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Projected cap space: $14.3 million
2026 draft picks: 1st, 3rd, 3rd (CAR), 4th, 5th, 5th (CHI), 7th
What went right? In a word? Progress. Last season, the Utah Hockey Club finished seven points shy of reaching the postseason. Teams on the bubble can go one of two directions in the following campaign. Utah's approach to making sure it had a better postseason shot included adding JJ Peterka to a group that already had Logan Cooley, Lawson Crouse, Dylan Guenther, Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz.
Those six played a role in why the Mammoth had 10 players who reached double figures in goals. But it wasn't just the core. The Mammoth got contributions from others such as Michael Carcone (16 goals) and Kailer Yamamoto (13). They had five defensemen who finished with more than 20 points, while goaltender Karel Vejmelka won a career-high 38 games while starting 63 times.
GM Bill Armstrong bolstered the roster at the trade deadline, adding MacKenzie Weegar on the blue line, who helped the club attain consistency in a chaotic Western Conference wild-card race.
What went wrong? Taking a 2-1 series lead in the first round against an experienced group like the Vegas Golden Knights answered quite a few questions about the Mammoth's young core in its first postseason. That's what made how their series ended complicated. They were an overtime win away in Game 4 from taking a 3-1 lead. They were another overtime win away in Game 5 from having a 3-2 lead.
Instead, the Golden Knights won both games in overtime, taking a 3-2 series lead against a team that was trying to figure out a few issues. One of those issues: trying to regain the defensive consistency they had in Games 2 and 3. The Mammoth allowed two goals in those games, both victories. In their losses, they allowed four or more goals.
Another concern facing the Mammoth was how Peterka, who was fourth on the team in goals in the regular season, was held without a point through all six games of the series.
Keys to the offseason: They have decisions to make about veteran UFAs such as Ian Cole, Alexander Kerfoot, Kevin Rooney, Kevin Stenlund, Vitek Vanecek and Yamamoto. Their cap situation is only going to amplify the need for them to add veterans at team-friendly rates if they feel can contribute toward another playoff run.
Then there's the discussion about whether it's time for top prospects Tij Iginla and Caleb Desnoyers to hit the NHL ice. Iginla, 19, who was Utah's first-round pick in 2024, finished the WHL regular season with 41 goals and 90 points, and he scored 12 points in nine playoff games for Kelowna. Also 19, Desnoyers scored 78 points in 45 games for Moncton of the QMJHL, and has added 15 points through 12 playoff games.
Realistic expectation for 2026-27: They'll once again be in the collection of teams fighting for a playoff spot in a crowded Western Conference and are one of the teams that is shifting the power dynamic.