In the 205-26 season, the Utah Mammoth did see some good goaltending at times from Karel Vejmelka, who was 38-20-3. However, their backup, Vitek Vanecek, just wasn't good. To put it simply, the biggest position in need of help for Utah is the goalie position. Utah, with all of its potential, could win a Stanley Cup- but they can't deal with such goaltending from Vanecek.
Vitek Vanecek Should Not Be Re-signed
The Mammoth essentially has a list of veterans who are bound to become UFA's (unrestricted free agents), including Vanecek. Vanecek wasn't the worst goalie in the NHL, but he most certainly wasn't good. Vanecek posted a .883 save percentage, allowed 2.96 goals per game, and posted a pretty bad 5-13-3 record. The Mammoth's backup just isn't worth the risk.
Vanecek originally did pretty well with the Washington Capitals, having a 21-10-4 record in the 20-21 season and then a nice 20-12-5 record in the 21-22 season. In both seasons with the Caps, he had a pretty decent .908 save percentage for Washington. After being traded to the New Jersey Devils, he did even better, with a 33-11-4 record and a nice .911 SV%. However, since his 22-23 campaign with the Devils, he has bounced from the Devils to the San Jose Sharks, the Florida Panthers, and, of course, the Mammoth.
Mammoth May Trade For Goalie To Help Team Massively
It definitely doesn't seem like the Mammoth are going to be desperate to trade for a starter over Vejmelka, who won 38 games last season. But even then, historically, Vejmelka has struggled at times to be consistent. A possible answer for the Mammoth could be trading for a goalie, such as Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck had a major down year after winning the Hart Memorial Trophy, the NHL's most valuable player award.
However, Hellebuyck led Team USA to a Gold Medal at the Olympics, showing the 33-year-old still has a lot left in the tank. There are others who are trade candidates, but Hellebuyck probably tops the list for Utah. Sometimes, a change of scenery can bring new life to the career of a star player, or in this case, a goalie.
One Prospect Could Also Make Major Impact
The Mammoth would really have to roll the dice to give the backup spot to an inexperienced goalie. However, Michael Hrabal, who was selected 38th overall in the 2nd round of the 2023 draft, could be a potential answer to the goalie issue if there is to be one. It may not be a huge issue if Utah can get a good season from Jaxson Stauber, but Stauber has played in only 12 games in his career.
Hrabal is 6'6" and brings college experience, as he was the starting goalie for the UMass Minutemen. If a goalie like Stauber and Vejmelka can be good, the need to call on Hrabal may not need to happen. However, Hrabal brings a lot to the table with his size and potential.
Right now, the Mammoth doesn't need to hit the big red button or pull the emergency lever on their goalie situation. But one thing is for sure, Utah doesn't need to re-sign Vanecek, as the team may already struggle to find a consistent starter next season. Even then, though, there are some big answers, including trades and a prospect, to their goalie situation.
Add us as a preferred source on Google