Browsing: Mammoth

SALT LAKE CITY — Dylan Guenther scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period and the Utah Mammoth beat the Boston Bruins 3-2 on Sunday night.

Logan Cooley and Clayton Keller also scored and Nick Schmaltz had two assists to help the Mammoth win their third straight — all at home — and fourth in five games overall. Vitek Vanecek stopped 23 shots to earn the win in his second career start for Utah.

David Pastrnak scored twice for Boston and Joonas Korpisalo had 24 saves. The Bruins finished 0-3 on their Western Conference road trip and lost their fourth straight overall. Boston has allowed 17 goals over the last four games.

Utah struck first with Cooleyâ€s power-play goal at 4:20 of the first. Schmaltz — who had a hat trick on Friday night — deflected the puck off Cooleyâ€s back, and it ricocheted into the net.

Pastrnak countered with his own power-play goal to level it with 5:22 left in the period. His wrist shot at 5:46 of the second gave Boston a 2-1 lead.

Schmaltz picked up his second assist on Kellerâ€s equalizer late in the second. He attacked Korpisaloâ€s left side and then sent the puck over to Keller on the opposite side and Keller quickly snapped in an easy goal from close range.

Guenther helped Utah go back in front with 9:23 left after one-timing a slap shot from long distance, picking up his second game-winner of the season and 16th of his NHL career.

Bruins: Host Florida on Tuesday night.

Mammoth: Host Colorado on Tuesday night.

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Turns out backup goaltending is the least of the Calgary Flames’ concerns right now.

In the most important start of his career, Devin Cooley made an overwhelmingly positive first impression with a 29-save performance that made him the gameâ€s first star Wednesday in Utah.

However, his heroics werenâ€t enough as the offensively-challenged Flames lost their fourth in a row, this time by a 3-1 score to the Mammoth.

And while the effort was solid, the reality is becoming daunting, warned coach Ryan Huska afterwards.

“You need to find your game in a hurry because you canâ€t make the playoffs the first month of the year, but you surely can miss them,†said Huska, whose club played in Calgary the night before and arrived at their Salt Lake City hotel after 3 a.m.

“It is important for guys to recognize the work is there, but itâ€s some of the execution thatâ€s not, or the mistake at an inopportune time that is costing us some of these games.â€

“That stuff has to be cleaned up. I do feel weâ€ve beaten ourselves in this stretch weâ€re in right now. Those are all things I think are correctable for sure.â€

Given the nightmarish second half he had in the AHL last season, followed by a subpar pre-season, plenty was riding on Cooleyâ€s opening performance.

With rumours abounding the Flames are already looking to bolster their backup position, the 28-year-old responded to the pressure by being the gameâ€s first star, keeping Calgary in a game that could easily have gotten out of hand without him.

“I thought for his first game of the year I thought he was excellent,†said Huska, who will need Dustion Wolfâ€s backup to win at least half his starts for the team to make the playoffs.

“He made the saves he had to, and he sprinkled in some that were competitive saves, and thatâ€s what you want to see from him.â€
Making just his seventh NHL start, Cooleyâ€s first NHL action in 18 months saw him make a trio of great saves in the first period that gave plenty of early hope he was up to the task.

“I felt pretty good, maybe a little jumpy, a little scrambly, but maybe that comes with not playing in a while and having a lot of energy and feeling excited to have an opportunity,†said the California native, who was an AHL all-star last season.

“Especially in a backup role, my job is to give the team a chance every single night Iâ€m in, whether itâ€s a tough travel day or whatever, Iâ€ve got to find a way to dig in.â€

He did. And his teammates did well to scrap their way through a tight game, despite the obvious fatigue that comes from playing their second back-to-back in eight days.

“I thought our guys battled really hard,†said Cooley.

“I think we got in at 3:30 or 4 in the morning on a back-to-back, so it wasnâ€t easy, but our guys battled to the end.â€

With just six goals in their last four games, the Flames†inability to finish continues to plague a franchise that missed the playoffs last season because of it.

