SHOCKER: Maple Leafs GUNNING for Sergachev | Can Utah RESIST Toronto’s TEMPTING Offer?

SHOCKER: Maple Leafs GUNNING for Sergachev | Can Utah RESIST Toronto’s TEMPTING Offer?

A huge name finds himself in the trade rumors with, well, you guessed it, the Toronto Maple Leafs on this week’s Locked on Mammoth. [Music] You are a Locked On Mammoth, your daily podcast on the Utah Mammoth, part of the Locked On Network, your team every day. Hello everyone. Welcome to September. We made it. Thanks for joining us here on Locked on Mammoth and making us your first listen each and every single day when it comes to the Utah Mammoth hockey team. I’m veteran NHL voice Tom Callahan joined by longtime team analyst Robin Leano. And on today’s show, we’re going to get inside the rumor mill, talking about one of the biggest Utah Mammoth names somehow getting mixed up in trade rumors with the Toronto Maple Leafs. We’re going to look at what the impact of a trade would be, who could possibly be coming the other way, and whether or not this is just somebody trying to drum up some publicity. Plus, uh, we’re going to talk a little bit about ECHL affiliates. Utah not having one as of right now. Does that even matter? We’ll get into that a little bit later on as well. But Robin, as I bring you in uh to talk about this rumor now, this is from Howard Burgerer, who actually was a former host on the uh the Fan 590, which is a Toronto area sports talk station. Um I don’t know if Howard’s still a host for Fan 590. Has his own thing going called Between the Posts. Talks about the Leafs in Toronto Sports, blah blah blah. Well, uh, Howard put out a random report that the Maple Leafs in Utah Mammoth have had quote preliminary conversations about acquiring defenseman McCale Sergeev Robin. This one’s not coming from a Leafs fan. This one is coming from one Howard Burgerer who covers the Leafs and proudly trumpets that he was OG on the Fan 590 and 92. So he’s got 30 plus years of following the Leafs. Robin, help me make this make sense. You know, first and foremost, I’m going to say doesn’t matter to me if they’re a fan or if they’re a media. Like it’s all the same coming from Toronto, right? they they all feel the same, you know, the same kind of insanity. I don’t think like it’s it’s crazy to see all this happen. And I’m like, you know, it’s wild that this happens because and we’re going to get into it in a little bit because like a rumor like this, sure, yeah, you can put a rumor out there, but uh it’s going to have a lot of value. First and foremost though, I’m now glad that they no that no longer are we hearing maybe we still might after now that I mentioned it because it you know that now it opens the floodgates but we’re no longer hearing Clayton Keller trade rumors because remember that was going on for a while coming from Toronto like oh Clayton Keller is I the rumor is Clayton Keller is being linked no that’s not happening now the the reaction immediately is probably the eye roll for a lot of Mammoth fans uh even if you’re a new Mammoth fan I mean the everydayers understand the insanity of the Toronto market, but if you’re new, uh, let’s just say it’s insane. And a lot of times on social media, the people who want your entire team for one minor leager and a ham sandwich are Toronto fans. So, and they can’t understand why you won’t just give it to them. So, that said, um, I what if there is some some fire to this smoke? Here’s the So, first of all, let me just tell you that Howard only put this out on social media, didn’t follow up really with any detail, didn’t mention it in his next report, just kind of threw it out there and left it on the side of the road. So, if anybody saw it, great. Um, but the thing about social media is everybody saw it, right? And now they’re all picking it up and running with it and saying, “Oh, Sergeev’s on his way to Toronto.” So Robin, let’s just let’s just say look, first of all, yes, it’s entirely possible that Toronto picks up the phone and calls Utah and says, “Is is Sergev available?” Number one, let’s start there. That is entirely possible, right? I mean, that’s that’s something that happens every day. It is something that happens every day. um like everyone call like when it comes to people who any kind of players no one’s on no one’s off the market unless they’re said hey no we’re not even we’re not even we’re not even entertaining this but when it when if there’s someone who’s on a no not on a no trade list you won’t get a call general managers get calls for players all the time and sometimes like like for example Bill Armstrong gets a call it can be as simple as just like a laugh in the like it’s not going to He’s like literally a, you know, a laugh in the face, but he’s going to be like, “No, that’s not happening.” And sometimes a phone call might just literally be, “Hey, is anybody available? Is anybody in play? I’m just keeping up my network. Networking is everything, kids. Make sure you keep your networks uh