Official 2026 Utah Mammoth Off-Season Thread

[Summer Rose]

The Sens have 9th and 25th picks this year (and 32nd but it can't be traded). I don't think 9th would be on the table (unless we also get 19th from you guys) but I think they'd add to 25th FWIW.

Perterka has some good history with Stutzle and isn't American, so he's appealing to Ottawa.

25 OA and 32 OA might be workable.

Edit: Oh. I just re-read your comment that 32 OA can't be traded. Not sure how to fine tune this trade. I'm excited to see where this goes.

I agree, I think starting from that 25OA pick is workable, but I'm not sure how to balance it out.

I'm open to the idea of Peterka to Ottawa myself. I wouldn't say I'm to the point of being eager to dump him, but he didn't quite work out as expected in his first season here (not that he was bad, just not quite up to par). Moving on from him already wouldn't be the worst thing, but it would also be fine to hang onto him and give him another year to figure it out.

 

[Mozarts ghost]

How's that going?

It’s going well. Thank you.

 

[lanky]

In an unattributed article on NHL.com about Central Division needs, the Mams may bring up Tij, Cole and Caleb this year, and their greatest need is defensemen.

Artificial Unintelligence

 

[cobra427]

Paterka isn’t getting you knies. Paterka would be lucky to get a late first.

I would trade JJ for whatever we can get, whatever market is for him. I would bet we would have to retain salary too, not a fan of that.

 

[Heldig]

In an unattributed article on NHL.com about Central Division needs, the Mams may bring up Tij, Cole and Caleb this year, and their greatest need is defensemen.

Greatest need are D? A veteran that will reduce Simashev's playing time?

Sergachev - Weegar ( a legit top pairing)
Schmidt - Marino ( one of the best defensive pairs in the league last season)
Simashev - Durzi ( decent offensive Dman with potential rookie of the year partner

Lamoureux et al in Tuscon

 

[TheLegend]

Greatest need are D? A veteran that will reduce Simashev's playing time?

Sergachev - Weegar ( a legit top pairing)
Schmidt - Marino ( one of the best defensive pairs in the league last season)
Simashev - Durzi ( decent offensive Dman with potential rookie of the year partner

Lamoureux et al in Tuscon

Bear likes 11/7 line ups at times …. MavLam could rotate.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

A bit off topic, but Bear, like DT likes to go with line pairings. Could someone please explain to me how this is an advantage over set lines?

 

[Heldig]

SO discussion on the Jets page...swapping Hellebucyk for Vejmelka + with the plus being a potential 2C.

What say you?

 

[zerekstar]

SO discussion on the Jets page...swapping Hellebucyk for Vejmelka + with the plus being a potential 2C.

What say you?

Can Hayton be the 2c?

 

[Arizonatah]

SO discussion on the Jets page...swapping Hellebucyk for Vejmelka + with the plus being a potential 2C.

What say you?

Potential 2C? Like who? Beaudoin projects as a 3C and I don't even like the idea of trading him with Veji for Hellebuyck.

All of Hellebuyck's great achievements throughout his career aside, in WPG's last 3 playoff appearances Hellebuyck wasn't very good.

Hellebuyck (playoffs)-
2022-23: 3.44 GAA / .886 SV%
2023-24: 5.23 GAA / .870 SV%
2024-25: 3.08 GAA / .886 SV%

Vejmelka (playoffs)-
2025-26: 3.13 GAA / .885 SV%

I'm not convinced enough that Hellebuyck takes UTA deeper into the playoffs than Veji. Especially if it costs a potential 2C just to find out.

JMO

Edit: If it's Hayton, sure! Lol

 

[Heldig]

My discussion started with Vejmelka and Hayton. It was mocked and the suggestion was Helle was worth way more (tak of Simashev + Beaudoin +). My counter was Vejmelka + G SMith + Lavoie / Psenicka.

 

[Arizonatah]

My discussion started with Vejmelka and Hayton. It was mocked and the suggestion was Helle was worth way more (tak of Simashev + Beaudoin +). My counter was Vejmelka + G SMith + Lavoie / Psenicka.

Yeah, they're gonna point to his HHF worthy career to justify their take on his value while others point to his recent regular season decline and 3 most recent playoff performances in which he pretty much sucked statistically to knock his value down.

