The Utah Mammoth have a ton of cap space to work with in NHL Free Agency. Moreover, they have an ownership group that is motivated to win sooner rather than later. This combination could see the team make some significant moves between now and July 1 when the market opens.
Utah had a promising season in 2024-25 despite their falling short. This summer promises to be an active one for the Mammoth. They are not going to spend recklessly, but they do want to make something happen to help the team compete for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025.
“It was great for our young team to go through that,” general manager Bill Armstrong said of his team’s 2024-25 season, via Desert News reporter Brogan Houston. “Next year, we’ve got bigger aspirations of getting in, and you’re going to see that right away.”
There is one area of need this team can address in NHL Free Agency. Utah has room to add a productive talent in their top-six. They have young and emerging stars making contributions already. However, they need an established talent to help carry the load.
Thankfully, there is one name out there for the Mammoth to pursue. Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers is expected to hit NHL Free Agency on July 1. Utah would be wise to pursue him with maximum effort once the market opens next week.
How Nikolaj Ehlers Fits Mammoth Lineup
Harry How/Getty ImagesThe Utah Mammoth need a top-six winger, and Nikolaj Ehlers is an excellent option in NHL Free Agency.
Ehlers has emerged over the last few seasons as a high-end offensive talent. The Jets star has one of the most underrated shots in the NHL. Over the last two seasons, he has scored 49 goals and 124 points in 151 games for the Jets.
Ehlers has been worth nearly 5.0 Wins Above Replacement since 2022-23, according to Evolving Hockey. Moreover, he has 20 Offensive Goals Above Replacement in this span. He has become one of the Jets’ most important offensive players.
The Mammoth need someone with his skill set in the top-six. He could thrive on the power play for Utah should he sign in NHL Free Agency. Moreover, he would provide an excellent outlet for Logan Cooley and Barrett Hayton, the team’s two top-six centers.
Jets Prepared to Make Full Force Effort to Keep Ehlers
The Jets understand how valuable Ehlers is to their roster. Losing him this summer would deal quite the blow. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is going to do everything he can to keep the veteran winger around for the long haul.
“Nikolaj has been a player that has grown up in our organization,” Cheveldayoff said at the end of the season, via Paul Friesen of The Winnipeg Sun. “Drafted, developed him, someone that we think the world of. When we get a chance to talk to him, we’ll put our best foot forward with him to try to make our case to be a unique Jet-for-life type player, and we’ll see where it all goes from there. If he does choose to go in a different direction than as an organization we’ll have to evolve … grow in a different area.”
The Mammoth have the cap space necessary to win a bidding war if it comes to it. Ehlers may not be the most accomplished player on the market in NHL Free Agency this summer. But his skill and potential production make signing him well worth it.
1 Player Mammoth Must Sign in 2025 NHL Free Agency