Which Players Should Get a Chance in the NHL with Utah HC Next?

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The Utah Hockey Club’s playoff dreams are pretty much dead at this point in the season. With only a handful of games left and trailing the St. Louis Blues by 10 points for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference, it’s only a matter of time before Utah is officially eliminated from playoff contention.

When teams are eliminated, it usually creates an opportunity for players who normally don’t play to get some time in the NHL. Last season, when the team was still in Arizona, we saw that opportunity given to players like Josh Doan and Aku Räty. This season, we’re starting to see that happen as Kailer Yamamoto was called up before Utah’s Florida road trip, and Matt Villalta before their game against the Florida Panthers.

As Utah inches closer to the conclusion of the season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more players get called up from the Tucson Roadrunners and get a chance to play in the NHL. Here are some players who should get a chance with Utah next.

Cameron Hebig

Perhaps the most deserving and likely player to get the next call-up is Cameron Hebig. He is in the middle of a career-best season with the Roadrunners after spending the past five seasons with the franchise. In 61 games this season, he has 22 goals and 41 points with the team.

Hebig’s impressive 2024-25 season has garnered him a lot of attention. He was named to the AHL All-Star Challenge back in February and recently signed a one-year, two-way contract with Utah earlier this month. 

Hebig has been in Tucson long enough to earn the nickname “the mayor of Tucson.” He’s been able to climb up the ladder of multiple franchise records. He ranks third all-time in goals and points, and in the Roadrunners’ recent game against the San Diego Gulls, he broke the franchise’s record for the most games played.

His loyalty to the organization and fantastic 2024-25 season should earn him eyes from Utah. However, there’s a reason why he got that two-way contract from general manager Bill Armstrong, and that’s because management believes that he could be effective at the NHL level.

Related: Olli Määttä Turned Opportunity With Utah Into an Extension

Hebig is beloved by all of his teammates in Tucson. Some of those teammates have been able to make their way up to Utah, like Josh Doan and Jaxson Stauber. Even at the highest level, those players recognize how great of a teammate he is and are excited for him to get the opportunity to potentially play in the NHL.

“He’s a great teammate,” Stauber said. “He’s been in Tucson a long time. I think that shows the growth that he’s had as a player, not only through his pro career, but in Tucson in general. I’m really happy for him. He’s having a really good year, and he’s been huge for us, scoring a lot of big goals. He had another one on Friday night. I think it was a game winner. It’s good to see that, and it’s fun to see your teammates elevate and get rewarded for that.”

Hebig very well might be the next player to get an NHL opportunity. He is probably the best forward on the Roadrunners as of right now, with Yamamoto now up in the NHL. Again, the two-way contract he signed before the trade deadline is a huge factor in this. Armstrong does these deals for a reason.

Egor Sokolov

The other forward that might get a look is Egor Sokolov. After spending four seasons in the Ottawa Senators organization, he was acquired by Utah in the offseason for Jan Jeník. In 66 games this season for the Roadrunners, he has 42 points, including 21 goals. That’s good enough for second on the team, only trailing Yamamoto.

What might place Sokolov ahead of Hebig on Utah’s depth chart is that he has some NHL experience. He’s played 13 games in the NHL with the Senators, even scoring a goal off a giveaway against the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, he hasn’t been in the NHL since the 2022-23 season.

Sokolov is a player who has thrived with every team he’s been with in the AHL. In his three full seasons with the Belleville Senators, he’s never scored under 45 points. He will pass that tally with the Roadrunners this season as well.

Like Hebig, Sokolov has a contract with Utah, so it is feasible for him to be called up to the NHL. Similar to Hebig as well, he has had a great season with the Roadrunners, which could very well be rewarded with a call-up. While it is a long shot with only seven games remaining in Utah’s season, Sokolov’s hard work in the AHL should give him some looks around the NHL, especially with his contract ending after this season.

Maveric Lamoureux

Maveric Lamoureux has become one of the most popular Roadrunners around the Utah fanbase this season, especially after his brief stint in the NHL earlier this season. After being drafted in the first round in 2022, he had two more successful seasons in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) before turning pro this season.

Maveric Lamoureux Utah Hockey Club
Maveric Lamoureux, Utah Hockey Club (Photo credit: LA Kings)

In his very first game with the Roadrunners, Lamoureux scored his first pro goal and immediately began a good streak of games in the AHL. Up in the NHL, Utah’s blue line was in pieces thanks to injuries to Sean Durzi and John Marino. With the number of defensemen on the roster shrinking, Lamoureux earned a call-up and was the very first player to make his NHL debut for Utah.

In 15 games with Utah, Lamoureux impressed with his mature play, recording three points. He became a fan favorite for the way he played and the history he made, prompting the team store to make jerseys with his name on the back during the inaugural release of the team’s jerseys.

Unfortunately, Lamoureux got injured and was later sent back down to the AHL. In 36 games with the Roadrunners, he has 13 points, but he has been logging top minutes along with playing in crucial games himself, with the team battling for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division. With the experience he’s gotten and considering he has played with Utah before, he’s most likely the first call-up if Utah needs defensemen. However, it’s more than likely the team keeps Lamoureux down with the Roadrunners so he can continue playing top-line minutes and potentially help the team make the playoffs.

Sammy Walker

Most fans forget that Utah did make a trade before the deadline, acquiring Sammy Walker for future considerations. He had spent his whole career with the Minnesota Wild organization before the trade, playing mostly with their AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild.

In the previous two seasons in the AHL, Walker scored 40-plus points. He also played 13 games in the NHL, recording two points, including his first NHL goal. However, with the Iowa Wild being out of playoff contention and Walker struggling, the Wild shipped him off to Utah, who immediately sent him down to the AHL.

Walker exploded in his first game with the Roadrunners, recording four points. Since then, he’s gone on to record 19 points in 25 games. Similar to the others, he has a contract with Utah, so he’s able to be called up to the NHL at any point in time. Walker’s contract ends at the conclusion of this season as well. Like Hebig and Sokolov, it will be interesting to see if Utah calls him up to see how he performs. With a lot of rookies projected to earn contracts with the team in the next year, NHL contracts won’t be handed out easily. 

It’s hard to predict the next player who will get the call-up to Utah. It’s even questionable if any player will get an NHL call-up in the final couple of games, as the team has been playing some good hockey, and the Roadrunners need everyone on deck as they continue to fend off the Bakersfield Condors for the final playoff spot. However, Armstrong is known to reward guys who have played well in the AHL, like Räty’s lone NHL appearance last season. 

Hebig is most likely the next player up, considering his loyalty to the Roadrunners, impressive season, and recent NHL contract signing. It wouldn’t be surprising to see anyone mentioned in this article get a chance in the NHL soon. There’s a reason why they all have contracts with Utah, and their 2024-25 seasons prove it.

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