Joel Farabee and Matt Coronato were the most dangerous of all Flames Wednesday, as they pushed hard in the third period to erase a one-goal deficit, outshooting the hosts 12-4.

But shortly after Karel Vejmelka made a crucial shoulder save on Nazem Kadri in the final minute, the door opened for Kevin Stenlund to bank a lucky clearing attempt into an empty net after banked it in off the side boards.

Fact is, scoring is hard enough for the Flames without having to kill six Utah power plays.

Full marks to the revamped penalty kill approach and personnel the Flames employ for being perfect on the night, but it makes it awfully tough to come back in a game when youâ€re constantly down a man.

“Itâ€s going to be a hard game to win when you take six minors,†said Rasmus Andersson, whose power-play goal in the first period came courtesy of a fortuitous rebound off a defender.

“The penalties cost us tonight, I thought.â€

Huska didnâ€t disagree, pointing to a second-period lapse in which the Flames were outshot 18-3 and outscored 2-0 while having to kill off three penalties.

“Once we were killing that many penalties, I donâ€t think we got out of our zone the whole period,†he said.

“Then youâ€re making fatigue mistakes more than anything.â€

One of those mistakes saw Zayne Parekh fail to close a gap at mid ice and lose a footrace to JJ Peterka, whose breakaway conversion stood as the winner.

The Flames visit Vegas on Saturday.

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SALT LAKE CITY — JJ Peterka and Barrett Hayton scored second-period goals, Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves, and the Utah Mammoth beat the Calgary Flames 3-1 on Wednesday night.

Utah became the sixth NHL franchise to win each of its first two home openers. The Mammoth also earned their fourth straight win over Calgary after going 3-0 against the Flames last season.

Kevin Stenlund added an unassisted empty-net goal with 22.2 seconds remaining to complete the scoring for Utah.

Calgary has surrendered 19 goals through its first five games and has a minus-9 goal differential — second-worst in the NHL. Devin Cooley made his season debut for the Flames and finished with 29 saves.

Rasmus Andersson opened the scoring for Calgary on a power-play goal at 8:37 of the first.

Hayton got Utah on the board at 1:16 of the second. He levelled it at 1-1 after snapping the puck straight down the middle. Peterka gave the Mammoth their first lead at 4:24 of the second, scoring on a close-range wrist shot off an unassisted breakaway.

Utah created many scoring chances in the second period because of six Calgary penalties. The Mammoth had an 18-3 advantage in shots on goal during the period, but failed to convert on four power-play opportunities. They are just 1 of 16 on the power play so far this season.

Flames: At Vegas on Saturday night.

Mammoth: Host San Jose on Friday night.

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The Utah Mammoth unveiled their new mascot, Tusky, during Wednesday night’s home opener against the Calgary Flames.

The Mammoth—formerly the Arizona Coyotes before the organization was transferred to the expansion franchise Utah Hockey Club—have started the season 1-2.

“We named the Utah Mammoth mascot Tusky to lean into our team’s ‘Tusks Up’ rallying cry,” Utah owners Ryan and Ashley Smith said in a statement. “Tusky is going to be a big part of our community, creating memorable experiences in and out of the arena. Fans can expect to see Tusky everywhere—from Mammoth games and team events to community gatherings, schools and hospitals.”

Tusky stands at 6’5″ and wears No. 00. The team has said he’s a great skater, shoots left-handed and his position is the center… of attention.

The team’s nickname, the Mammoths, is a nod to the prehistoric animal that lived in Utah during the last Ice Age.

“Tusky embodies the strength, momentum and earth-shaking presence of the herds that once roamed Utah more than 10,000 years ago,” the team said.

And listen, while Tusky might look a bit aggressively angry, you’d probably be a bit perturbed as well if you emerged from a block of ice in the middle of a hockey arena—like Tusky did on Wednesday night—and learned that the rest of your species was extinct.

