The Utah Mammoth entered their second NHL season with high expectations after a transformative offseason. They landed star players through free agency, struck gold in the draft lottery, and secured one of hockey’s most promising young centers with the fourth overall pick. Training camp was supposed to showcase their bright future and build excitement for what looked like a breakthrough season.
But just weeks before players hit the ice, devastating news changed everything. The franchise and its passionate fanbase suddenly found themselves facing a reality no one saw coming. What was supposed to be the start of something special has turned into an early test of patience and resilience.
What Will Utah Mammoth’s Season Look Like?
The Mammoth received crushing news about their prized rookie that will sideline him for the most critical part of his development. General Manager Bill Armstrong delivered the blow in an official statement that sent shockwaves through Salt Lake City.
“Utah Mammoth General Manager Bill Armstrong announced today that forward Caleb Desnoyers underwent successful wrist surgery and is expected to miss approximately 12 weeks,” the team announced.
The timing couldn’t be worse. This announcement completely contradicted what both the organization and Desnoyers had said just months earlier at the rookie development camp in late June. According to Belle Fraser of The Salt Lake Tribune, the narrative had completely shifted.
“When we talked to Caleb Desnoyers and Bill Armstrong at dev camp, both said surgery was not needed. Things obviously changed in the recovery process. This will keep Desnoyers sidelined for training camp.”
INJURY UPDATE pic.twitter.com/yhjVHkiXvh
— Utah Mammoth PR (@UtahMammoth_PR) August 14, 2025
The 12-week recovery timeline pushes Desnoyers’ return to early November, effectively eliminating his chances of making the NHL roster out of camp. While he wasn’t guaranteed a spot with the Mammoth, the injury removes any possibility of surprising coaches and earning his way onto the team.
The setback will force Desnoyers into a challenging developmental path. Since the Mammoth cannot assign him to the American Hockey League, his only options are the NHL, NCAA, or Canadian Major Junior hockey. Given his injury timeline, returning to the Quebec Major Junior League with the Moncton Wildcats seems most likely.
What Are Mammoth Fans Saying About This Setback?
Utah’s hockey community’s reaction was immediate and emotional. Fans who had spent months building excitement for Desnoyers’ debut felt the sting of watching their top prospect get derailed before the season even began.
The frustration poured out on social media. One fan captured the mood perfectly, writing “Season over before it even started smh.” The dramatic response shows just how much hope fans had pinned on their young center.
Another supporter offered a more measured take, saying, “As a Wildcats fan, this makes me SAD. But I’m glad he got the help he needed for it.” The comment reflects mixed emotions of wanting what’s best for Desnoyers while mourning the lost opportunity.
A third fan summed up the collective disappointment with a simple but powerful statement: “This is the opposite of what I wanted.”
The reactions highlight how much Desnoyers had already captured the imagination of Utah hockey fans, despite never playing a professional game. His impressive junior career, which included 114 points in 75 games with Moncton last season, had created genuine excitement about his potential impact.
However, returning to the Wildcats might not be entirely negative for Desnoyers’ development. The move could help him regain his rhythm after the extended layoff and potentially position him for a spot on Team Canada’s World Junior Championships roster.
Despite this early-season disappointment, the Mammoth organization still has plenty of reasons for optimism about the 2025-26 campaign. The additions of JJ Peterka and Nate Schmidt have strengthened their roster significantly, and their playoff prospects remain promising even without their rookie center.
For Desnoyers, this injury represents a temporary detour rather than a permanent roadblock. While missing training camp and the early part of the season is frustrating, he remains a cornerstone of Utah’s long-term vision. The franchise invested heavily in his future for good reason, and that faith won’t waver because of one setback.