Recently, we published UTHC Top Prospects Pt.1 & UTHC Top Prospects Pt.2 where we ranked the Top 10 UTHC prospects from Tij Iginla (1st overall) to Will Skahan (10th overall). We also began highlighting the top players both on the NHL roster and prospect pool under the age of 25. If you haven’t read them all, what are you waiting for? In this installment, we will profile the Utah prospects we have ranked 11th through 15th.
#11 Julian Lutz
Position: Left Wing
Team: Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)
Height: 6 foot 2 inches
Weight: 194 Pounds
Age: 20 years
Draft: 43rd overall, 2022
Player Statistics
Prospect Profile
Julian Lutz is a forward who plays with a physical edge, always willing to drive hard to the net and mix it up in the slot. He embraces the gritty areas of the ice, where he can use his size to battle for position and create scoring opportunities. Lutz’s power-forward style is evident in his willingness to go to the tough areas, fight for loose pucks, and put constant pressure on opposing defenses. However, to truly excel at the NHL level, he’ll need to continue building his strength to maximize his effectiveness in those high-traffic zones.
Injuries have been a recurring hurdle in Lutz’s development, holding him back over the past few years and raising concerns about his durability. As he prepares to start the next season in the AHL with the Tucson Roadrunners, a notoriously tough league, staying healthy will be crucial for his growth. To make his mark, Lutz will need to come in strong and prove that he can withstand the physical demands of the game, showing that he’s ready to take the next step toward becoming a reliable power forward in the NHL.
In addition to his physical play, Lutz is known for his relentless motor and consistent effort. For a bigger winger, his skating is quite good—not elite, but solid enough to support his style of play. What sets Lutz apart is his off-puck compete level. He’s a relentless puck hound, always on the lookout to win races and battles for loose pucks. His determination is evident in his willingness to backcheck hard, strip pucks from opponents, and outwork his competition in all three zones. Whether he’s chasing down a puck in the offensive zone or tracking back to help out defensively, Lutz never gives up on a play, making him a valuable presence on the ice.
As he gears up for a season in Tucson, Lutz will need to bring this same level of intensity while continuing to develop his game. If he can stay healthy, build on his physical attributes, and maintain his tenacious playing style, he has the potential to carve out a significant role as a power forward at the NHL level.
#12 Jonathan Castagna
Position: Center
Team: Cornell University (NCAA)
Height: 6 foot 2 inches
Weight: 194 pounds
Age: 19 years
Draft: 70th overall, 2023
Player Statistics
Prospect Profile
Jonathan Castagna is an exceptional young talent who made a remarkable leap from playing at St. Andrew's College, a Canadian prep school, directly into a top-tier NCAA program with Cornell University. Typically, prospects of his age and experience might spend time in the USHL before making such a significant jump in competition, but Castagna skipped that step and immediately became a key player for Cornell. This speaks volumes about his ability and maturity, as most young players would ease into a smaller role in such a situation. Instead, Castagna quickly established himself as a shutdown defensive presence, going toe-to-toe with older, more experienced competition and earning a critical role on a team known for its veteran-heavy roster. A role he played to perfection all the way into the NCAA tournament where Cornell made it to the final eight teams.
What makes Castagna stand out is not just his defensive reliability but also his rapidly developing skill set. Known for his strong skating from the start, he's now learning to use his speed more strategically, both to shut down opponents and to create offensive opportunities. He’s becoming adept at manipulating time and space, regularly outmaneuvering older defenders. His high motor and relentless work ethic make him a gritty competitor who never stops moving his feet, yet he plays with a high level of intelligence, ensuring that his effort is always purposeful.
Off the ice, Castagna’s athleticism is equally impressive. During his draft season, he was a standout at the NHL combine, finishing in the top ten in multiple events and showcasing his elite physical attributes. This aligns perfectly with the philosophy of Bill Armstrong and his scouting staff, who prioritize top-tier athletes in their selections. With his large, pro-style frame and a game defined by skating, versatility, and drive, Castagna fits right in with the other elite athletes in the Utah Hockey Club’s system like recently drafted Cole Beaudoin. As he continues to refine his skills, Castagna has the potential to develop into a solid all-around center with untapped offensive potential, making him a prospect to watch closely in the coming years.
#13 Maksymilian Szuber
Position: Left Defense
Team: Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)
Height: 6 foot 3 inch
Weight: 190 pounds
Age: 21 years
Draft: 163rd overall, 2022
Player Statistics
Prospect Profile
Surprise, surprise, Maximilian Szuber is yet another big defender who excels in skating, a particularly impressive feature, given his size. Bill Armstrong loves these players. Szuber stands out, though due to his intelligence, on the ice. He’s not your typical physical blueliner; instead, he relies on positioning and a long reach to make his defensive plays. Szuber has seamlessly adapted from the larger European ice to the tighter, more physical confines of North American rinks, showcasing his quick decision-making and toughness under pressure.
Szuber’s game is simple but highly effective. He’s a consistent player who limits mistakes, keeps the puck moving up the ice, and has a calming influence on the game. While his offensive upside isn’t high, which limits his ceiling, his value lies in his ability to be a reliable matchup defender, especially in the defensive zone and on the penalty kill. His upside is more likely as a bottom-four NHL defenseman, rather than in a top-four role.
