The Utah Mammoth are riding high after a successful 2025-26 campaign. Utah finally turned a corner and made the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It's the first time the Mammoth have made the playoffs in their history. For the young core, though, this playoff berth means more.
A good number of these players were with the Arizona Coyotes during their worst moments. This is not even to mention the off-ice drama, though that certainly played a role in why those teams never succeeded on the ice. The Coyotes core had potential. It just wasn't realized until the team moved to Salt Lake City.
This summer, the Mammoth set out to build upon their performance. Utah did not win a playoff series in 2026. But they certainly showed that they may not be too far off from legit contention in the West.
The Mammoth traded for Vincent Trocheck in a deal with the New York Rangers on July 1. Additionally, they signed Anders Lee in NHL free agency, scooping the veteran winger from the New York Islanders. Utah believes these moves give them a better chance of contending in 2026-27.
With the new season approaching, here are three burning questions surrounding Utah.
Can Dylan Guenther take another step?
Dylan Guenther had shown immense potential as a scoring winger prior to the 2025-26 campaign. He enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024-25, when he scored 27 goals and 60 points for Utah. In 2025-26, though, he took it a step further.
Guenther scored 40 goals and 73 points this past season. He was a major reason Utah made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the first place. He was a force in the postseason, as well. The Mammoth star scored three goals and five points in six games.
One aspect of the season that may be a bit concerning is his playmaking. Guenther scored more goals, but he remained stagnant at 33 assists. If he can score 40+ goals every year, no one in Utah will care how many assists he brings.
However, it's fair to wonder if the young winger has another gear in him. Can he score 50 goals and add 50 assists, for instance? If so, the Mammoth are going to be tough to stop.
Article Continues BelowWill veteran additions bring desired impact?
The Mammoth wanted to add more experience to the roster. To that end, they did well to add Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee to the roster. Both are well-respected players who have been around for some time. Both are also still effective players in their own right.
Neither will need to turn the clock back and perform like their prime selves. At the same time, the Mammoth are expecting these players to pitch in. Trocheck needs to be the solid two-way center he has been. And Lee should still chip in his usual 40-50 points a season.
Both of these players are up there in age, though. Can they continue producing as they have in more recent campaigns? Or will Father Time catch up with them a bit this coming season?
Is Sebastian Cossa the goalie of the future?
Utah was not only seeking veteran help this summer. They also wanted to add some young players for the right price. At the 2026 NHL Draft, the Mammoth swung a trade for Sebastian Cossa in a deal with the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit received the 23rd pick of the draft, selecting winger J.P. Hurlbert.
Cossa has had an up-and-down career since going in the first round in 2021. The former Edmonton Oil Kings star has shown promise in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins. However, he also struggled with consistency. This year, he lost the net to Michal Postava. With fellow prospect Trey Augustine waiting in the wings, Cossa became expendable in Detroit.
One team's expendable asset could be another team's diamond in the rough, though. Can Cossa be the goalie of the future for the Mammoth? Or is this gamble one that does not pay off for Utah?