Utah Mammoth to go Big Game Hunting on Trade Market: Insiders

Utah Mammoth bench celebrates a Logan Cooley goal

The Utah Mammoth are off to a tremendous start to the season, at 6-2-0 going into the weekend, riding a five-game winning streak and sitting in 2nd place in the Central Division.

It appears, from all accounts, that the Mammoth intend to go pedal to the metal, and try to significantly upgrade their lineup as this season goes along. They currently have $5 million cap space, and are projected to have over $20 million by the trade deadline.

Insiders Jeff Marek and David Pagnotta discussed Utah on The Sheet on Friday, and they agreed that, after pouncing on RFA JJ Peterka in the offseason, the team will be trying to follow that up with an even bigger splash this year.

"I have a hard time believing that (GM Bill) Armstrong is done," Marek said. To which Pagnotta replied, "The short answer is, he's not".

We're hearing all the speculation of certain teams that are expected to go big game hunting, that are willing to add a significant piece. Utah is right there...
Any big wigs that are going to be available this season, I fully anticipate Bill Armstrong and Company in Utah to go right after them. They've got full clearance (from the ownership group) to go make whatever big splashes they need to. They want to make some noise... They're willing to make some type of big moves.

Will no-move clauses or no-trade lists be a problem when the Mammoth come calling? Absolutely not, says Pagnotta. He tells us that Utah is becoming a real destination for players because of the way that the Mammoth organization takes care of players and their families.

"That's a big factor for a lot of guys, and word has been spreading... Utah is becoming an eye-opener for a lot of players."