Perhaps he’ll reach out to Gritty for consolation, who is assuredly is the only member of whatever his species is to ever exist.

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CHICAGO — Andre Burakovsky snapped a third-period tie, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Utah Mammoth 3-1 on Monday night for coach Jeff Blashillâ€s first win with his new team.

Chicago dropped its first three games despite being tied at 2 after the second period in each contest. It was outshot by Utah 23-14, but a wide-open Burakovsky beat Vitek Vanecek low on the stick side for the deciding power-play goal with 11:05 left.

Ilya Mikheyev had two goals for the Blackhawks, including an empty-netter in the final seconds. Spencer Knight made 22 saves.

Blashill, 51, was hired by Chicago in May. It’s his second stint as a head coach in the NHL after he went 204-261-72 in seven seasons with Detroit.

JJ Peterka scored for Utah, which dropped two of three on its season-opening road trip. Vanecek finished with 11 stops.

The Mammoth played without defenceman Sean Durzi, who is expected to miss four weeks with an upper-body injury. Durzi had an assist during Saturday nightâ€s 3-2 overtime win at Nashville.

Looking for the tying goal, Utah got a power-play opportunity when Connor Bedard was sent off for holding with 8:19 to go. But Chicago killed it off.

Utah controlled the action in the second, outshooting Chicago 13-3 in the period. But the Blackhawks went in front when Mikheyev drove to the net and stuffed it in at 9:21 for his first goal of the season.

Peterka responded 1:02 into the third, tying it at 1 when he beat Knight from the side of the net. It was Peterka’s first goal since he was acquired in a June trade with Buffalo.

Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson returned to the lineup after missing Saturday night’s 3-2 loss to Montreal with an upper-body injury. He skated with the team Monday morning and said he had bounced back quicker than he had expected.

Both teams play again Wednesday night. Utah has its home opener against Calgary, and Chicago visits St. Louis.

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By Jared Clinton, Features writer

There aren’t many who will extol the virtues of the National Enquirer. That is, of course, because one would be hard pressed to associate the tabloid with virtuousness in the first place. But there is something to be said for the Enquirerâ€s cockroach-esque ability to maintain its place as a fixture of grocery-store checkouts. Trust, too, that its longevity has little to do with any reputation as a great bastion of journalistic integrity. Rather, it has survived by trading on one of humanityâ€s great truths: we all love a little bit of gossip.

Bristle at the suggestion if you wish. Deny it if you must. But the cold reality is no one is immune to a bit of idle talk, and most certainly not those within the hockeysphere. Rumors have become part of the daily news cycle. There are whole accounts all across social media dedicated to aggregating and disseminating the latest tidbits.

And our collective love of digging up the newest dirt even bleeds into television broadcasts, where entire intermission segments center around dissecting the latest chatter regarding this playerâ€s trade availability or that playerâ€s contract negotiations.

But much like understanding that the yarns spun in the Enquirer arenâ€t worth the paper on which they are printed, an essential part of living in the age of off-ice gossip is learning to distinguish fact from fiction. For John Q. Public, thatâ€s not always an easy thing. Doing so requires a smidgen of media literacy and a working cow-excrement detector. For the media types, itâ€s about leaning on well-placed sources. When youâ€re an NHL GM, though? You set out to hear these things straight from the horseâ€s mouth. And that is what brings us to Utah Mammoth GM Bill Armstrong.

Not unlike most rumor hounds, Armstrong couldnâ€t help but raise an eyebrow when word trickled out that JJ Peterka was on the market. In three big-league seasons in Buffalo, Peterka had established himself as a legitimate top-six talent. He finished the 2024-25 campaign tied for second in scoring for the Sabres, and with Buffalo desperate to right the ship, Peterka seemed a no-brainer to remain a fixture of the teamâ€s lineup for years to come.

One can understand, then, why Armstrong was skeptical of the trade talk.

