The Utah Mammoth remain busy this off-season with the return of Michael Carcone, and now the release of the 2025-26 schedule has brought a buzz around Utah. The summer is flying by, and before you know it, training camps will open up and the pre-season will begin. The Mammoth remain open for business and have over $6 million in available salary cap space. An interesting player that has become available from the KHL is former NHLer Evgeny Kuznetsov.
The safe plan for the upcoming season is to hold onto the cap space and save it for a potential injury or trade deadline acquisition. The long-term plan is to save money for a new contract for Logan Cooley sooner rather than later. The tempting part of bringing in a player like Kuzentsov is that he will come on the cheap side.
The former Stanley Cup champion with the Washington Capitals was last seen in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes two years ago. The 33-year-old Russian headed back home for the KHL but recently got out of his contract to make an NHL return.
Kuznetsov had some off-ice issues that led to his departure from the Washington Capitals. A brief playoff stint in Carolina showed that he still had some hockey left in him. The move to Russia and the KHL seemed like the end of Kuznetsov in the NHL, but surprisingly, after just one season, he has the urge to compete in the best league once again.
The familiarality of the Southeast makes Kuznetsov more likely to take a deal with a team like Washington to partner up with Alex Ovechkin one last time. One thing is clear: Kuznetsov came back to the United States to play for a contender. At this point, the Utah Mammoth are a contender after this summer's transactions.
Despite all the additions this summer by general manager Bill Armstrong, the team is still thin down the middle of the ice. Drafting Caleb Desnoyers with the 4th overall choice is a long-term answer, but what about this season? Kuznetsov's skill and experience at center could allow Barrett Hayton a chance to move to the wing.
The skating ability and offensive creativity would greatly benefit the second power-play unit. The flare and confidence of Kuznetsov would be contagious with the team and bring a buzz to Utah. The cost would be a short-term deal for 1 or 2 million.
This would be an under the radar move that could have great results come next spring in the playoffs.