2 Mammoth trade targets after 1st-round loss to Golden Knights

The Utah Mammoth had about as successful a season as any team eliminated in round one could have had. They are a young, up-and-coming team that finally took that next step, making the playoffs. And the Mammoth put in a good account of themselves against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Mammoth won Games 2 and 3 of the series to truly put the Golden Knights on the back foot. However, Vegas was too much for them to handle. Utah lost the series in six games, putting an end to a season that turned out much better than most anticipated.

Looking toward the offseason, Utah can go in a few directions. On one hand, the team doesn’t need a major injection of talent. The Mammoth have a star in Clayton Keller. And the midseason trade for MacKenzie Weegar added to their firepower from the blueline.

In saying this, swinging for a star-level talent wouldn’t be ill-advised. They could use another high-end offensive producer next to Keller. More importantly, the Mammoth have the prospect talent available to pull off a blockbuster trade.

We will need to wait a little longer to see what this team will do in the offseason. With this in mind, though, let’s take a look at a couple of potential trade targets for the Mammoth that could bolster their roster for the 2026-27 season.

Mammoth would be great fit for Blake Coleman

The Mammoth are set on defense, with Weegar skating alongside Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino. There is also expected improvement from Dmitri Simashev, a first-round pick from the 2023 NHL Draft. Their goaltender could use an upgrade, but there aren’t any clear cut upgrades available on the trade market.

However, there are clear-cut upgrades if the team is seeking a middle-six forward. The Mammoth have a good collection of wingers, but they need someone to play with Logan Cooley consistently. They found success with Kailer Yamamoto on his line, as he scored 13 goals this year. But it’s clear there is room for improvement here.

Blake Coleman would be a fantastic addition to the middle of Utah’s lineup. The Flames forward was a popular trade candidate at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. However, he was not dealt and finished the year with 20 goals and 35 assists.

Coleman may not be the best second-line option out there, to be fair. But he can consistently provide 20 goals, with the ability to score more with a good supporting cast. Additionally, he is a good defensive option and strong on the penalty kill. The Mammoth may not need to pony up much to get him, either, as he is a free agent after the 2026-27 season.

Jake DeBrusk is expensive, but quality scoring depth

The Vancouver Canucks signed Jake DeBrusk following a run to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2024. Unfortunately, the team hasn’t found the sort of success they would have wanted after signing him. Though DeBrusk has contributed as expected through his first two seasons with the Canucks.

The former Boston Bruins star has scored 51 goals and 90 points since joining Vancouver. He has played in 161 of a possible 162 games during that span, as well, showing that injuries are not something he will likely struggle with.

The Mammoth could use his veteran experience on their team. Additionally, his goal-scoring ability would be a fantastic complement to someone like Cooley. In the last five seasons, DeBrusk has scored 25 or more goals three times.

This is a more complicated deal for Utah to work out. DeBrusk is signed for another five seasons at a cap hit of $5.5 million. Still, with the Canucks looking to rebuild, this sort of trade is certainly possible for the Mammoth to pull off.

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