A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
If could be married segment inventory availability on the outbound since you say that SLC is a legal connection.
However, I don't see why this isn't just a simple RT with a SLC connection in each direction as the return only has about an hour in SLC, so it's not a stopover.
Try calling DL and giving the agent the exact flight numbers and fare classes you want. As a PM, you shouldn't have to wait (much).