NHL.com will be breaking down the most important EDGE stats for key offseason transfers. Today we're looking at defensemen Mikhail Sergachev And John Marino after being traded to the Utah Hockey Club at the 2024 NHL Draft.

The Utah Hockey Club emerged as one of the teams with the strongest performance improvements at the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Sphere after signing defensemen Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino in separate deals and selecting promising forward Tij Iginla with the No. 6 pick.

Sergachev was limited to 34 regular season games for the Tampa Bay Lightning this season due to a lengthy leg injury (broken fibula, broken tibia), but surprisingly returned for the final two games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sergachev has excelled in both superficial and advanced statistics in the past and now has a chance to become the clear No. 1 at the position in Utah after playing most of his career behind one of the league's best players, Victor Hedman.

Sergachev, 26, won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021 and had a stellar season in 2022-23, posting NHL career highs in points (64; tied for 10th among defensemen), assists (54; eighth at the position), power-play points (27; tied for 10th) and his best goal total (10). That was the only season in which Sergachev frequently had a first-line power-play role ahead of Hedman – a role he's likely to get now that he's healthy with Utah.

According to NHL EDGE statistics, Sergachev ranked in the 92nd percentile in top shot velocity (98.92 mph) and the 96th percentile in average shot velocity (68.34 mph) this season. In his best season in 2022-23, Sergachev was among the EDGE leaders in categories such as total skating distance (253 miles; 91st percentile), top shot velocity (100.17 mph; 97th percentile), average shot velocity (66.16 mph; 95th percentile), long shots on goal (100; 98th percentile; 10th in the NHL) and long shot goals (seven; 98th percentile; tied for sixth in the league).

Sergachev and Marino (acquired from the New Jersey Devils) have both shined in the neutral zone, which could help Utah boost the offensive zone next season; in the 2022-23 season, Sergachev was in the 85th percentile in neutral zone time (17.2 percent) on the power play, the percentage of time the puck spends in the neutral zone while the player is on the ice and the game clock is running.

This season, Marino was in the 93rd percentile at all strengths in the neutral zone (18.7 percent) and in the 96th percentile at even strength (19.5; tied for eighth in the NHL), despite New Jersey missing the playoffs last season. In the 2022-23 season, when the Devils made the playoffs and won a round against the New York Rangers, Marino was in the 71st percentile in long shots on goal (35) this regular season.

These new defensive additions join Sean Durzi on Utah's defense and should benefit from exposure to the former Arizona Coyotes' talented young forward group that includes Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther and rookie Josh Doan. Iginla, the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, could also be a part of the top-six forward group in the future.

Playing in front of standout goalie Connor Ingram (six shutouts last regular season; tied for the NHL all-time leader), Sergachev could reach new heights as an all-around defenseman. He has the potential to become a top-10 player at his position again – maybe even top-5 – and lead Utah to the playoffs as soon as next season.

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Full EDGE Stats Profile: Mikhail Sergachev

Full EDGE Stats Profile: John Marino