“Itâ€s one of those things you ask those GMs when youâ€re talking to them,†Armstrong told reporters. “ ‘Is this true? Is there any life to this story?†Most times, thereâ€s none. But this particular one had some legs.â€

Thatâ€s not to say mapping out a swap for Peterka was as simple as a single phone call. As Armstrong put it, acquiring the 23-year-old right winger “took some time to mature and get across the finish line.†When all was said and done, the Mammoth sent 23-year-old right winger Josh Doan and 25-year-old defenseman Michael Kesselring the Sabres†way in exchange for Peterka. The cherry on top? Peterkaâ€s almost-immediate commitment to the project in Utah.

It just shows how committed I am to Utah, how excited I am and how much I believe in that group- JJ Peterka on signing a five-year deal.

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An RFA at the time he was traded, Peterka signed a five-year, $38.5-million contract in the aftermath of his move to Utah. His $7.7-million cap hit makes him the franchiseâ€s highest-paid forward.

“Sometimes, you talk to guys when theyâ€re traded to you and theyâ€re in shock,†Armstrong said. “(JJ) was expecting it and excited about coming to Utah.â€

For Peterka, putting pen to paper was an easy choice, and that wasnâ€t only because of the dollars-and-cents of it all. When the Mammoth (nee Hockey Club) touched down in Utah last summer, a move made on the back of the Arizona Coyotes†protracted relocation saga, Peterka took note of the reception they received. He was also blown away by the atmosphere when he visited with Buffalo last season. And this is to say nothing of the talent in the lineup. That the mountains of Salt Lake City had a way of making the Munich native feel at home didnâ€t hurt either. Put it all together, and a long-term deal was a no-brainer.

“It just shows how committed I am to Utah, how excited I am and how much I believe in that group – what theyâ€ve got going and what theyâ€re building there,†Peterka said.

What the Mammoth are constructing – and have been dating back to their final days as the Coyotes – is a roster brimming with budding young stars. The squad appears poised to contend not just in the cutthroat Central Division but for a consistent spot in the Western Conference playoff picture.

But, as is evident by the fact Utah spent the 2024-25 season flitting in and out of wild-card contention before ultimately finishing on the outside looking in, the up-and-coming outfit is not without its flaws.

“You always have to be aware of where you are in the build and where youâ€re going,†Armstrong said. “Where weâ€re going is we needed somebody in the top two lines that could put the puck in the net and could have that ability to have impact.â€

That need was painfully apparent at times last season. At all strengths, Utahâ€s ability to generate shots and scoring chances added up to the NHLâ€s 10th-most expected goals (258.2). Even with Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther in the lineup, though, Utah struggled to turn opportunities into actual offensive output. By seasonâ€s end, the clubâ€s 240 goals tied for 20th in the NHL. And thatâ€s where Peterka comes in.

Though he has flown somewhat under the radar, Peterka has proven to be one of the leagueâ€s most-lethal shooters over the past two seasons. Look no further than the rate at which he has outperformed his expected offensive numbers. Among the 500-plus skaters to play at least 1,500 minutes at all strengths since the start of 2023-24, Peterka ranks an impressive – though not necessarily awe-inspiring – 113th in the NHL, producing 41.5 expected goals. Heâ€s exceeded expectations, however, by netting 55 goals over that span.

And itâ€s by that measure, the difference between expected and actual results, that Peterka has proven himself to be an exceptionally gifted finisher. Among that cohort of 500-plus skaters, only 27 have outstripped their expected total by as much or more than Peterkaâ€s 13.5 goals above expected.

The same ability to deliver is apparent when measuring per hour of ice time, too.

Though heâ€s not in the same stratosphere as compatriot Leon Draisaitl or former Sabres teammate Tage Thompson – who rank first and second with .60-plus goals more than expected per 60 minutes over the past two campaigns – Peterka has exceeded his expected per-hour goal production by .29 at all strengths.

That tied him for 25th in the NHL over the past two campaigns. To put that into context, Peterka ranks ahead of Nathan MacKinnon, Jack Eichel and Filip Forsberg. It also puts Peterka level with or clear of the top players available this summer, which included Mitch Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers and Brock Boeser.

