting a -16 rating while averaging 22:33 of ice time per game. He had one assist in two playoff games.
A former first round pick, Sergachev was a key figure in the Lightning winning back to back Stanley Cups. He instantly becomes the top left shot defenseman on the Utah depth chart. Still age 26, he will be a mainstay among the Utah defenseman as the club looks to emerge as a playoff contender following the move from Arizona.
Sergachev has played all but 4 games with the Lightning. He played 4 games with the Montreal Canadiens in 2016-2017. He has 48 goals and 209 assists for 257 points to his name, averaging 20:21 of ice time per game in 475 regular season games. He has 9 goals and 25 assists in 100 playoff games.
Armstrong had more to say about the move, saying "I think he was shocked originally, but once that kicked in he wants to come here. I said to him, 'We've got a talented front end, we've got close to eight 20-goal scorers from last year, and now we're adding two great pieces on the backside. It's going to make us a better team.'"
The left shot defenseman Moser is set to become a RFA on Monday as his current contract is expiring. He is coming off a 3 year entry level contract with a $925,000 AAV. A second round pick out of Switzerland in 2021, Moser made the jump to the NHL right away.
Moser is coming off his 3rd season in the NHL, all having been with the Coyotes. Since making his debut in 2021-2022, Moser has racked up 16 goals and 56 assists for 72 points in 205 games in the regular season. He had 5 goals and 21 assists while averaging 20:34 of ice time per game for the Coyotes last season.
Geekie, a first round pick of the Coyotes in 2022, is entering his age 20 season and has yet to play in the NHL. Between Wenatchee and Swift Current of the WHL last season, he amassed 43 goals and 56 assists for 99 points in 55 games. He represented Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championships.
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