Mammoth Rumors: Team To Target Higher Ticket Item

The Utah Mammoth have gotten off to a strong start to the season with some good health and added talent to the team. But there is plenty more space and opportunity to make a trade or two to be elevated to an even higher tier.

According to Chris Johnston, "They have tons of picks, tons of prospects, and the cap room available to get into some higher ticket items, if, say, a top-4 defenseman were to become available."

The Mammoth are working with over $5 million worth of cap space this season. It really helps when there is just one player paid over $8 million and four over $7 million per year.

Sean Durzi, a regular top-4 defenseman for the Mammoth that they planned to have in their lineup, is injured again and has only played two games this season. He played just 30 games last season as well. Whether he's healthy or not, it is worth adding another d-man who has the talent to play in the top-4. Dmitri Simashev, a 20-year-old rookie, has been filling in. And it's not to say he hasn't done a good job for what is expected, but that role can be upgraded and he either spends a little more time in the AHL until next season or be pushed down the pairings so as to not be overworked and outmatched.

Simashev has only been playing even-strength minutes and is averaging 16 minutes per game. He wouldn't be the first to come out of the lineup though. Olli Maatta is playing fewer than 12 minutes per game and isn't on either special teams units either.

In terms of assets to acquire someone impactful for the top-4, the Mammoth have nine picks in the first five rounds of the 2026 draft, including three in the second round, and two in the third round and fifth round. They also have eight picks in the first five rounds of the 2027 draft, which includes an extra draft pick in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds.

While it makes more sense to use draft picks if the team is finishing higher in the standings and don't necessarily need to fill their cupboards with all of the talent already there for now, there are skilled prospects that they may or may not dangle. These players are Simashev, Daniil But, Caleb Desnoyers, Cole Beaudoin, Tij Iginla, and more.