Utah’s rebuild has gone admirably. The Mammoth have acquired premium young talents in Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther without getting a No. 1 pick or completely bottoming out. Some draft lottery luck, resulting in taking Caleb Desnoyers at No. 4 this summer, doesn’t hurt either. Between their NHL roster and deep young player pool, they are positioned to be a playoff contender soon.

2024 ranking: 7

2025 NHL Draft grade: A-

Player Ranking

1. Dylan Guenther, RW

April 10, 2003 | 6-foot-1 | 192 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 9 in 2021
Tier: Bubble NHL All-Star and top of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Guenther had a huge year coming off his big contract extension, becoming a top player for Utah. He’s got good size, he skates quite well and has a lot of offensive ability. Guenther can beat defenders one-on-one often with pace, make tough plays consistently and has a wicked shot from distance that should make him a weapon on the power play for years to come. He’s not a highly physical player and plays too much on the outside like a lot of shooters do, but he gives a decent enough off-puck effort to not be a frustrating player. He has all the makings of a potential star scoring winger who could regularly put up 30-plus goals.

2. Logan Cooley, C

May 4, 2004 | 6-feet | 192 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 3 in 2022
Tier: Bubble NHL All-Star and top of the lineup player

Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: High-end
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: High-end

Analysis: Cooley has become a top player for Utah and one of the best young centers in the league. He’s an elite skater with the quick twitch speed, first few steps and edge work to evade most NHL defensemen. Cooley is also a player with a ton of individual skill and creativity. With his outstanding tempo, the amount of offense with pace he creates could make him an elite even-strength player while also having the touch to run a power play. Cooley isn’t that big, but he works very hard and doesn’t show fear at getting to the net. He even took on regular PK duties this season for Utah as a 20-year-old. He has all the makings of a potential first-line center you can envision playing well in the hard games in the spring.

3. Caleb Desnoyers, C

April 11, 2007 | 6-foot-2 | 172 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 4 in 2025
Tier: Bubble NHL All-Star and top of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Desnoyers was one of the best players in the QMJHL this season as a leader on the top team in the league. He was also the MVP of the QMJHL playoffs. The No. 1 pick in his QMJHL Draft, he checks every box for what you want in an NHL center. He’s tall and fast and makes a lot happen with and without the puck. Desnoyers displays excellent skill and playmaking ability. He creates offense on the move, off the perimeter and at the net. He has great creativity as a playmaker, while also being a detailed two-way player. Desnoyers can be trusted to check top players as he has a physical edge in his game and gives a high effort every game. He has the potential to be a No. 1 center who can play in any situation.

4. Dmitri Simashev, D

Feb. 4, 2005 | 6-foot-5 | 203 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 6 in 2023
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Simashev played regular minutes for the KHL champions, although his minutes went down a bit in the playoffs. He also got some time with Russia’s senior national team. He has clear NHL athleticism. Simashev is a tall, mobile defenseman who can close on checks and skate pucks up ice like an NHLer. He competes hard and doesn’t shy away from using his body. The offense in Simashev’s game isn’t overly exciting, but he has good hands and can make difficult plays with the puck. He can create with his feet and skill, and can have secondary offense in the NHL even if he’s not a natural playmaker. He projects as a top-four defenseman who will have a long career.

5. Maveric Lamoureux, D

Jan. 13, 2004 | 6-foot-7 | 214 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 29 in 2022
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: High-end
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Lamoureux had a good first pro season. He came up early on to play effective games for Utah, although he got hurt and went back to the AHL when he was healthy. He’s a 6-foot-7 right-shot defender who skates very well for a big man. He’s a highly competitive player who makes a lot of stops and projects as a true shutdown defenseman in the NHL. The main debate about Lamoureux’s game has always been his offense. He didn’t show a ton as a pro this season, but all he needs to do is make a basic first pass and he could be a legit top-four defenseman. I think he can do that, and he’s going to score goals due to a big point shot.

6. Tij Iginla, LW

Aug. 4, 2006 | 6-feet | 194 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 6 in 2024
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Iginla’s season was shortened in November due to hip surgery. The son of Jarome Iginla, Tij is a very talented offensive player when healthy. His stickhandling displays stand out constantly. He beats defenders one-on-one at a high rate and improvises very well with the puck. He skates well and can make high-skill plays with his feet moving. Iginla has a great shot that gets off the stick quickly, and he can pick corners. He gets to the inside to score as well and displays a strong effort away from the puck. His pure sense and playmaking don’t stand out like the rest of his game, though. He projects as a top-six winger.