network sharp.” But if you’re an NHL GM, I mean, it doesn’t hurt maybe to try to call and kick the tires. So, let’s let’s assume that happened. Robin, now it’s our job. Um, after we’re done giggling. So, we did all our giggling before we got on to tape the show. Uh, now it’s our job to say, “Well, okay, what if Mhm. who or or what would you want back from Toronto for MueL Serge?” Because I’m going to say this, let me stir the pot with this. He’s not untradeable. Does he have a no trade clause? Yes. That’s not what I mean when I say he’s untradable. I’m saying there are reasons why you might want to move on from MueL Sergeev. All of them are defensive liability. All the upside is the offense, the skating, the fact that he’s in his mid to late 20s. You know, he’s going to be 27 here entering the right around the defenseman. Right. So, right. Like there’s I mean there’s a lot of appeal, right? And with the appeal Tom comes a high value, right? So he’s a sexy name right now. Exactly. So Utah isn’t just going to give him up for a bag of bucks. Like that would be, you know, a very dumb move. And again, we have like we have bitten we have like, you know, chewed everyone’s ear off already talking about as you mentioned, right? his defensive li his defensive liabilities or offensive, you know, and where he would try to create, you know, those stretch passes down the middle and then turnovers would happen and whatever it might be. Again, it’s not just him. That’s a couple of defenseman, but he’s one he’s one of the culprits that that does that. Um, but despite that, he is, you know, one of, if not the best defenseman on the team. And looking at Toronto’s defense, um, you’ve got Morgan Riley, Jake McCabe, both are on the wrong side of 30. Chris Tanf 35, Oel 34, former Coyote. Got it. And then your youth is quote unquote youth. Brandon Carlo at 28, Simon Benois at 26, uh, and Henry Thrun, who’s 24, who’s one year $1 million. So, and is seventh on the depth chart right now. Toronto really could use a kick in the pants defensively. So, I’m not surprised that they at least picked up the phone and called here. So, with Sergeev, you know, you’re getting an offensive dynamo who’s got plenty of upside, who has cost certainty, which means you know what he’s making all the way through 2031. He’s making 8.5 million on the cap. And now with the cap going up by roughly 5 million a year for the next three years, that kind of starts to look like a bargain the further you get into that contract. So Robin, he’s not untradable. Uh and there could be reasons, but one of the things we’re going to look at here is the potential for a return. What return could come back from the Toronto Maple Leafs? Obviously, the Leafs are a good team. They finish at or near the top of the division and the conference uh the last several years. Now, they haven’t been able to make a huge deep playoff run, but maybe they think a Sergeev is what they’re missing. So, let’s let’s take a moment. Um I’m going to encourage everybody start throwing it in the com the comments now. First of all, would you even trade Sergeev? And number two, what would your return be? Robin and I are going to tell you what we would want back here in just a moment. Today’s show is brought to you by FanDuel. The NFL season’s almost here, believe it or not, and FanDuel is making sure you’re ready for kickoff with a can’tmiss offer. Right now, new customers can bet just $5. And if your bet wins, you’ll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. It makes every game more exciting. I mean, FanDuel just does because you’re paying attention. Look, if you’re a big fantasy football person, uh if you’re watching guys across various games, that I think ups the ante even more. And so FanDuel’s quick, it’s easy, it’s the best way to add a little more energy to your Sundays on top of you trying to track everything else. You’re already doing it anyway, so why not have some more fun with it? So, are you ready to play? Well, download the FanDuel app now by visiting fanduel.com to get started. That’s fanduel.com to place your first $5 bet. Tom Callahan, Robin Leono, if you like the show, if you like what you hear, first of all, thank you. Second of all, please like, follow, and subscribe. Uh, smash that old thumbs up on the YouTube. We love that. Helps us with the algorithm. Helps you with the algorithm, too, to find more great hockey content. But take a second, subscribe right now because we are going to gear up. Not this week, Robin, but the following week. We are going back to uh five times a week. We’re going to be delivering fresh content all the time, and we’ve got plenty on tap. I know this is the this is the time of year everyone’s been waiting for, right? We’re now in September. Rookie camp is around the corner, followed by, of course, we’re going to uh get actual training camp, pre-season hockey, and before we know it, the season started. And so what better way to kind of kick all that off by going