That alone would make Peterka a fit on any team in the league, of course. But what gives the Mammoth even greater confidence that Peterka will be especially suited to the organization is that his style fits the way coach Andre Tourigny wants his team to play: north-south and up-tempo.

“The one thing Iâ€ve learned about him from watching him over the years is heâ€s got a unique ability to create a ton of speed down the wings,†Armstrong said.

Thatâ€s an asset Peterka has honed over the years. In fact, it dates back to the days when playing in the NHL was nothing but a distant dream. Peterka grew up a multi-sport athlete, and he sounds like heâ€s rattling off a list of Olympic events when naming his hobbies. His interest in multiple sporting disciplines led him to spend his winters balancing hockey with short-track speed skating. And while he eventually ditched the spandex bodysuit, the technique he learned on the oval remains to this day.

“I was always one of the fastest guys, probably because of that,†Peterka said. “Translating that to hockey wasnâ€t too hard. Obviously, not as many turns, but for straight-line skating and that stuff, it really helps.â€

Itâ€s one of those things you ask those GMs about. ‘Is there any life to this story?†This particular one had some legs- Utah GM Bill Armstrong on rumors of Peterka’s availability.

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Despite Peterkaâ€s skill set and promising on-ice results, no one is expecting him to arrive and act as an immediate panacea for Utahâ€s scoring woes, nor is he being heralded as the missing piece who will singlehandedly push the club into Stanley Cup contention. Thatâ€s not the kind of pressure Armstrong wants to put on the youngster, either. This is all new for Peterka, who said getting traded was a “weird feeling.†Heâ€ll have to put down new roots in a new city and without the benefit of any familiar faces – his lone personal connections are to Utah prospects and fellow German national-team players Maksymilian Szuber and Julian Lutz.

Once that bedding-in period is complete, though, and Peterka has become familiar with his new Mammoth teammates, the hope is he will be one of the driving forces who help Utah turn promise and potential into post-season hockey and perhaps even a championship run.

That could happen in short order. It could be in due time. But Peterka is confident that, sooner or later, on-ice success is in the cards for the club.

“When you look at the roster and how many young players are there and already so good,†Peterka said, “I think just timeline-wise, for me, itâ€s going to be a perfect fit.â€

This article appeared in our 2025 Meet the New Guys issue. The cover story for this issue features the newest Vegas Golden Knight, Mitch Marner, as he looks to shine in the desert. We also include features on new Jets forward Jonathan Toews, Canadiens D-man Noah Dobson and more. In addition, we take a look at the top ‘new guys’ from each NHL division.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

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  Greg WyshynskiOct 1, 2025, 06:39 PM ET

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  Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.

The NHL’s Utah franchise is facing another trademark challenge to its team name.

Mammoth Hockey LLC, a hockey equipment bag manufacturer based in Portland, Oregon, has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court in Utah to “protect its long-established brand against use by the NHL’s new Utah franchise, which adopted the name ‘Utah Mammoth’ on May 7, 2025.”

This motion, filed on Sept. 25, is a counterclaim against the Utah Mammoth’s owners. Uyte and Smith Entertainment Group Hockey filed a motion on Aug. 1 to end any trademark dispute with Mammoth Hockey LLC, which they said had made threats of litigation since the NHL team was officially named. That included a cease and desist letter.

The NHL team was known as Utah Hockey Club in its inaugural 2024-25 season after SEG purchased and relocated the former Arizona Coyotes franchise to Salt Lake City. The franchise was rechristened as the Utah Mammoth after more than 850,000 ballots were cast by fans in multiple rounds of voting to determine the name. Mammoth won the vote over Utah Outlaws and Utah Hockey Club.

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Mammoth Hockey was founded in 2014 by Erik Olson and Lars Huschke. The company said the NHL team’s nickname has created “confusion” and “undermines” their brand’s identity, arguing that online searches for “Mammoth Hockey bags” now lead users to the NHL team’s store first. Mammoth Hockey also sells shirts, hats and water bottles.