Szuber is likely to be one of the first call-ups from Tucson to Utah on the blueline, with his main competition being Kolyachonok. His cerebral approach to the game has been key to his rise, from being passed over in his first draft year to becoming a 6th-round pick, to eventually making his way to North America and the NHL. Szuber's combination of intelligence, work ethic, and physical tools has allowed him to outshine more naturally gifted and flashy prospects. He’s a no-frills defender who simply gets the job done.
#14 Tomas Lavoie
Position: Right Defense
Team: Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL)
Height: 6 foot 4 inches
Weight: 225 pounds
Age: 18 years
Draft: 89th overall, 2024
Player Statistics
Prospect Profile
All season long, I have liked this player much more than many of the much riskier defensemen who were ranked much higher than him in this draft class. He's cool, calm, and collected with the puck under pressure. He doesn't panic and he has the size, strength, and patience to protect the puck, make the play, and keep himself and his team out of trouble in the defensive zone. I had Lavoie ranked much higher than 89th. He was comfortably in my top 50 prospects for this draft. He represents tremendous value where Utah was able to select him.
Tomas Lavoie is a standout prospect due to his exceptional blend of size, mobility, and defensive prowess. At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, he brings a physical presence to the ice, but it’s his smooth skating and adept puck-moving ability that truly sets him apart. Lavoie excels in transitioning the puck efficiently from defense to offense, demonstrating calmness and intelligence under pressure. While his offensive game is still developing, his physical tools and hockey IQ make him a promising candidate for a future shutdown role in the NHL. Adding up that monstrous athletic gifts of frame, strength, and poise with the step-up in physical play and overall effectiveness in the playoffs, and you’re left with a prospect who has a very high floor.
Lavoie gets the puck out of trouble in a hurry. He's adept at retrieving the puck, fending off pressure, scanning the ice, and moving the puck out of the zone effectively. He also defends the rush well. He gaps up quickly with his long right and surprisingly fast feet. He's able to get stick on puck at the blueline and smother zone entries before they start. He effectively forces forwards to the outside and is a menace along the wall. He takes care of his corner and the front of the net. He absorbs contact well in his corner and is always there to protect his goalie physically.
His best offensive contribution at this point is just how adept he is at transitioning the puck from defense, up the wall to a forward, for a nice breakout. He's step one of a very good transition and outlet. He's also got an underrated stretch pass and can break out his forwards for rushes. He is not, however, an extremely skilled offensive defenseman in the actual offensive zone. He has raw tools and athleticism and a good mind for the game, so that area could develop over time. That will be the key to his development and what his absolute upside at the NHL level eventually becomes.
While Lavoie is effective in transitioning the puck, he has room to grow in his offensive contributions within the zone. Developing his raw tools and offensive instincts will be key to reaching his full potential. Lavoie is unlikely to be a major point producer as a professional hockey player. He is also unlikely to contribute to an NHL power play at any point. He has a decent shot but has shown a reluctance to use it and he has not demonstrated much offensive creativity or ability to run an offense from the point. He is most likely not a top-pairing defenseman at the next level and probably won’t be the best player on the second pair of a decent NHL team, either. Lavoie does have a shot at being an extremely valuable role-player who plays a simple and effective game.
#15 Egor Sokolov
Position: Left/Right Wing (Right Shot)
Team: Utah Hockey Club (NHL) or Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)
Height: 6 foot 3 inches
Weight: 224 Pounds
Age: 24 years
Draft: 61st overall, 2020
Player Statistics
Prospect Profile
Egor Sokolov is one of those players you can’t help but root for. After interviewing him on our podcast, it’s easy to see why he’s been a fan favorite everywhere he’s played. Egor’s engaging personality and sharp sense of humor make him stand out, but what really sets him apart is his authenticity. He’s an open book—no pretenses, just Egor being Egor.
His journey in hockey is a testament to his bold and determined spirit. Forced onto the ice by his mother, Egor overcame those early tears and grew to love the game. At just 13, he moved three hours from home to chase his dream. That courage led him across the world to play for the Cape Breton Eagles in the QMJHL, where he quickly became a beloved figure, not just for his prolific goal-scoring—nearly a goal per game in the COVID-shortened season—but for his deep connection to the community. He made headlines for delivering groceries to the elderly and infirm during the pandemic, solidifying his place as a local hero.
Despite being passed over in the draft during his first two years of eligibility, Egor never wavered. He used each setback as fuel, working harder and producing more on the ice. While other players might have given up after failing to secure an NHL spot, Egor kept pushing. This resilience will be crucial as he heads into a pivotal training camp, looking to secure a roster spot on a talented NHL squad. Even if he doesn’t make the cut immediately, you can bet he’ll be back in Tucson, working his way up with the same determination that’s carried him this far.
Egor’s goal-scoring ability, combined with his size and unyielding mindset, makes him a player to watch. He’s been training hard this offseason with renowned NHL trainer Matt Nichol and working out alongside Tom Wilson, aiming to add more grit and physicality to his game. If he can bring that added toughness to his power-forward frame, there’s no doubt he has the potential to carve out a long and fruitful career with the Utah Hockey Club. It all starts this camp—keep an eye on Egor Sokolov.
- Trent Hess
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