Welcome back to another edition of NHL Rumours from the crew at Last Word On Hockey. Even with the downtime as a result of the Christmas break, the rumours haven’t stopped coming down the pipeline. One of the clubs making some waves is the Utah Mammoth. The Mammoth have been hanging around the playoff race for most of this season. Heading into the Christmas break, the Utah Mammoth held the second Stanley Cup Playoff Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Plus, injuries have pushed Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong to make inquiries thus fueling some interesting NHL rumours. Thus, let’s take a closer look at what the Mammoth are up to, as per a notable insider.
All NHL rumours come from their original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours: Mammoth Could Be Looking at Various Options
Rumour: Insider David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period believes the Utah Mammoth are looking at pretty much every big fish potentially available this season.
Analysis: The Utah Mammoth could be looking to get help anywhere they can. That’s why NHL rumours have swirled around the Mammoth looking to add to their the lineup.
In particular, the loss of Logan Cooley looms large on the team. Cooley has been out since December 5 and could miss another month or so.
As such, the Utah Mammoth could be one of the teams looking to make a splash sooner rather than later, according to prevailing NHL rumours. As insider David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period believes, the Mammoth are looking to reel in a big fish.
Pagnotta stated: “This is a team that has been poking around on almost any big fish that’s out there, and I anticipate them doing that again between now and the trade deadline.”
The comments, as discussed on Sportsnet on December 22, echo the prevailing NHL rumours. Just about every team with a shot at the playoffs will be looking to add as much as they can.
The hitch, nevertheless, will be finding sellers looking to unload pieces. Such clubs may emerge in the coming weeks, particularly heading into the Olympic break.
With Cooley out, the most logical addition for the Mammoth would be another top-six forward. NHL rumours suggest names have been fluttering out there. For instance, Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks has been the hottest name. Similarly, Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues is another popular name believed to be on the block.
Utah Could Look for Help on the Blueline
Some blueliners have also been a part of ongoing NHL rumours. The biggest name has been Calgary Flames D-man Rasmus Andersson. While those players have been the biggest known targets, others may emerge as the season wears on.
Talk of Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos being available from the Nashville Predators has also dominated the headlines. As such, the Mammoth could have various options to choose from. The main issue will come down to the price tag attached to these players.
It remains unclear if the Mammoth will have the pieces to target and the cap space to land any of the “big fish” Pagnotta mentioned. But one thing is certain: The Mammoth will do their best to make good on the NHL rumours that make the most sense for them.
Main Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images