Utah Mammoth Continue Aggressive Offseason Under Ryan Smith
It’s been an eventful offseason for the Utah Mammoth. Second-year owner Ryan Smith, who I can’t speak highly enough of, has made several significant moves, continuing to show the aggressive, win-now mentality he has instilled throughout the organization.
Major Moves Out
The Mammoth traded John-Jason (JJ) Peterka to the Boston Bruins in exchange for the No. 23 overall pick and a conditional 2028 first-round pick. The selection is top-10 protected and will convert to an unprotected 2029 first-round pick if Boston lands a top-10 selection in the 2028 NHL Draft.
Peterka is coming off his worst season since his sophomore campaign. He remains under team control for four more years and now moves from a loaded Central Division to a Boston team that plays in an equally difficult Atlantic Division. Peterka should help strengthen the Bruins’ scoring depth, and he is already familiar with the division after spending his first four NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres before playing one season in Utah.
Utah also acquired goaltender Sebastian Cossa, solidifying its depth behind Karel Vejmelka. Although Cossa has appeared in only one NHL game — a victory despite posting an .857 save percentage — the 23-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario, has recorded a save percentage above .910 in each of the past two American Hockey League seasons. Those numbers are well above average, and with patience, Utah could develop him into a reliable NHL option.
The organization’s most significant move came when it traded Sean Durzi, Cole Beaudoin and a 2027 third-round pick for Vincent Trocheck.
Durzi’s health has become a concern after he appeared in only 60 games last season. His previous career high was 76 games. Beaudoin, meanwhile, remains an intriguing young center who has yet to make his NHL debut.
To me, this trade represents moving a mystery box for a proven commodity.
Trocheck has surfaced in trade rumors for more than a year, so a fresh start in Utah could benefit both sides. He has been remarkably durable over the past five seasons, with last year marking the only season during that span in which he played fewer than 80 games. He missed roughly one month because of a bacterial infection.
Trocheck is coming off a 53-point season on a struggling New York Rangers team. A bounce-back campaign similar to his 59-point season in 2024-25, or perhaps even better, would not be surprising.
New Signings and Re-Signings
Perhaps the biggest addition came when Utah signed former New York Islanders captain Anders Lee to a three-year contract worth $5.4 million annually.
Lee brings leadership, experience and durability. He has played either 81 or 82 games in each of the past four seasons, and I’m sure Islanders fans are disappointed to see him leave.
While Lee has topped out at 54 points during that stretch, Utah isn’t asking him to be an elite scorer. According to PuckPedia, Lee projects to play on the second line alongside Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther, two young forwards who continue to develop, with Guenther coming off a breakout season.
The Mammoth also matched the New Jersey Devils’ one-year, $4.775 million offer sheet for Barrett Hayton.
Utah hopes Hayton can rebound after totaling just 25 points last season following a 46-point campaign the year before. Because the contract is only one year, Hayton is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent afterward.
One concern is whether Hayton plays too cautiously in an effort to stay healthy and maximize his value on the open market. On the other hand, if he plays aggressively and produces another 20-goal season, the Mammoth should benefit significantly.
Overall Thoughts on the Offseason
Ryan Smith and general manager Bill Armstrong appear to have embraced one clear philosophy: surround the organization’s young core with experienced veterans.
I like the direction because every move aligns with that vision.
The added veteran presence should help accelerate the development of Utah’s young roster while providing stability throughout the lineup.
That said, I don’t believe the Mammoth have done enough to become favorites in the Central Division. Competing against teams like Colorado, Dallas and Minnesota requires an elite roster, and Utah still has work to do before joining that group of true Stanley Cup contenders.
However, these moves should keep the Mammoth firmly in the playoff conversation, and reaching the postseason again appears to be a realistic expectation.
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