back to our regular daily content for everybody. Absolutely going to be an awful lot of fun. And uh we are approaching 1500 followers on YouTube. We’re almost there. I think we’re going to get there this week, Robin. Oh, so close. It and and Tom and I are still workshopping some really good ideas to, you know, to kind of keep you guys entertained to maybe give you guys a incentive to help us get over that hump. Yes. Yes, we have some ideas brewing and share with us in the comments what you would like to see for us to celebrate uh 1500 followers on YouTube subscribers I guess we should call them on YouTube. All right, let’s get back to talking about Muel Sergeev to the Leafs the rumor put out there. Um Robin, so whether or not there is any fire to the Howard Ber smoke, let’s look at the Leafs to see first of all who could possibly come back. Uh, and second of all, who would you even want? Honestly, I’ve gone through the entire roster. Um, I’m not coming up with a whole lot that I actually want back from Toronto. Not that, again, as I said, not that they’re a bad team, but I’m just having a hard time. Yeah, I feel like again, you have to take a look at what, you know, what you’re talking benefit from coming back, and there’s not a whole lot. uh you and I have spoken off the air of you know of really a couple of names who could start the conversation but it’s also just like all right does you know what what’s the likelihood that they’re even involved which you know spoiler alert by before I even mention those names it’s pretty low I mean I’m I’m going right after Matias Machelli right I mean that’ be something with you know the devil you know bring him back oh no I’m kidding. I’m kidding. I am not after Melli. No, but no. So, it’s interesting because there I mean there are two names obviously. One is a very obvious one, but the one I’m going to mention and this is also to be a relatively obvious one. Um because me I you know I like I like young you know getting in those young players who have super high potential um and can do a lot for the team. Um, and this is the way I’m going to say is Matthew Ny starts the conversation. I I agree. Uh, I actually would not straight up do nice for Serge. That’s why I said Tom starts the conversation. It opens the door, but it doesn’t mean it like but a one for one swap. I’m not doing it. And I’m pretty sure Toronto wouldn’t do it either. Yeah. And everybody values their own asset pretty highly, right? Um but the thing is here is defenseman are harder to come by. Star power defenseman are harder to come by than star power forwards particularly right you know you know right shot offensive offensive defenseman. Those are you know those are you know very rare. Yeah. I mean Sergev’s a lefty but can’t play the off wing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That’s Yeah, exactly. So, the offensive defenseman itself, let let me actually start with a takedown before I even talk about the possibilities for me because one one of the names that I think gets thrown out there immediately is, oh, we’ll just send him Morgan Riley. I don’t want Morgan Riley. Number one, Morgan Riley has a no movement clause. Now, the difference between no trade and no movement, just for those who may not know, no trade is well, you can’t be traded without the player’s permission. But no movement is not only can’t be traded but can’t be assigned to the miners, can’t be waved, can’t be anything without the players permission. So Morgan Riley has a no movement clause. Uh but Morgan Riley’s 31 uh left shot defenseman has some size 61 225. I don’t mind that. But Robin, I’m just not seeing where Morgan Riley is worth the offensive upside of a return serge. He’s on the wrong side of 30, like I say. And I mean, his best years are behind him. He He’s not the 60 70 point Morgan Riley anymore. He lately has been two out of the last three years has been 41 points. Um, and he hasn’t played a full season except for last year in the last three years. So, you know, durability to me only gets worse as you get older. There’s a lot of things not to want Morgan Riley on the blue line about. I’m not saying he’s a bad player. Don’t misunderstand that. But I just I think everybody whose knee-jerk reaction is we’ll send a Morgan Riley. Riley doesn’t help Utah get better. No. especially with where Utah’s at, right? Utah is about a it’s a a team that’s young that’s moving into the next step of what they had as a rebuild and now getting ready to compete for uh for a playoff spot. Um and I’m not saying Morgan Riley doesn’t do that, but I’m saying it’s for the if you look at long like longer term, you want someone who can do that not only this year, but in several years down the road. Would you do, and this is for everybody, not just Robin, but Robin, you’re you’re the target here. Um, would you do Sergachev and TJ Ginla for Austin Matthews because that A Ginla name heading to Toronto would be a headline deal, you know. I I I would take it. I