The Utah Mammoth will be a destination for players
Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period joined The Sheet along with Jeff Marek and discussed the Utah Mammoth and whether GM Bill Armstrong will be aggressive and add a big-name player to the roster.
NHLRumors.com Transcripts
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Jeff Marek: “Let me ask a question about Utah. The last time we talked, we talked about Logan Cooley and whether Armstrong wants to use this contract as some kind of bar. We’ll see where that ends up. (which Armstrong and the Mammoth did as Cooley expanded).
But this offseason, before he re-signed with Florida, I was really under the impression that if Aaron Ekblad hit the market, Utah would be one of the places he could end up. I want to think we’re all wondering about Detroit, too. But Ekblad and (Mikhail) Sergachev as you guys as your first couple, that’s a real message, and that’s where Ryan Smith lives.
For example, he wants to try to put together the best possible team here. What do you think will happen to Utah this year? I mean, (JJ) Peterka in the offseason, that was a biggie. However, I find it hard to believe that Armstrong is done.”
Dave Pagnotta: “Me too. The short answer is, he’s not. As I fully expect, we’ve been hearing all this speculation lately about certain teams eventually moving into big game hunting being willing to add a significant piece. Utah is right there.
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I mean, they wanted to make an offseason splash, or a few offseason splashes. I like the Peterka edition, but they wanted to do more. And I fully expect that all the big wigs that will be available this season, I fully expect Bill Armstrong and company in Utah to go after it right away.
They have full permission to go, which they need to do if it’s going to help this team and keep them in contention, not just in the playoffs, but beyond. They want to make some noise. Now they have some interesting pieces playing on expiring contracts, like Nick Schmaltz and a few others, but this is a team with about $5 million in cap space right now.
They’re willing to make some big, big moves, whether it’s on defense, whether it’s adding someone else to their core up front. I think it’s wide open for them if there’s an opportunity for Bill Armstrong to make his team that much better in every facet of the game and in every area up front or at the back.
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He basically has the green light to do it, and I suspect Utah will be aggressive in that pursuit this season, and even if they do, Jeff, in the summer as well. This is a team that not only wants to do that, but now understands that they are becoming somewhat of a destination for many players here, just because of how much the organization cares for its athletes and their families.
That’s a big factor for a lot of guys, and word has spread, especially since they, excuse me, introduced or revealed their practice range. A lot of words started spreading about that. I’ll tell you, I’ve talked to players, I’ve talked to agents, I’ve talked to people around the league. Utah will be an eye-opener for many players. Going in, I may not have thought about it, but everything I hear I really like.
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