The Utah Mammoth are building something special, and the players are buying in.
Dylan Guenther was the first to commit, signing an eight-year, $57.14 million contract in September 2024 when he was still establishing himself as a full-time NHL player. That decision set a tone that has since spread through the entire roster.
“That kind of commitment from them and trust from them was a good feeling to have, especially at such a young age,” Guenther said.
Since then, goalie Karel Vejmelka, forwards JJ Peterka, Jack McBain, Logan Cooley and Nick Schmaltz have all signed long-term deals.
Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar waived his no-trade clause to join Utah from the Calgary Flames on March 4. Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, acquired from Tampa Bay in 2024, is in the third year of an eight-year deal. In all, the Mammoth have eight players signed through the 2029-30 season.
General manager Bill Armstrong said Guenther’s commitment was the spark that ignited everything else.
“When Guenther stepped up and he was the first one to say, ‘This is where I want to be,’ that was huge,” Armstrong said. “It kind of parlayed into Cooley saying, ‘I want to be here,’ and then ‘Bainer’ saying, ‘I want to be here too.’ Well, here we go.”
The buy-in has put the Mammoth in position to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the franchise relocated from Arizona. Utah holds the first wild card in the Western Conference with a seven-point cushion and 11 games remaining heading into Tuesday’s home game against the Edmonton Oilers.
If they qualify, it would be the first playoff berth for the organization since 2012.
Coach Andre Tourigny said the culture that ownership has built is a big reason players want to stay.
“The fact the guys stay here means they love each other, they believe in each other, they want to be together and they believe they can achieve great things together,” Tourigny said.
Schmaltz, who signed an eight-year, $64 million extension on March 11 rather than entering unrestricted free agency this summer, said the direction of the franchise made the decision easy.
“I think we’re in a window where we can be a successful team here for the foreseeable future,” Schmaltz said. “It was kind of a no-brainer.”
Weegar said the core group already in place was what convinced him to waive his no-trade clause and come to Utah.
“They have everything in place with their core group of guys and they’re good,” Weegar said. “They’re not still just getting their feet wet. They’re established now.”
Ownership has backed up its promises as well. The Delta Center renovation is underway, a first-class practice facility has been built, and players have been provided top-level travel arrangements.
Schmaltz said the difference from the Arizona days is striking.
“This was a complete 180,” he said. “Now I feel we have one of the best owners in the league that is willing to do whatever it takes.”
The pipeline of young talent is also strong, with prospects Tij Iginla, Cole Beaudoin and Caleb Desnoyers thriving in the CHL and goalie Michael Hrabal coming off three strong seasons at UMass-Amherst.
Armstrong said the plan is to bring those players along gradually rather than rushing them in.
“When you have your guys in place it allows you to bring guys in slowly,” he said.
Playoff hockey at Delta Center could be just weeks away, and the Mammoth believe the best is still ahead.
“This team is so good and the ceiling is so high,” Weegar said.
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