would take it. I mean, you’re getting a I mean, you’re giving up a lot. You’re giving up a lot, but you’re also getting a lot. Like, anyone who knows any like anything knows that Austin Matthews brings so much to the table. And then that is and then and you’re instantly getting a superstar. Um, but again, you have to you have to give up so much about that. Like you’re giving up, you know, someone who’s on the top of the prospect list plus your best defenseman right now. So it’s like it that to me, Tom, that would be a very high risk, high reward kind of deal that like would I do it? Like I would be so inclined to do it. But like I said, it like um there would it would be a hard decision. Now, the one reason if you’re a Leaf Sam, besides the fact that you’re like, “Well, it’s stupid.” Um that you would want to shoot that down is it might modify your window if you’re Toronto. Although Matthews, and honestly, I don’t think it’s his fault that his goal production has gone down the last couple of years, but um I think he’s still a sniper. He’s a shooter, but the last couple of years his roles changed a little bit. I mean, last year he had 33 goals. The year before he had 69 goals. Um you know, he was just a little bit different player this year. I think when he comes to Utah, if he comes to Utah, he becomes a shooter all over again. uh and is just counted on, hey man, fill the net. This is your job. Fill the net. Uh but, you know, for whatever reason, that changed a little with the Leafs this past season, and it didn’t bring him any more success. He he tried to be a more well-rounded player. There are some people who have soured on Matthews in Toronto because of this. They’re like, “Well, he’s not the guy. He’s never going to be the guy. He’s not going to get us there.” And those people would ship him out. Can you imagine a line of Keller uh with Keller, Gunther, and Matthews? Like, yes. Yes. Just put put Matthews, Matthews in the middle. And then and now Logan Culie becomes your legitimate 2C. I think that’s probably the biggest glaring weakness on the Utah Mammoth is a 2C. Like a a legitimate strong everyday 2C. Yeah. And if Logan is your two Yeah. And I mean I mean I mean you’re right because uh because Barrett Hayden is a borderline to you see I and I like him. I love Barrett Hayden but he’s borderline. Well and but think of how strong of a 3C he then becomes is my point 100%. Right. And the thing is that’s crazy is like he’s built to be a top six C but at the same time if you bring incredible talent like that like I wouldn’t hate it. I would not hate it if he’s if he is a 3C. And here’s the other thing. We talked about what the D looks like right now. Uh and and we have before on several occasions, but you’ve got Sergeev, Dery, Marino, Ma Schmidt, Cole, Valley, Mackey, D Simone, and then the Great Unknown with Simv or may not have a legit shot at making the team to start things out this year. Um, so plus Lamaroo plus like there’s a lot Duda like there’s a lot of guys to like defensively up and coming for this Mammoth team. If it shifted everybody down and then you’re 6D. I mean hopefully when Vali Mackey comes back he looks awesome. I hope he does. Maybe D. Simone comes in and he looks just as confident and everyday capable as he did last time around. Um, you know, maybe there’s a chance that I mean, the hope I think the hope, Tom, is that um because we have yet to see a full season of uh of Jersey and Marino. So like who knows maybe like like you know and and this is you know this is all again this is a hypothetical speaking here but maybe like a you know Derzy and Marino you know if we get to see a full season of maybe that maybe they’re all like you know all like Utah needs is like a you know as you know as like a top pairing and you got Perunic hiding in the weeds. He was a stealth signing like they’re deep they’re deep defensively. It is a very it is it is a very deep blue line going in and and I think that’s why like again we’re like when and again going back like when it comes to the conversation of the rumors around trading Mika Surgichev it’s like he’s not untradeable and there’s definitely uh room to do it again it’s that there’s got to be that return and that’s why you’ve mentioned the names right you you you put out there potential like you know an offer like here’s something for uh you uh for Austin Matthews out there. Um but again and I even mentioned the name Matthew Nice, right? That’s another big name who I would I would love to see come back if that was and again again that starts a conversation. Not one for one, but you know bring in bring in something, right? And I think it’s it’s worth the it’s worth the discussion. It definitely is worth the discussion. But, you know, who knows if who knows if either side is willing to give up whatever the what each side is looking for. Yeah. Or if there was something like N and Nick Robertson or something like that. But I think um it depends how sour people feel