Olson declined comment when reached by ESPN.

When contacted about Mammoth Hockey’s latest filing, SEG directed ESPN to its original statement in August: “The Utah Mammoth filed an action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah seeking a declaratory judgment that use of the trademark Utah Mammoth does not violate any rights asserted by a third party. Utah Mammoth and the NHL believe strongly that we have the right to use the name Utah Mammoth under federal and state law, and that our use will not harm the defendant or its business in any way. We have taken this action only after careful consideration based on the defendant’s position.”

This isn’t the first trademark challenge Utah has faced during its naming process.

Before Utah’s inaugural season, “Yeti” was one of six potential name options put to a fan vote in June 2024. It was widely considered to be the team’s eventual name, even by Utah players.

But the team announced in January that it would not be moving forward with “Yeti” or “Yetis” after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected a trademark application for “Utah Yetis” because of the “likelihood of confusion” for consumers to other companies and brands that use the name. Among those parties was Yeti Coolers LLC, which makes drinkware, coolers and clothing.

Mammoth Hockey LLC cited that previous trademark dispute in filing its motion for a preliminary injunction.

“Mammoth Hockey argues that the Utah Mammoth knew of its long-standing use of the mark but never sought an agreement, unlike with other brands whose names were considered, including Yeti, when similar conflicts arose,” they said in a statement.

The team said in May that the names in the final voting group were clear of any trademark issues.

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The Oilers acquired netminder Connor Ingram in a trade with the Utah Mammoth, the team announced Wednesday. In return, the Mammoth will receive future considerations from the Oilers.

As part of the deal, Utah will also retain $800,000 of Ingram’s $1.95 AAV for the upcoming season.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Ingram will start at AHL Bakersfield at a number that does not affect the Oilers’ salary cap.

The 28-year-old goaltender was waived by the Mammoth on Thursday and then cleared waivers on Friday.

Ingram, who did not participate in training camp with Utah, hit the wire after general manager Bill Armstrong indicated he was ready to give Ingram a chance to land with another team.

The goaltender entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on March 9 following his motherâ€s death from breast cancer.

“Weâ€re excited for him and his path to recovery, thatâ€s the biggest thing,†Armstrong told reporters earlier in training camp. “He will either get a chance to play for another NHL team or he will go to the American Hockey League and resume his play. But at the end of the day, he will be playing and thatâ€s what weâ€re so excited for.â€

Ingram went 9-8-4 with a 3.27 goals-against average and an .882 save percentage in 22 games with Utah last season.

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This time last year, the Utah Hockey Club was nearing its first strides in Salt Lake City after spending the summer moving and rebranding and introducing a young roster to a whole new market of hockey fans.

Normalcy started to settle in when the season got underway as players could finally focus on the game instead of the noise around it in the desert or the logistics of moving to the mountains.

But as Year 2 in Utah begins, thereâ€s plenty more change afoot. Theyâ€ve got a new name, for one thing, with the organization bidding farewell to the Hockey Club moniker and welcoming in a new era as the Mammoth, complete with a new logo and new sweaters. They have a shiny new practice facility, too — a project befitting the Mammoth name that came together in a year and shows players (both current and prospective) just how serious owners Ryan and Ashley Smith are about giving players every opportunity to excel.

The biggest change, though, is the expectations around this club. The playoffs are no longer something to build towards but rather an expectation. This young core, led by captain Clayton Keller and fellow top-six skaters Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther, isnâ€t just about channeling potential anymore, but rather playoffs. Thereâ€s an expectation now that the Utah Mammoth are ready for post-season hockey — and a legitimate confidence that they can make some noise once they get there.

