Is Utah’s Connor Ingram Next for a Contract Extension?

The offseason signing period for Utah Hockey Club has already kicked off, with goalie Jaxson Stauber signing a two-way contract.

Considering all the contracts Utah signed before the free agency period, it should come as no surprise to see the club looking to continue re-signing pieces from a roster that came so close to a playoff run.

While Stauber’s extension continues that trend, it does not answer some of Utah’s major offseason questions, such as what kind of deal the club will offer Jack McBain and whether Nick Bjugstad and other unrestricted free agents will be re-signed.

But the biggest question Stauber’s signing raises is what Connor Ingram’s future with Utah will be. Right now, Ingram is signed through the 2025–26 season and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.

There has been no update on his status in the NHL’s player assistance program, and he has not posted on social media since announcing his entry into the program on March 9.

“A lot of it is unknown. When players go into the program, we don’t have any contact with him so it’s hard for us to speculate,” Armstrong said. “The good news for us as we sit here in this room is we know he is in a good place at the program. We wish him the best.”

Aside from Armstrong’s comment, the status on Ingram is relatively unknown. So as of now, Utah and its fans can only hope Ingram is doing good and getting the help he needs from the NHL.

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Ingram has had assistance before, during his time with the Nashville Predators in the 2021–22 season, and returned to play the next season with the Arizona Coyotes.

So based on that, Utah should be confident that Ingram will be ready in time for next season, but until Ingram rejoins the team, Utah is left waiting to hear from Ingram like everyone else.

But with only a year on Ingram’s contract remaining, Utah will soon have to make another decision regarding one of its goalies.

After all, before Karel Vejmelka’s rise to the starting position that earned him a five-year contract extension and the starting goalie job, Ingram was slated to be the starter heading into the season.

It makes sense that Utah still sees Ingram in a positive light, even though he has lost the starting role to Vejmelka. Despite Ingram’s inconsistency this season, Utah has to feel confident that his play will improve when he is able to play a full season and remain consistently available.

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Even with Jaxson Stauber serving as Vejmelka’s backup for most of the season when Ingram was not playing, Utah still decided to bring in goalie Matt Villalta by the end of the season, opting to keep Stauber with its AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners.

Considering Vejmelka started 22 straight games, regardless of Utah had as a backup, Utah will need figure out who will backup Vejmelka as he starts his five-year contract.

Based on Utah’s signings this year, it seems likely the team could offer Ingram a contract extension, or in other words, retain another piece from its current roster.

But with Ingram still away from the team and no timetable for his return ahead of next season, a contract extension probably will not come this offseason.

Instead, Utah may want to see how Ingram performs at training camp and throughout the season before offering him an extension.

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There is also the possibility that Utah decides to trade Ingram if Stauber shows signs of growth and the club feels it would rather move on from Ingram’s expiring contract at the trade deadline.

Considering Vejmelka was in Ingram’s position as a backup goalie on an expiring contract, Utah could look to extend Ingram, just as it did with Vejmelka in the week leading up to the trade deadline.

But with three goalies currently signed under contract including its starter for years to come, utah won’t need to worry about getting Ingram under a contract immediatle;ly and is in position where it can wait to see how Ingram is when he returns to the team.

Rather, Utah’s next move likely will be figuring out McBain’s contract as a restircted free agent and deciding who of its unrestricted free agents it wahts to return and who it wants to look for in free agency.

Source: Utah News