Utah Mammoth Overall Rebuild Grade: A-
Core: B+
Overall Roster: B+
Prospect Pool: A
Head Coach & General Manager: B
Utah is Starting to Reach The Summit
There is a possibility that the Utah Mammoth becomes the Detroit Red Wings of the West. Meaning, they have a lot of good but not great players and plateau (at least for the time being) as a bubble playoff team. Otherwise, this is one of the best rebuilds that’s been years in the making.
It’s a credit to GM Bill Armstrong for sticking with the plan and building through the draft and developing both the core and the depth. This team has gone through a lot in recent years, from plenty of arena drama to relocation to a sale of the team but with competent ownership and the right people in place, they look poised to enter the contention conversation soon.
Let’s focus on the core since that’s oddly the area for concern. Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, and Mikhail Sergachev are all great players. None of them are stars who can take over a game. It leaves them with a good base that can get better with Caleb Desnoyers joining the group in a few years but in the big picture, it could become an issue.
The good news is that Armstrong is building the depth out with prospects who are starting to make their way to the NHL. Dmitry Simanev, Daniil But, and Desnoyers won’t be asked to turn the franchise around as much as round out an already good group. He’s also had a strong offseason.
The next steps are building through trades and free agency. At some point, Armstrong must take a swing and look to make that splash addition that gets this team over the hump. Sergachev was a step in that direction, and the JJ Peterka deal, which gave them a top-six center heading into next season, also was. That said, Armstrong needs that next “Matthew Tkachuk” type of trade, which will not only catapult them into the contention conversation but also make them a destination.
Outsider’s Perspective On Utah Mammoth
There’s no question that progress is being made with this team. It’s especially been noticeable with Ryan Smith, their owner, purchasing the team and proving a willingness to spend. “They were allowed to kinda end their rebuild when new ownership stepped in, and I think up until that point it was awful. However, once they switched from Arizona to Utah, they made some incredible moves. I think they’re at the point of contention now. Might be a year or two away from even coming close to fighting for a championship, but the playoffs are within reach.”
The Bottom Line
The playoffs are within reach for the Mammoth. They have a forward unit built to come at teams in waves, and their defense, especially with the prospects coming along, is starting to look like a complete unit. Goaltending remains a question mark as they need to find a backup for Karel Vejmelka but otherwise, they are at the backend of their rebuild. Now, it’s about putting together the finishing touches, and for head coach Andre Tourigny, it’s about a shift in the mindset, with the expectations being to contend.
