The focus of the summer will be on new additions for the Utah Mammoth, but some players from last year's roster are without contracts. Three unrestricted free agents in July will be forwards Nick Bjugstad and Michael Carcone, and defenseman Robert Bortuzzo. Bortuzzo appeared in the least amount of games this season, 17.
General manager Bill Armstrong will have just over $20 million in salary cap space to spend this summer. A lot of the salary space will need to be saved for the restricted free agents in 2026. Logan Cooley, Barrett Hayton, and Michal Kesselring will require new contracts next summer.
Nick Bjugstad
Bjugstad completed his two-year contract that began in Arizona. His yearly salary cap hit was $2.1 million. It was his third season with the Arizona/Utah franchise, and he registered 8 goals and 11 assists. A drop in production from the year prior, Bjugstad had 22 goals in the final season in the desert.
The 32-year-old will be entering his 14th season in the NHL after being drafted 19th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft by the Florida Panthers. 760 games later, the Minnesota native has had a fine career as a checking forward, but the Mammoth have a plethora of strong, young forwards in the organization, and his time with Utah may be over.
The value that Bjugstad provides the team with a big body that can chip in with some goals. However, the restricted free agents will require pay raises and every bit of the cap space will be needed to retain them next summer. If Utah traded one of the forwards before next summer, it might be beneficial to bring Bjugstad back on a short-term contract, below his current salary.
It is likely that another team, possibly a contender, could use Bjugstad as a depth piece, where Utah has players breaking into the NHL that could use the experience and roster space.
Robert Bortuzzo
Bortuzzo signed a one-year deal with Utah last year for just $775,000 due to the injuries to the blue line. The 36-year-old was a solid depth piece, but has likely played his final season in the NHL. After winning a Stanley Cup in St. Louis, Bortuzzo played the final game of the season against the Blues, more than likely his final game.
If he gets the itch to return mid-season, he could always be a replacement for injuries, but his days in the NHL seem to be over, and I would expect him in the front office of an organization shortly.
Michael Carcone
Carcone completed a two-year contract that was worth $775,000 a year. Another Arizona/Utah player, Carcone, has proven a solid depth piece at the NHL level. Coming off a 21-goal performance in the desert, Carcone had a disappointing season as far as production, with just 7 goals.
The Ajax, Ontario native played in just 53 games this season and likely would be fighting for a chance to crack the lineup this season in Utah. The player and agent may be looking for a fresh start in another organization, but Carcone is a player to keep an eye on before July. If the Mammoth were to deal Matias Maccelli, Carcone could be a full-time fourth-line player with the likely departure of Bjugstad.
None of these players are "game changers" but have played important depth spots for the organization the last few seasons. I would not expect to see any of these players sign the first day of free agency, as they will wait for the organization to attack their top targets and see what is left after the dust settles.