Utahâ€s top priority this off-season was to add a top-six forward to complement it young trio up front and bring some goal-scoring consistency to the group. The Mammoth didnâ€t waste much time doing just that with the acquisition of Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres. Peterkaâ€s skillset — heâ€s a goal-scoring winger they can plug into the top-six — and trajectory (heâ€s only 23) perfectly fits the Mammoth mould as they look to take a giant leap out of their rebuild. That the club signed him to a five-year contract with a $7.7 million AAV upon arrival made it clear Utah considers him a core piece moving forward. And itâ€s easy to see why: Peterkaâ€s breakout campaign in Buffalo in 2023-24 saw him collect a career-high 28 goals and put together his first 50-point season; he followed it up with 27 goals and an impressive 68 points last year.

The addition of Peterka isnâ€t just about adding 20-plus goals. Itâ€s about opening up the playbook of potential line combinations with the addition of another young star. Place him on the top line next to Keller, or alongside Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther — all of whom are poised to build on last yearâ€s production — or perhaps alongside second-line centre Barrett Hayton in hopes of helping him thrive. Whatever the combo, itâ€ll be fun to see how Peterka can help elevate this young group.

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Another newcomer to Salt Lake City, Schmidt joins the club fresh off hoisting the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers — and itâ€s that experience that makes him such a smart acquisition for the young club. The 34-year-old, who signed a three-year pact to join Utahâ€s blue line, bounced back with Florida last year on a one-year deal after being bought out by Winnipeg and was particularly impressive in the post-season with three goals and 12 points in 23 games to help Florida defend its title.

While Schmidtâ€s not going to break a game wide open, his presence should provide stability and depth for a group that dealt with plenty of setbacks last season. Utahâ€s defence was hit hard by injuries last year, with only Ian Cole able to play a full 82 games as John Marino was limited to just 35 games and Sean Durzi managing a mere 30. Schmidtâ€s leadership as a veteran player — and as one of just a few Mammoth players who knows what it takes to win it all — is his biggest value.

Utah lucked out when it jumped several spots in the draft order to claim the fourth overall selection despite just barely missing out the playoffs, and it made the most of the fortuitous bounce by picking Desnoyers. The centreman wonâ€t be hitting the ice soon — he underwent off-season wrist surgery thatâ€ll hold him out a chunk of the fall — and when he does, it wonâ€t be with the big club just yet but rather back with his QMJHL squad in Moncton.

But while patience is key, the excitement is real. Desnoyers is a complete player, with leadership and a big personality to match, and itâ€ll be fun to see what he can do with the Wildcats once heâ€s not dealing with the wrist injury that plagued him for much of last season. Listed as the second-best prospect under age 23 across all NHL organizations in our 2025 ranking, Desnoyers†well-rounded game will make him a fan favourite once heâ€s ready for the NHL.

1. Can Keller take another big step forward — and can Cooley and Guenther join him?

After posting 37- and 33-goal campaigns in 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively, Keller shifted some of his focus to playmaking in 2024-25 with a career-high 60 assists to go with another 30-goal season for a personal-best 90 points in 81 games.

Now, heâ€s poised to put it all together and hit another milestone: 100 points for the first time in his career. The 27-year-old has proven year-over-year his ability to step into a larger role, and with playoff expectations hovering over the season and the teammates around him poised for breakouts of their own, it would be foolish to doubt Kellerâ€s quest for triple-digit production. Considered a brink player for a Team USA roster spot at the Olympics in February, thereâ€s no denying the extra motivation at play, too.

Kellerâ€s career-high campaign coincided with a breakout season for Logan Cooley, who at just 21 enters his third NHL season after tallying 25 goals and 65 points. Guenther, too, is coming off his own breakout as a full-time NHLer, collecting 60 points in 70 games last year and sitting second on the team in goal-scoring with 27.

Add in Peterka, and weâ€ve got a rising tide in the mountain town that should see several young stars take important steps forward.

The acquisition of Peterka was a big win for Utahâ€s top six, but it came as a cost in the depth department both offensively and on defence as Josh Doan and Michael Kesseling went to Buffalo in return.

