Trade talks intensifying for Utah HC after 20-goal scorer gets scratched again
Trade rumors are heating up as Utah Hockey Club continues to healthy scratch 20-goal scorer Michael Carcone.
After a hot start to the season Utah struggled through a four game losing streak against the Senators, Avalanche, Kings & Sharks. They rebounded with a 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames last night in defenseman Olli Maata's first game with Utah since his trade from the Detroit Red Wings.
Yet, despite this momentum, head coach Andre Tourigny has kept Carcone out of the lineup for two weeks. Carcone, who went pointless in the first three games of the season, was healthy scratched and hasn't returned to the ice since.
According to a recent report, the trade buzz around Carcone is intensifying. On 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman commented on the urgency around Carcone's situation in Utah:
The 28-year-old forward, who joined the Arizona Coyotes in 2021 and stayed with the team as they transitioned to Utah, had a career-high 21 goals in 74 games last season. Though management had high hopes for him this year he hasn't quite met those expectations.
With one season remaining on his $775,000 AAV contract Carcone may be an attractive trade target for teams seeking extra scoring depth for a playoff push.
Stay tuned for updates on Michael Carcone's situation as trade talks continue with Utah Hockey Club.