7. Daniil But, LW

Feb. 15, 2005 | 6-foot-6 | 216 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 12 in 2023
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: But came out of the gates flying this season in the KHL, although he hit a wall mid-year and struggled to score in the second half of the season, albeit in limited minutes for a top KHL team in Lokomotiv. He is a large, highly skilled forward who makes a lot of crafty plays with the puck in small areas, and with his massive wingspan, he’s able to pull pucks past a lot of checkers. But isn’t blazing fast, but for a player his size, he can get up the ice quite well. His effort level is OK. It’s not a problem, but I wouldn’t call him a hard-to-play-against type, and this year he didn’t get to the net as much as I’ve seen in the past. He has the tools to be a top-six winger in the NHL, but ideally, he could be a little more consistent and learn how to use his big body more.

8. Michael Hrabal, G

Jan. 20, 2005 | 6-foot-7 | 216 pounds | Catches left

Drafted: No. 38 in 2023
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average

Analysis: Hrabal was very good in college this season and at the World Juniors. He is a 6-foot-7 goalie who moves quite well for his size. He’s efficient in his movements but can make the tough saves across his crease when he needs to. Hrabal’s puck-tracking isn’t perfect, but generally I’ve liked his reads and ability to stay with the play. When he’s dialed in, he has the potential to steal a game, although he can be inconsistent with major highs and lows. He projects as a tandem goaltender in the NHL.

9. Cole Beaudoin, C

April 24, 2006 | 6-foot-2 | 209 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 24 in 2024
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end

Analysis: Beaudoin is a very likable player. He’s a tremendously hardworking center with NHL size and skill. He’s constantly noticeable throughout the game in how many pucks he wins and the number of plays he makes. He’s quite physical and doesn’t shy from getting to the tough areas of the ice and does so without taking bad penalties. Beaudoin can create offense in junior, but with a somewhat heavy skating stride, the debate is about how his game will translate to the pros. I’ve seen him get by enough defenders and think his compete is so good that his game will work in a potential third-line center role, but he may not score in big numbers in the NHL.

10. Vojtech Hradec, C

Sept. 24, 2005 | 6-foot-4 | 201 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 167 in 2024
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Hradec took major steps forward this season, and a year after being a sixth-round pick, he looks like a player trending toward the NHL. Hradec is a big center who played well versus men this year in Czechia and was a top player for their U20 team. He won’t dazzle with skill, but he has good hands and vision and has shown more offense than some expected. He couples that with an honest two-way game and ability to kill penalties down the middle. He has the potential to be a third-line center in the NHL.

11. Jonathan Castagna, C

April 20, 2005 | 6-foot-2 | 203 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 70 in 2023
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Castagna was an important player for Cornell, playing big minutes on both special teams. He is a skilled center who can create offense with his hands and feet like a pro. He has solid instincts with the puck and makes plays with pace. Castagna plays with courage, wins enough battles and added more physicality to his game this season. His development has been impressive, and he looks like a potential bottom-six forward in the NHL.

12. Artyom Duda, D

April 8, 2004 | 6-foot-1 | 187 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 36 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: After a strange 2023-24 season where Duda was trying to find somewhere to play, he was great in the AHL in his first full year in North America. He’s a talented offensive defenseman with the slick hands and strong offensive IQ to make a lot of creative plays with the puck. He’s a smooth skater who can create offense with pace. Duda shows the poise, shot and vision to run a pro power play at a high level. He’s not overly physical, but he’s mobile and smart enough to break up plays defensively and is good on retrievals. He projects as a third-pair defenseman.

13. Yegor Borikov, LW

Aug. 28, 2005 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 110 in 2025
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Borikov had a decent season in the KHL in his third draft-eligible season, getting a regular shift for Dinamo Minsk. His playoff performance is what made him intriguing to evaluators, scoring seven goals in 11 KHL playoff games with no power-play time. Borikov is a strong skating winger with good hands and hockey sense. He makes plays with pace and creates at the hard areas of the offensive zone. He has a good shot and can finish from mid-range. He’s not overly physical but has decent size. There’s nothing special about his game but he does a lot of things at a quality level and could be a bottom-six winger.