On offence, with so much focus on the top six to take a step forward, itâ€ll be interesting to see how the rest of the lineup shakes out. Can Lawson Crouse take a leading middle-six role? Will Jack McBain build on career bests? Can big Daniil But break into the league with a roster spot out of camp?

On defence, the questions are just as pressing — especially considering the slew of injuries suffered last year. With Dmitri Simashev challenging for a spot and Maveric Lamoureux also on the brink, how will the defence take shape throughout the season?

Vejmelka took the long road to the NHL, but after landing in Arizona in 2021 and sharing the crease in the three seasons that followed, he has proven heâ€s the right man for the top job in Utah — and now heâ€s here to stay, thanks to the five-year, $23.75 million extension he signed in March. Forgoing unrestricted free agency in a season of career highs — 55 starts, including 23 in a row down the stretch, 26 wins, a 2.58 GAA and .904 save percentage — speaks to Vejmelkaâ€s confidence in the club and the teamâ€s faith that heâ€ll build on his steady 2024-25 campaign.

The 29-year-old is the unquestioned No. 1 entering this season, and the team is clearly counting on him taking another step forward. A healthier blue line in front of him should surely help things, and bringing in some insurance behind him in the form of Vitek Vanecek should solidify the blue paint, too.

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The Anaheim Ducks hosted their first preseason game of the exhibition season on Monday, when they faced off against the Utah Mammoth.

The Ducks dropped a tight checking affair the night before against the Los Angeles Kings in a game mostly made up of inexperienced players, AHL players, and prospects.

This time out, they iced a nearly all-NHL top nine forward group, an NHL top four defensive unit, and projected backup Petr Mrazek. This was Chris Kreider and Mikael Granlundâ€s first appearances in full Ducks uniforms.

Mrazek stopped 14 of just 15 shots surrendered, mostly from distance and rarely on a second opportunity.

Utahâ€s lineup featured the likes of Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Dylan Guenther, and Mikhail Sergachev.

Karel Vejmelka got the nod for the Mammoth in this game and saved 10 of 13 shots before being pulled after the second period. Jaxson Stauber came in for the third period and stopped 7 of 10 shots.

Quack of Dawn: Ducks Morning Report – 09/22/25

Preseason Live Blog: Utah Mammoth vs Anaheim Ducks

Here are my takeaways from this one (take everything with a grain of salt, as itâ€s still very early in preseason):

Systems-Every system feels like a throwback to a bygone era, but with a minor tweak. Thatâ€s meant to be a compliment, as this team required a change in that department, and they suit the roster well.

The penalty kill was a rotating box and diamond that wasnâ€t as disruptive as hoped for, but it took away dangerous seams. They ran a 1-2-2 neutral zone forecheck, allowing smart and skilled players to utilize their instincts to break up opposing efforts.

Most encouraging was the offensive zone. Puck possession is paramount, as is seeking out the most dangerous looks possible. The team has the skill to hang on to pucks and extend possessions while making deft reads off-puck.

Beckett Sennecke-His goal was spectacular and translatable. His on-puck game is polished, and heâ€s improved his protection ability. However, if this team is to make a true run for the playoffs, it may be in their best interest to keep him through training camp and send him back to junior before the season. His off-puck defensive habits are special, but on-puck leaves a lot to be desired. He could stand to improve his angling and engagement before heâ€s to be fully trusted at the NHL level. Unless of course, the Ducks feel he can contribute to their end goal and these last few efforts aren’t indicative of the immediate impact he can make.

Drew Helleson-Helleson fits next to LaCombe and within this system perfectly. Heâ€s an energy-conserving, cerebral defender who can now better utilize his length and anticipation to win pucks and ignite play the other way. Heâ€s an under-the-radar breakout candidate who may not be as under-the-radar after tonightâ€s performance.

The Ducks will be back at it on Wednesday, when theyâ€ll host the Los Angeles Kings at Honda Center for their third preseason game.

Preseason: Takeaways from the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 Loss to the Los Angeles Kings

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Zellweger, Mintyukov to Benefit Most from New Coaching Staff, Systems

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