individually about Austin Matthews. Um some people don’t think he can lead Toronto to a cup. Some people think he needs more around him. I’ll let everybody else decide that. But I think this is a really interesting topic. Look, it it gave us something to talk about, right? But in the meantime, I mean, this is this is all this is. It’s one post on social media from a guy in the Toronto media. I would not be surprised at the end of the day if Toronto is kicking tires around the entire league on different defensemen. So, I’m not surprised that this phone call was made. I just don’t know if there’s I just don’t know if anything happens. Yeah, it’s uh I Yeah, I really don’t think it’s going to be any there’s really anything going to be coming out of it. I mean, Utah seems to be happy with what they got. And again, with what they have now, I mean, to keep Sergachev just means how deep this team is and how strong their defensive core should be next year um on top of the rest of the team. And again, this team’s ready for a playoff run. Like, they want to be at that level. So, they want to make sure that they don’t kind of mess with that uh schedule that they have going. Absolutely. Absolutely. So, uh I’ll tell you what, that’s what we’re going to get out of the circuit to the Leafs rumor. We want to know what you think. So, let us know in the comments. You can also reach out to us on social media. Want to talk a little bit about ECL affiliates. Uh, and I know again the everydayers, you guys who’ve been around, you kind of understand the affiliated ladder, but if you don’t, uh, this could be educational and I mean, hey, we’re going to have a pretty good discussion about whether you need an ECL affiliated or not because Utah’s in the market. Tom Callahan, Robin Leano, this is Locked on Mammoth. Thanks for joining us everybody and making us your first listen each and every single day when it comes to the Utah Mammoth as I mentioned programming note. Not this week uh but next week we go back to five shows a week. So keep your ears and eyes peeled. We’re creeping up on training camp. Robin, it’s right around the corner. It is oh so close. Can you believe it? Ah god, it’s it’s it’s crazy. I mean, we’ve been eager for it. We have been eager for hockey, like actual meaningful hockey to come back. And we’re we’re getting close. By the way, uh for those of you who don’t know, uh the very first action is, so you’re going to see this on Monday, September 1st, presumably the day it drops. That would mean 21 days away from split squad action on Sunday, September 21st. And then Monday, September 22nd, 8:00, Anaheim Ducks. The preeason is under way. Three weeks, Robin. We’re almost there. I know. We’re almost there. We made it through another summer. We’re going to get there. So, uh, all right. Let’s talk a little bit about ECL affiliates. And for those of you who don’t know or maybe you’re familiar with the baseball model or even the basketball model where they have the G-League and that’s kind of the feeder team for some NBA teams. Um the American Hockey League is the AAA level if you will of hockey and that would be the Tucson Road Runners. Now, in baseball, your prospects, cuz you have so many of them, go all the way through low A and then some play unaffiliated independent ball, some are in college. You know, players can play anywhere. There’s a lot of baseball prospects. There’s also uh uh fall league. There’s uh the uh the Arizona League by the, you know, which is a thing, too, by the way. So there’s all, you know, there’s a lot play Mexico, play in Japan. Like there’s a lot of places you could go play. Uh especially winter ball. So here’s the thing. Robin and I want to talk to you about hockey affiliations. Which ones matter, which ones don’t. Um I know a lot like I want to preface this like I know a lot of you guys like like most the majority of you guys do know this already. I mean if you’re a Utah hockey fan, I mean you already know who the Utah Grizzlies are by the way. you know, still very sad that they’re leaving. Very, but you guys already know who they are. You know, they’re the ECHL affiliate of as of right now of the Colorado Avalanche. You already know that. Um, but you know, this is again for, you know, to kind of help for those that might not know as much and might not and might not know like the whole tier system, the structure, the the whole structure here. Well, here, let me explain something too because I’ve worked at both the NHL and the minor league level. Robin, is that an NHL affiliate, in my opinion, and this is just my opinion, in my opinion, an an ECHL affiliate is with an NHL club is far more important to the ECHL team than it is to the NHL team. Now, from the ECHL team’s perspective, it kind of actually screws them roster-wise because you have to hold a spot or two or three for guys that Utah, in this case, would send you. and they can be called recalled with no remorse and then you’ve got to figure out a way to sign