(L-R) General manager Bill Armstrong and head coach Andre Tourigny of the yet to be named NHL Utah hockey team speak during a news conference at the Delta Center on April 24, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The NHL has allowed the sale of the Arizona Coyotes and the team will relocate to Salt Lake City, Utah.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – At the conclusion of the NHL’s inaugural season in Utah, the Utah Hockey Club participated in exit interviews to review the season, answer questions and provide an outlook on the future.
The following is a live blog of Utah Hockey Club’s exit interviews, including President Chris Armstrong, General Manager Bill Armstrong and Head Coach Andre Tourigny:
Andre Tourigny on the team’s progression: “The process is a good one. Every time we want to get a little bit better in our result.”
“We’re not satisfied by any means. We recognize the progress, what’s been done. But we’ll keep getting better in our process.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
Andre Tourigny on what the team needs to add this offseason: “If I look back a couple years ago, we needed a player no matter what. If you’re a good player, we’re happy to have you.”
“Now, we’re looking for specific area of our game to be better.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
Andre Tourigny on Vejmelka: “His performance this year did not surprise us in terms of; he can do that.”
“What he did different was sustain…what we saw this year was consistency…we knew he was capable of doing it, now he’s capable of doing it on a more consistent basis.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
Andre Tourigny on becoming playoff contenders: “We want to win the cup. That’s what we want.”
“We know we’re getting better and it’s exciting.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
Chris Armstrong on the fanbase: “The energy and support that has been shown to us from day one is extremely motivating, extremely energizing.”
“We were welcomed with open arms. We were made to feel like Utah was our home…we’re all proud to call it our home now.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
Chris Armstrong on the inaugural season: “Off the ice we are top half of the league in partnership revenue. Top two thirds of the league in ticketing.”
“We sold the building out every night.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
Chris Armstrong on the inaugural season: “On the ice, there’s a ton of reasons to be optimistic about the future.”
“We go into this offseason with a ton of energy to continue to improve the team and put ourselves in a position to take an even further step.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
Chris Armstrong provides an update on the Utah Hockey Club’s future name:
“We’re definitely in the home stretch and on track to announce that in the coming months here.”
“Not much more I can say about it today.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
Chris Armstrong on the Delta Center renovations:
“The work has already begun for this offseason and will continue right through to our first home preseason game.”
“Lots of work to be done over the next several summers to optimize the building for hockey.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
Chris Armstrong on free agency: “There’s not a single conversation that we won’t be able to entertain with a capability and capacity to execute on it.”
“That’s a great place to be. Having that kind of flexibility.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
Bill Armstrong on Connor Ingram’s status:
“A lot of that is unknown. When players go into the program, we don’t have a lot of contact with them.”
He did say that they know he’s in a good place and they really appreciated the support of the fans in regard to the letter box.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
Bill Armstrong on Logan Cooley’s extension:
“We’re looking forward to getting to those talks.”
“But there’s certainly no rush at this point. They’re other priorities. Not that Logan isn’t a huge priority but it’s just the way it rolls. We’ll deal with it at some point this…
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
Bill Armstrong confirmed that they’ll begin contract negotiations with But and Simashev once the KHL season concludes.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
Bill Armstrong said they’ve got some evaluations to do regarding Nick Bjugstad, Nick DeSimone and Matias Maccelli.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 21, 2025
Following the conclusion of the Utah Hockey Club’s inaugural season, the next notable event will be the NHL Draft on June 27 and 28.
