Mammoth Rumors: Something Big Is Coming With Trade Or Free Agency

The Utah Mammoth are in a good place with a lot of young talent and many of their younger players taking next steps or hitting their primes. They have been in a state of losing for a good while, and now that the team relocated to Utah from Arizona, owner Ryan Smith would like to see winning start immediately.

Utah had a decent 2024-25 season, but injuries did hurt the team. Not only is the hope to stay healthier this season, but Elliotte Friedman said that he still thinks the Mammoth would like to do something big, whether that be through a trade or in free agency.

The Mammoth have over $20 million in projected cap space. Looking at their defense, nothing will likely be done there this summer. The team needs forward additions and arguably a backup goalie in place of Connor Ingram. I don't think he will be bought out, but his numbers were down and he has injury concerns. Karel Vejmelka is the go-to man in net.

There is much room to upgrade the forward group this offseason, not only because there are roster spots and cap space, but because adding a big piece that is suggested has a good chance of putting the Mammoth in a great place to get back into the playoffs. They were relatively close this season with a lot less. The team is heading into next season healthy and some of the younger players have another year under their belts.

Free agency will be a dogfight for some players, but rumors suggest that Utah will be in the mix for top forwards like Mitch Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Brock Boeser. Any one of them would bolster the Mammoth's top-6 and forward group as a whole. Outside of Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther, Logan Cooley, Nick Schmaltz, and Barrett Hayton, the offense does fall off quite significantly, so adding in another player who could generate 45+ more points than someone he'd take a spot for in the lineup would make a huge difference.

If Utah goes the trade route either because they find someone they like or free agency doesn't work out the way the team hopes, a pending RFA like JJ Peterka could be perfect. Insiders projected this to be a hectic offseason and it has started pretty well once the Stanley Cup playoffs ended. Utah should definitely be a part of that.