guys like the ECHL doesn’t really have anywhere to pull from and they can kind of look around and have to bring guys in. The American Hockey League is where the NHL team will pull from. You almost never unless it’s some kind of crazy chain of goalending injuries. That is the only case I’ve ever seen it happen where a guy gets pulled up from the coast directly to the NHL. And that is so rare it happens once every several years. Mhm. So that but Robin, the name and the branding and the affiliation matters to the ECHL team and that’s important, but there’s only 30 ECHL teams. There’s 32 American Hockey League teams and 32 NHL teams. So all your prospects really that you want to get ready for pro who can play pro, if they’re playing in North America, they’re playing in the American Hockey League. Yeah, they are. They are getting there. And it’s uh and and I know I think what there’s like expected of like expansion or whatever in the ECHL and there’s there’s still a lot going off but you’re right most majority of of affiliate you know of minor league players they’re going to play in the American Hockey League. Um, that’s where that’s where most of it is. And and the only time I’ve really seen the ECL be used and when it comes to during my time covering the uh the Utah the Utah organization as well as of course the Arizona Coyotes, Tom is when it came to a goal, you know, the goalending, right? the Arizona for example had like I think a pretty deep goalending uh depth for a while like in terms of like ready on any given night where I think it was like uh for a time Darcy Kemper on top uh Ronda right below and then in the age you had Aiden Hill and then Hunter MSA and then right below that was Merrick Madson um who I think was uh what was EC Philly at the time I want say it was Norfolk. Rapid City. Is either Rapid City or Norfox? One of those. Um it’s it the thing that that’s the thing, right? It always moves around, but um but that was the only time, right? That was the only time you ever, you know, they got the call up, right? And then al and then they get sent back down to ECL. Um, and it’s it was crazy to me to think that it was being used and I really for the most part didn’t pay attention to the AC E ACL. Um, and again, if you are a Utah hockey fan, maybe you maybe you’re a season ticket holder for um your previous season ticket holder for the for the uh for the Grizzlies and you already know how all that works. So, here’s one thing to tackle, Robin. Does Utah need an ECHL affiliate? My short answer is no, they do not. What happens now? So, if you get a player called up, let’s say a defenseman, a forward, maybe you might be caught a little short. Mhm. AHL teams can have a player loan to them from other non-affiliated ECHL teams. So, it’s not a problem to get other players as long as that team is willing to send you somebody. And that’s where the coach’s networking skills come in is to try to call around, see who they can get in. That’s where that kind of happens. But Robin, as far as is it necessary to have an ECL affiliate, no. No, you really don’t. No, we we we we don’t we do not see it as much anymore. Um especially nowadays. Uh like the only other time too that you you might ever see it ever be used when it comes to affiliation is uh let’s say and I I love using these hypotheticals because I think it it kind of really train you know forces you to really think of how it works. Um but let’s say the assistant general manager of an NHL team who is the general manager of uh your AHL team has an affiliate an ECL affiliate. Um, but let’s say there might be expectations that you have a you’re on a team where more callups are happening, right? You have more guys heading up the NHL. As an assistant general manager, what you’re doing is you’re getting these guys who uh are under like let’s say like in our case here, right, a Tucson Road Runners contract. Now, they can also be on a multi-way deal where they can get sent down to the ECL because of the affiliations uh because they’re still within the same organization. But even then, Tom, we don’t see that much anymore because now what we see is uh those amateur tri whe whether they’re amateur tryyous or whatever kind of deal is some play sometimes might be just a couple games and then scratch or whatever it might be or if you need an extra player, they’re on loan. let’s say to somewhere in uh in Europe. This was this was an example by the way for uh you know for a previous uh you know Arizona prospect in Liam Kirk. He got sent down to the ECL for a while but then they realized that you know not really to use the ECL as much so they sent him overseas. They’re like yeah you can we can we can loan you over to over to Europe. Robin quickly I want to address the potential baby elephant in the room. see what I did there. The Utah Grizzlies, as you had mentioned previously, are for sale and while they’re supposed to be leaving town, and I think the rumor was they were going east somewhere