The Utah Mammoth started training camp with some bad injury news. Veteran forward Alex Kerfoot will be expected to miss some time in the coming weeks with a lower-body injury.
The injury, while concerning, does not appear to be severe. A Daily Faceoff reported, Kerfoot will be listed as week-to-week. That usually means the injury is serious enough to warrant missing time, but not bad enough to where he could miss the entire season.
The Utah Mammoth announced Alex Kerfoot will be listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury pic.twitter.com/qrsq4x8vIF
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 19, 2025
No further details were provided regarding the injury’s nature. A lower-body injury typically means a knee or ankle issue. Once again, it’s not known what the precise issue is at this point.
Kerfoot is a bottom-six forward at this point in his career. His most valuable attribute is his versatility. Throughout his career, Kerfoot has shown ability to play everywhere in the lineup, kill penalties, and even chip in on the power play.
The 31-year-old played 81 games last season, scoring 11 goals and totaling 28 points. He predominantly played on the third line, giving the Mammoth useful minutes throughout the season.
He signed a one-year, $3 million contract this summer to stay in Utah. His last two-year deal expired at the end of last season. Kerfoot was a fifth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2012 NHL Draft.
Kerfoot injury opens door for Mammoth PTO candidates
Kerfoot’s absence opens the door for Utah Mammoth’s recently signed five players to Professional Tryout Agreements (PTO). Among them, Samuel Walker, Tyler Tullio, Austin Pganski, and Ryan McGregor could earn a roster spot this season.
In particular, Tyler Tullio could be a good fit for the Mammoth. The club is looking for young, talented forwards who could offer some offensive upside combined with youth.
Tullio, 23, was a fifth-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2020 NHL Draft. Tullio was part of the trade that sent Matthew Savoie to Oilers. Tullio joined Ryan McLeod in Buffalo. However, Tullio never really caught on with the Sabres.
He played 30 games with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, scoring one goal and seven points. Despite the unspectacular numbers, Tullio could be a solid fit for the Mammoth’s bottom six. If given a chance, he might be a fill-in until Kerfoot returns.
Also, Austin Poganski showed plenty of potential at the AHL level, but hasn’t translated that talent to the NHL. The St. Louis Blues selected Poganski in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL Draft. In 22 NHL games, Poganski has yet to register a point.
Last season, he scored 15 goals and 41 points in 71 games with the Tucson Roadrunners. Like Tullio, Poganski could offer a decent fill-in for Kerfoot’s bottom-six role this upcoming season.