In the 2026 NHL draft, the Utah Mammoth didn't draft too many players. However, there are two highest picks who could be among the biggest steals in the entire draft, only making Utah a better young team. Utah used late June, the time of the NHL draft, and early July to make massive improvements, but their draft class shouldn't be overlooked. The two names that definitely could be effective in the future are Adam Valentinia and Ethan Belchetz.
Did Utah get some of the best steals in the draft?
Belchetz was one name that Utah just couldn't pass up in the first round of the 2026 NHL draft. Belchetz was predicted to go as high as the 10th pick overall, but was usually anywhere between the 10th and 12th pick, according to most mock drafts. However, for some strange reason, the 6'5'' winger fell well past that, and the Mammoth decided to trade the 19th overall pick plus a 3rd rounder for the 17th pick overall and select Belchetz. The deal was a masterclass by Utah as Belchetz is already considered a high prospect in the NHL. Based on size alone, the kid is going to be a problem to deal with in the NHL. Belchetz also adds another young prospect who could be a future superstar to Utah, who already has multiple mega prospects. Really, Utah came in and out of the first months of the offseason improved while losing little of their pool of prospects.
The second selection came much later, in the 3rd round, with the 96th overall selection. Valentini, a star at Michigan last season, fell dramatically because of his size. However, Valentini has undeniable talent and was supposed to easily be drafted in the second round. There's a chance the youngster doesn't even reach the NHL, as someone drafted in the second round or higher sometimes doesn't. However, Valentini was still a massive steal considering how high he was supposed to be drafted. When many people talk about how good certain teams' offseasons were, Utah's draft is one of the reasons they had an amazing offseason.
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