to the East Coast. Um, what if Smith Group bought them? What are the pluses? What are the minuses? Uh, because you’re never directly calling players up from the ECHL. It’s not as big as you might think. However, Robin, I know Smith Group thinks really, really long-term and globally about this stuff. They’re probably looking down the road at owning their AHL affiliate. Maybe, maybe an ECL affiliate. What do you think? Maybe. I feel like that is a lower chance of happening anytime soon, Tom. Um, again, because of the the rumors surrounding the Grizzlies there that don’t like like it it’s already known. I I feel like it almost seems to be a foregone conclusion they are leaving Utah. Um, I think it’s um, you know, it’s unfortunate, right? I feel like someone there are so many listeners here who, like I’ve already said multiple times on this show, who are longtime season ticket holders of the Utah Grizzlies. You guys were supporters for them for a long time before the Mammoth came in or whatever. Maybe you were still supporters while the Mammoth were around or the Utah hockey club. Um the the idea that I had Tom that came to me and uh this kind of goes with the conversation does one is one needed and again the answer we’ve already kind of established here is no however there is the conversation that you can go in where you can say okay maybe not one this year but maybe one next year there is an expansion uh ECHL team I already mentioned this an expansion EC CHL team coming in as soon as not this next season but the following season 2627 um in uh in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. So still within yes the four corners. So that’s not too far away. And the 32nd team will follow the year after 2027 28 in Augusta, Georgia. They will be getting a team back in Augusta. They have the building. They have shovels in the dirt. It’s on the way. It’ll be here in three years. So, we know that for sure as well. So, that’ll bring it up to 32, 32, and 32. Yeah, I feel like like Yeah, part of me is is got I got those eyes set on New Mexico. Like, if there’s anything that’s going to happen, it’s going to be New Mexico just in time for the NHL to go to 33 and then 34, right? But again, that’s not until 26 27 season. So, right. Um, so they won’t so you know, they won’t have one this year. And honestly, as we said, they don’t need one this year. Yep, that’s that’s correct. So, if you still have questions uh or if you need further clarifications on things, feel free to throw that down in the comments for us. Or Robin, where can they reach out to us on social media? You can find us about everywhere on social media, locked on mammoth, locked mammoth, and that’s everywhere. Twitterx, on Instagram, on threads, on Tik Tok, on we’re in. And again, that does include on YouTube as well. You can find us uh me like me personally atroin leano mostly active over on Twitter and you can find me on blue sky at Tom talks on Twitter at Callahan on air and you’re going to want to follow me on social media because when I trade Robin to locked on Toronto you’re going to want to know what the return is. So that’s Robin’s gonna invoke the I ain’t going nowhere clause. It’s I’m gonna do a uh you know a Jordan Bell for speech from uh uh from the Wolf of Wall Street. Nice. I I ain’t bleeping leaving. There you go. Nope. Too much Sorry. Too much time behind this franchise to to send you packing to Toronto. Although sometimes it might feel like it’s a a good move for somebody. I don’t know. Anyway, thanks for joining us. Fire away with the questions and don’t forget we are gonna hit five days a week next week and then it is just hold on to your hockey socks. Opening night’s going to be just around the corner. Thanks for joining us everybody. We’ll talk to you next time on Locked on Mammoth.

Mikhail Sergachev to Toronto? Trade rumors heat up as NHL offseason intensifies. Is a blockbuster deal on the horizon for the Utah Mammoth?

Tom Callahan and Robyn Leaño dissect the latest buzz surrounding Mikhail Sergachev’s potential move to the Maple Leafs. They analyze the credibility of Toronto media reports and explore possible trade returns, including Matthew Knies and even Austin Matthews. The hosts also dive into the importance of ECHL affiliations for NHL teams, discussing player development strategies and upcoming expansion franchises.

Don’t miss this in-depth analysis of the Utah Mammoth’s defensive depth and how a Sergachev trade could reshape their blueline. Will the Mammoth make a move that stuns the hockey world?

0:00 Intro: Mikhail Sergachev trade rumors to Leafs

5:13 Analyzing potential Sergachev trade scenarios

10:25 Upcoming content and YouTube milestone

13:33 Evaluating Morgan Rielly as trade option

16:08 Hypothetical Matthews for Sergachev trade options

26:53 NHL vs ECHL perspective on affiliations

30:09 Does Utah need an ECHL affiliate?

35:20 Wrapping up and social media information

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