The 20^th installment of 32 thots and the third entry into the controversial five includes Joel and his Utah HC. Joel is having a strong season, currently 4th in the Central Division with a 37-21-3 record. Their offense is solid, ranking 13th in goals for (3.28 GF per game), supported by a strong power play (22.77%, 9th overall), which has been a key factor in their success.

Defensively, however, they have some weaknesses, allowing 3.02 goals per game (20th overall). Their penalty kill (79.23%, 24th overall) is a major concern, as it has struggled to prevent opponents from capitalizing on power plays.

Forwards:

• Key Players: Sidney Crosby, Nick Suzuki, Mason McTavish, Ryan Johansen, Chris Kreider
• Depth Players: Logan Stankoven, Philipp Kurashev, Jake DeBrusk, Zach Parise, Sonny Milano
• Scratched Players: Peyton Krebs, Garnet Hathaway

Grade: B+

Your forward core is a mix of aging stars and young talent, with Sidney Crosby still leading the way as a top-tier playmaker. Nick Suzuki and Mason McTavish provide a strong foundation for the future, while Ryan Johansen and Chris Kreider offer veteran scoring presence.

Your depth is decent but not elite—players like Jake DeBrusk, Zach Parise, and Sonny Milano can contribute, but they won’t drive the offense consistently. Logan Stankoven has elite upside, but he’s still developing.

Defense:

• Key Players: Roman Josi, Brandon Montour, K’Andre Miller
• Depth Players: Jake Middleton, Jacob Bernard-Docker, Jeff Petry
• Scratched Players: Henri Jokiharju

Grade: B

Your defense is strong, led by Roman Josi, who is still one of the best offensive defensemen in the league. Brandon Montour and K’Andre Miller add a solid two-way presence, while Jake Middleton and Jeff Petry provide physicality and defensive stability.

Your depth isn’t bad, but Jacob Bernard-Docker and Henri Jokiharju haven’t proven themselves as reliable NHL contributors yet.

Goaltending:

• Goalies: Carter Hart, Petr Mrazek
• Depth Goalies: Mads Sogaard, Brandon Halverson

Grade: B-

Carter Hart is still young but hasn’t solidified himself as an elite No. 1 goalie. Petr Mrazek is unreliable as a long-term solution, and your depth goalies are unproven.

Prospect Pool:

• Top Prospects: Nate Danielson, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Frank Nazar, William Whitelaw, Logan Stankoven
• Other Notable Prospects: Ludvig Jansson, Kasper Kulonummi, Connor Ungar, Ryan Mast

Grade: A

Your prospect pool is one of the best, featuring high-end talent like Nate Danielson, Logan Stankoven, and Frank Nazar. Axel Sandin-Pellikka is a future top-four defenseman, and Connor Ungar has potential as a goalie prospect.

Your depth is excellent, with a mix of strong forwards and defensemen, meaning your team has a bright future if developed correctly.

Draft Capital & Future Outlook:

• Notable Picks:
• 2026 UTH 1st, 2026 UTH 2nd, 2026 UTH 3rd
• No 2025 picks

Grade: C

You lack 2025 picks, which limits your ability to add young talent quickly. However, your 2026 draft capital is strong, which helps long-term.

Overall Team Evaluation:

Final Grade: B

Your team is competitive now but needs to prepare for the future. Your young forwards and defensive prospects are elite, but you must address goaltending and prepare for the decline of Crosby and Kreider. Your team is well-positioned for the future, but you need to start thinking about life after Crosby while ensuring you fix the goaltending issue. If you do that, Utah could become a powerhouse in a few years. Joel has himself in a position to make the playoffs this year and to make a run. Now, will he be content with just making the playoffs or will be trade a prime asset to put himself over the top? Is he a pretender? Or a contender? Is he a Domino’s Pizza? Or is he a Double Cheeseburger from McDonald’s? Time will tell

How to Improve:

1. Find a long-term goaltending solution—Carter Hart might not be enough.
2. Transition from Crosby’s era to young stars like Stankoven, Suzuki, and McTavish.
3. Acquire a second elite defenseman to pair with Josi.
4. Use your 2026 draft picks wisely to strengthen your long-term outlook.