I'm not sure what he's actually worth, but I'd be comfortable with your counter offer. Doubt they are though. It'll be interesting to see the return of he is traded.

 

[KevinRedkey]

How about Peterka AND Weegar?

9th overall+ or Pinto+ would be the foundation.

FWIW Pinto is a shut down 3C in Ottawa but has untapped offensive potential and could easily be a 2C IMO. Ottawa just has the luxury of having Cozens at 2C, and hey have Grieg that can play 3C if Pinto is to be moved.

 

[Jakey53]

Can Hayton be the 2c?

Of course, he was a 1C for years.

 

[Heldig]

How about Peterka AND Weegar?

9th overall+ or Pinto+ would be the foundation.

FWIW Pinto is a shut down 3C in Ottawa but has untapped offensive potential and could easily be a 2C IMO. Ottawa just has the luxury of having Cozens at 2C, and hey have Grieg that can play 3C if Pinto is to be moved.

Utah paid a high price to get Weeger. Pretty certain the plan is he is the top pairing RHD for the next few years.

 

[KevinRedkey]

Utah paid a high price to get Weeger. Pretty certain the plan is he is the top pairing RHD for the next few years.

Fair enough tbh

 

[Jakey53]

Potential 2C? Like who? Beaudoin projects as a 3C and I don't even like the idea of trading him with Veji for Hellebuyck.

All of Hellebuyck's great achievements throughout his career aside, in WPG's last 3 playoff appearances Hellebuyck wasn't very good.

Hellebuyck (playoffs)-
2022-23: 3.44 GAA / .886 SV%
2023-24: 5.23 GAA / .870 SV%
2024-25: 3.08 GAA / .886 SV%

Vejmelka (playoffs)-
2025-26: 3.13 GAA / .885 SV%

I'm not convinced enough that Hellebuyck takes UTA deeper into the playoffs than Veji. Especially if it costs a potential 2C just to find out.

JMO

Edit: If it's Hayton, sure! Lol

Helly is a career .916SV%, .913sv% playoffs, but also 33. Five years left on contract. Helly is much better than Veggie right now, and would be a great mentor for Hrabal, but not sure what the + would be.

 

[Mozarts ghost]

How's that going?

How’s it going being a jets fan?

 

[Jakey53]

Nobody that I can see is talking Utah. BA seems to keep everything under the radar, then bang, does the unexpected. Does he do it again this year? He said not much is there for UFA, so I expect a trade. He mentioned a scoring winger awhile back.

 

[cobra427]

Nobody that I can see is talking Utah. BA seems to keep everything under the radar, then bang, does the unexpected. Does he do it again this year? He said not much is there for UFA, so I expect a trade. He mentioned a scoring winger awhile back.

Promote JJ, scoring winger problem solved

 

[Schemp]

Nobody that I can see is talking Utah. BA seems to keep everything under the radar, then bang, does the unexpected. Does he do it again this year? He said not much is there for UFA, so I expect a trade. He mentioned a scoring winger awhile back.

Dallas has to do something with Jason Robertson or potentially lose him to an offer sheet. 1 year to UFA so teams want a guarantee long term contract if traded. It would be stupid of Dallas to let him go into free agency and if he does, it wouldn't surprise me to see Utah offer sheet him. I'm guessing, but I see him wanting to stay out west.

 

[Jamieh]

Nobody that I can see is talking Utah. BA seems to keep everything under the radar, then bang, does the unexpected. Does he do it again this year? He said not much is there for UFA, so I expect a trade. He mentioned a scoring winger awhile back.

Friedman and Chris Johnson have been saying keep an eye on Utah this summer for months. They expect a big swing from Bill with a push from Owner

 

[Jakey53]

Friedman and Chris Johnson have been saying keep an eye on Utah this summer for months. They expect a big swing from Bill with a push from Owner

I get that feeling as well.

 

[Jamieh]

I get that feeling as well.

I suspect GM and Owner are watching Florida and Vegas successfully take big swings......it has to be tempting to speed that process up and it's probably time to give up some potential for some right now. Slow builds seem to be less successful than pushing in when you have the core.

 

[rams]

I suspect GM and Owner are watching Florida and Vegas successfully take big swings......it has to be tempting to speed that process up and it's probably time to give up some potential for some right now. Slow builds seem to be less successful than pushing in when you have the core.

Other teams might want to do this, but realistically, there are only 3-4 teams in the league that can do this.