Just before the second day of the draft got underway in Las Vegas just over a week ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning traded two-time Stanley Cup champion Mikhail Sergachev to Utah Hockey Club in exchange for former first rounder Conor Geekie, J.J. Moser and a pair of draft picks.
While meeting with the media in Utah this past week, Sergachev told reporters that he was shocked by the trade from Tampa Bay and wasn't expecting to be dealt by the Lightning.
Sergachev said that he started talking to his agent and some players in Utah, including star forward Clayton Keller, all of whom had nothing but nice things to say about the city and that he's very excited for the opportunity ahead of him.
The 26-year-old was limited to just 34 games during the regular season due to fractures in his left tibula and fibula. He put up 19 points (two goals, 17 assists), 16 penalty minutes and minus-16 and returned for a pair of games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs before Tampa was eliminated by the Florida Panthers.
Utah Hockey Club will have Sergachev around for quite a while as he's got seven years remaining on an eight-year extension he signed while with the Tampa Bay Lightning that comes with an $8.5 million cap hit.
POLL | ||
7 JUILLET | 228 ANSWERS Mikhail Sergachev blindsided by being traded to Utah Hockey Club Will Utah Hockey Club make the playoffs in their first season? | ||
Yes | 56 | 24.6 % |
No | 172 | 75.4 % |
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