The NHL off-season is just around the corner and the Utah Mammoth will have just over $20 million in salary cap space to spend. The rumors are swirling that general manager Bill Armstrong is keen on taking a "big swing" this summer for an impact player. Holding the 4th overall pick in the upcoming draft will allow Armstrong a chance to move the pick for assets or add to the minor league system by making the selection.
Although all indications are that Utah will be very active this summer, looks may be deceiving. The current unrestricted free agents on the roster are forwards Nick Bjugstad, Michael Carcone, as well as defender, Robert Bortuzzo. The lone restricted free agent is Jack McBain.
Outside of McBain, who should be re-signed in the $3 million per year range, the majority of the salary cap space will be available to improve the current roster. This group of players has been built over the last few years in Arizona and is a team built for sustained success in the future, and is not considered a "win now" club. Having said that, next summer is eye-opening as the number of players needing contracts increases drastically.
The unrestricted free agents are important veteran depth players who will more than likely be finishing their time in Utah. Ian Cole, Alexander Kerfoot, Kevin Stenlund, Connor Ingram, and Nick Schmaltz. Schmaltz is the biggest contributor of the bunch, but may have too high a price to stay because the restricted free agents will command pay increases. Logan Cooley, Barrett Hayton, Matias Maccelli, Michael Kesselring, and Josh Doan round out the restricted free agents in need of long-term contracts.
All of these players make up six of the top nine scorers for Utah this past season. Doan and Maccelli are currently depth players with the potential to break into the top six.
It would behoove Armstrong to try and lock up one of the potential restricted free agents this offseason with the amount of salary cap space available. If all those players enter free agency in the 2026 summer, Armstrong will have his hands full and the core of the team in jeopardy.
A story for another day, but it is likely that at least one of these players mentioned is traded during the upcoming season, especially if Utah is out of the playoffs by the trade deadline. This offseason could see a defenseman like Sean Durzi or John Marino traded to create some space for prospects Daniil But and Dmitri Simashev, who recently signed their entry-level contracts.