The Mammoth content on Hockey Hot Stove is powered by Betalytics. provides the best sports data available. Offering a free five-day no-strings trial with monthly plans starting from $9.99. Use Promo Code: HHS to receive a 50% discount.
For the Utah Mammoth, the future is taking shape in Tucson, Arizona. Located some 770 miles away, it’s the home of their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. After years of stockpiling draft picks, the payoff is now on display in the minor leagues. Prospects offering a glimpse of what’s ahead for the Mammoth.
Tij Iginla and Caleb Desnoyers are two names drawing plenty of attention. Both are at the beginning of their professional hockey journeys. But the Mammoth’s prospect pipeline runs much deeper, with plenty of young talent looking to make its mark.
The Utah organization’s future has been taking shape for some time. Michael Hrabal has long been viewed as the franchise’s goalie of the future, while Gabe Smith, Tomas Lavoie, Yegor Borikov and Vadim Moroz are emerging as potential mid-round steals. Joshua Roy adds another intriguing piece after a shrewd offseason acquisition, and Artem Duda could be on the verge of making his NHL debut.
Roadrunners head coach Steve Potvin faces an exciting challenge this season, with a roster loaded with high-end prospects on the cusp of NHL stardom. His mission is to help turn that potential into full-time NHL talent, and early returns suggest he likes what he’s seeing.
Iginla and Desnoyers have opened the season together on Tucson’s top line, as both prospects adjust to the professional game and the challenge of facing seasoned, full-grown players. Both will be playing Utah in no time.
Utah Defense Prospects Thriving as Well
Among the things that have impressed Potvin and his staff the most is the ability the young defensemen have to control the game.
The jump from junior to professional hockey is challenging for any young forward. However, the transition can be even tougher for defensemen. They go from containing teenage forwards to facing seasoned professionals in their 30s. They’re forced to adjust quickly to the strength, speed, and physicality of the NHL. Utah doesn’t want to rush any prospects who aren’t ready.
Tomas Lavoie, a late-third-round pick in the 2024 draft, has increased his stock drastically over the last two seasons. The Athletic recently named him the fourth-best defenseman in that draft class, despite six of the first 12 actual picks being defensemen. He’s big, defensively sound, and offensively capable. What more could a team want?
Artyom Duda, another defenseman with two-way capabilities, got called up to the NHL with the recent injury to John Marino. André Tourigny, the head coach of the Mammoth, has been confident in Duda’s ability since training camp.
“We thought during training camp, ‘OK, he can play. If we have a game tomorrow and he has to play, we’re good with it,’” Tourigny said after practice Monday. He added that now, it’s just a matter of Duda getting comfortable and confident playing at the highest level.
