Tracking the Utah Mammoth roster builds
The Utah Mammoth continue building their expansion roster with a three-year, $10.5 million contract for defenseman Nate Schmidt. General Manager Bill Armstrong manages a deep prospect pipeline including 49 players and recent draft selection Ethan Belchetz.
The Utah Mammoth signed defenseman Nate Schmidt to a three-year, $10.5 million contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million per season. This move adds depth to a blue line that contains seven NHL-level defensemen. Schmidt, 33, previously played 80 games for the Florida Panthers where he recorded five goals and 14 assists for 19 points before winning the Stanley Cup. He arrives in Utah after being bought out by the Winnipeg Jets. The team also secured forward Brandon Tanev on a three-year, $7.5 million deal carrying a $2.5 million average annual value.
Roster moves and cap space
The front office traded Matias Maccelli to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a conditional third-round pick in 2027. That pick upgrades to a 2029 second-round selection if Maccelli scores more than 51 points this season and the Maple Leafs qualify for the playoffs. You should watch how these veteran additions balance the incoming youth. JJ Peterka signed a five-year, $38.5 million extension with an average cap hit of $7.7 million per season through 2029-30. He joined the team via a trade involving Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan.
| Player | Contract Type | Value | AAV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nate Schmidt | 3-year | $10.5 million | $3.5 million |
| Brandon Tanev | 3-year | $7.5 million | $2.5 million |
| JJ Peterka | 5-year | $38.5 million | $7.7 million |
| Nick DeSimone | 1-year | $800,000 | $800,000 |
The organization still holds $11.6 million in available cap space following the Schmidt signing. I find the decision to trade Maccelli blunt given his role, but it clears room for the rebuilding process.
Prospect development and draft assets
General Manager Bill Armstrong manages a pipeline containing 49 prospects, including seven first-rounders. The team selected winger Ethan Belchetz with the 17th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after trading the 19th pick and an additional asset to the Los Angeles Kings. Belchetz, a 6-foot-5 left winger from the Windsor Spitfires, scored 59 points in 57 games during the 2025-26 season. Gabe Smith also signed an entry-level contract after scoring 39 points in 52 games with the Moncton Wildcats.
The club also signed Russian prospects Daniil But and Dmitri Simashev to three-year entry-level deals. Simashev, 21, recorded 35 points in 40 games during the 2025-26 season. Will the heavy reliance on these young players pay off during the transition to Salt Lake City? The roster includes established names like Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley alongside these developing talents.
