The Utah Hockey Club has extended Patrik Koch’s contract for another year.
The team didn’t share the exact details, but it’s likely a $775K cap hit. Last summer, Koch signed with the Arizona Coyotes and moved to North America after playing in Czechia and Slovakia for eight years. In his rookie AHL season, he scored 15 points and racked up 97 penalty minutes over 63 games. He also made his NHL debut on March 7, where he got a game misconduct after just nine minutes of playtime for joining a small brawl.
Koch is now one of only four defensemen signed by Utah, with eight more still free agents. This means there’s some uncertainty in their lineup. Fans might wonder if this will affect the team’s performance next season . Koch probably won’t be an everyday NHL player next season but will add toughness to help protect younger players like Julian Lutz, Sam Lipkin, and Maveric Lamoureux.
Contract Details:
While specifics are under wraps due to team policy, CapFriendly suggests it’s around $775K. Previously, Koch had an $847.5K contract with Arizona Coyotes before making his way to North America from Europe.
Koch’s Performance:
In Europe, he had high-event seasons often surpassing 85 penalty minutes. In his AHL rookie year here, he continued that trend with 97 penalty minutes and added physicality in NHL with four hits and one block during his brief debut.
Team Strategy:
Utah has only four defensemen signed so far which leaves their depth uncertain as they face eight pending free agents at this position. However, Koch’s role seems clear – bring physicality and experience to shield younger teammates from aggressive plays.
What do you think about Koch’s extension?
