Mitchell Linsley, October 8th, 2025
SALT LAKE CITY — The newly minted Utah Mammoth begin their second season of play in Salt Lake City on Oct. 8, 2025. The team takes the ice with a new name, new jerseys that have received critical acclaim, and a renovated arena, giving the franchise an opportunity to further develop an identity unique to this market.
The ongoing remodeling will create a loud and distinctly Utah environment. The seats behind the nets are the steepest in any NHL arena, reminiscent of Montreal’s Centre Bell, and the lower bowl creates a college-like atmosphere where opposing goaltenders will surely have difficulty blocking out the crowd noise. That advantage could be noteworthy if Utah qualifies for postseason play.
Further development of this forward core will be key for the organization to take a step forward in 2025-26. One of the most promising aspects of this roster is the depth scoring among the forwards. Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther, Logan Cooley, Nick Schmaltz, and Jack McBain are all in or nearing the prime of their careers and can easily contribute 20 goals each. Keller was named team captain at 27 and remains the only 30-goal scorer in Utah’s brief history. The highly skilled forward has three more seasons at $7.15 million per year, and it would be ideal forGeneral Manager Bill Armstrong to secure an extension before Keller potentially becomes a 40-goal player and the salary cap rises.
Winger Dylan Guenther signed an eight-year, $7.14 million extension last season and should be an integral part of Armstrong’s long-term plan. The 2021 first-round selection started the 2024-25 season strong, leading the league in goals for several games before tapering off. He finished last season with 60 points in 70 games. His ability to play both wings adds flexibility, and continued development could make him a highly undervalued asset relative to his cap hit.
Logan Cooley, 22, enters 2025 in the final year of his entry-level contract with a cap hit under $1 million. The former Minnesota Gopher is the most skilled forward on the roster. Although he contributed 25 goals and 60 points last season, he remains the most dynamic player on the ice, particularly when navigating the neutral zone and crossing the blue line with puck possession. Cooley is expected to see substantial power-play time and has the potential for 35 goals and 40 assists. If he explodes offensively and an extension is not completed before the trade deadline, he could command $7 million or more on the open market.
Nick Schmaltz enters the final year of his contract and regularly plays as the Mammoth’s first-line center. Securing him with an extension soon will be crucial for maintaining stability up the middle. He is set to hit unrestricted free agency next season and could command a significant salary depending on his performance, influenced by teams’ need for a top-two center and an expected rise in the league salary cap.
Jack McBain has yet to contribute significantly offensively in Utah but remains a flexible player who can play center or wing. Coach André Tourigny can move him throughout the lineup because of his two-way play. McBain has five years remaining on his contract, and getting production at his current cap hit would be a major boost to the lineup.
An exciting facet of this roster is the depth scoring across the forward group. Peterka, Cooley, Keller, McBain, and Guenther are all capable of surpassing 20 goals. If three to five of those players eclipse 30 goals, the Mammoth will have a balanced offense, critical in the playoffs. Optimistic projections suggest Utah could produce four 30-goal scorers this season.
The Mammoth’s defensive core is anchored by Mikhail Sergachev, who has five more seasons at $8.5 million. He is the highest-paid and most decorated player on the roster, providing elite defensive play while contributing on both the power play and penalty kill. The two-time Stanley Cup winner from Russia recorded 53 points last season, ranking fifth on the team, and averaged 25:07 minutes per game, the most of any Mammoth player.
Sean Durzi contributed four goals and 11 points in 30 games last season and will see time on the second power-play unit. John Marino is a reliable top-four defenseman with two 25-point seasons. Dmitry Simashev, 20, has never played an NHL game but impressed at last year’s prospect camp. At 6-foot-5, he could become a dominant presence once he fills out. He was Arizona’s sixth overall pick in 2023 and has the potential to become a superstar with proper development. Kevin Stenlund, 29, adds size at 6-foot-4 and is a fan favorite. He recorded 14 goals and 14 assists last season and is in a contract year.
Utah’s goalie tandem features two 29-year-old Czechs. Starter Karel Vejmelka posted a 2.58 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage last season, while backup Vitek Vanecek had a 3.88 GAA and .882 SV%. Their shared age and nationality help create strong chemistry in the locker room. With Vejmelka catching right and Vanecek catching left, opposing teams face distinctly different looks, giving Utah added flexibility in net.
The Mammoth also added key pieces to the roster. JJ Peterka was acquired via trade from Buffalo. The 23-year-old scored 27 goals and 68 points last season on a struggling Sabres team and is projected to be one of the few Mammoth forwards to reach 30 goals this season. He carries a $7.7 million cap hit over the next five seasons. Brandon Tanev was signed as a free agent, bringing grit, speed, and toughness to the bottom six. At $2.5 million for a fourth-line winger, he is expected to deliver consistent contributions. Nate Schmidt, another Stanley Cup champion, adds defensive depth while providing occasional offensive support. Scott Perunovich, also a free-agent signing, was an elite offensive defenseman at Minnesota Duluth but has yet to make a significant impact in three NHL seasons.
The team lost Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring in the Peterka trade. Doan was a promising forward with deep ties to the organization, and Kesselring was a solid defenseman with developmental upside, reflecting the organization’s confidence in Peterka. An interesting move from Armstrong came shortly after training camp when Tij Iginla, son of NHL legend Jarome Iginla, was assigned to the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets. Iginla is expected to be a major offensive contributor once he turns pro, having scored well over a point per game in major junior.
Last season, Utah was competitive but narrowly missed the playoffs, finishing 11th in the Western Conference with 38 wins and 89 points. Optimistic projections suggest three to five forwards could surpass 30 goals this season, giving the Mammoth a balanced offensive attack that will be critical in a playoff push.
Ryan Smith’s ownership group has made it clear the franchise expects to compete immediately. No Western Conference playoff team from last season is expected to regress significantly, leaving a narrow margin for Utah. Dallas, Colorado, and Winnipeg appear locked into the top three in the Central Division, while Vegas, Edmonton, and Los Angeles are similarly secure in the Pacific. That leaves two wild-card spots for Utah, St. Louis, Minnesota, Anaheim, Calgary, Nashville, and Vancouver.
Last year’s wild-card teams each present unique challenges. St. Louis remains competitive and is expected to build further around its core. Minnesota, dominant when healthy, enters “win-now” mode after locking up Kirill Kaprizov and Filip Gustavsson. Anaheim and San Jose feature young, ascending cores poised to challenge for playoff positioning. Calgary finished last season strong with a physical style that makes them a difficult out. Nashville boasts a talented roster expected to rebound, and Vancouver faces urgency to win to retain Quinn Hughes. Utah will need its forward core to develop, new additions to contribute immediately, and its goaltending tandem to perform consistently to seize one of the available wild-card spots.
If the core develops as expected and the new additions bring depth, toughness, and scoring, Utah could add at least five wins, putting them around 43 wins and 99 points. That projection would make them either the last team in or the first team out of the playoffs in year two of NHL hockey in the Beehive State.
mitchlinsley.com 
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