14. Gabe Smith, C

Aug. 3, 2006 | 6-foot-5 | 207 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 103 in 2024
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Smith is a big forward who can play center or wing and was an important part of a top Moncton team. He’s quite athletic and moves decently for a big man. He isn’t afraid to use his big body to land hard hits or create around the net-front. I don’t think the offense in his game is truly natural from a playmaking or finishing perspective, but he has hands and is creative with the puck in tight areas. He has the traits to be a useful depth forward for a team and has middle-six potential if the offense in his game continues to develop.

15. Max Psenicka, D

Jan. 18, 2007 | 6-foot-5 | 185 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 46 in 2025
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Psenicka is an athletic defenseman. He skates very well for a 6-foot-5 defender. His mobility and ability to make stops allowed him to play pro games at the top level in Czechia before coming over to the WHL midseason. He didn’t stand out at that level as some would have hoped, though. The question about Psenicka will be offense. He doesn’t have a ton of skill or offensive IQ in his game, although he has a good point shot and can make a decent first pass. His game is a little bland, but he’s talented enough for his size to potentially get NHL games.

16. Tomas Lavoie, D

March 31, 2006 | 6-foot-4 | 216 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 89 in 2024
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Lavoie made good progress this season, especially in terms of offense. He’s a tall right-shot defenseman who skates well for a big man. His length plus feet help him break up a lot of plays and succeed on retrievals. He plays very hard and is overall a great defender. Offense has been the one minor question in Lavoie’s game. I wouldn’t call him a super smart puck-mover, but he can make a reliable outlet pass and has a hard point shot. He projects as a third-pair NHL defenseman with a chance to be more.

17. Stepan Hoch, LW

Oct. 11, 2006 | 6-foot-4 | 192 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 78 in 2025
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Hoch was a solid junior player in Czechia and has looked good with their national teams. He also got limited time at the top Czech level. He is quite athletic, with good natural quickness for a guy his size. He doesn’t shy away from using his big body and engages in physical play often. Hoch isn’t a natural scorer, but he has good hands and is a decent shot threat from range. He’s played center and wing, but he’s probably not smart enough to play the middle in the NHL. The off-puck play and overall tools could lead him to becoming a bottom-six winger, though, or a fourth-line center.

18. Vadim Moroz, LW

Nov. 20, 2003 | 6-foot-2 | 183 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 88 in 2023
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Moroz had a great season in the KHL, scoring 26 goals for Dinamo Minsk. He is a big winger with a high skill level, often able to beat pro defenders with his one-on-one play. He sees the ice well and displays strong overall hockey sense. His shot is his best offensive asset, with a legit one-timer that could beat NHL goalies. He competes fine, but he’s not a super hard-to-play-against type. Moroz is also a subpar skater by NHL standards. He could be a depth forward for an NHL team.

Has a chance to play*

Will Skahan played limited minutes at Boston College this season. He’s a big, mobile, physical defenseman, but his sense and puck decisions are a major question. Veeti Väisänen doesn’t stand out in any one area, but he skates and handles the puck well and is a good enough defender to have a legit chance to be a third-pair defenseman.

Owen Allard, C

Jan. 13, 2004 | 6-foot-2 | 201 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 135 in 2024

Gregor Biber, D

Aug. 9, 2006 | 6-foot-3 | 187 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 98 in 2024

Sam Lipkin, LW

Jan. 3, 2003 | 6-foot-2 | 192 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 223 in 2021

Carsen Musser, G

May 19, 2005 | 6-foot-4 | 220 pounds | Catches left | Drafted: No. 166 in 2023

Will Skahan, D

May 14, 2006 | 6-foot-4 | 216 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 65 in 2024

Melker Thelin, G

May 25, 2005 | 6-foot-2 | 176 pounds | Catches left | Drafted: No. 134 in 2023

Veeti Väisänen, D

Feb. 15, 2006 | 6-feet | 190 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 96 in 2024

* Listed in alphabetical order

Player eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2025, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.

Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.

Tier definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.

(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic. Photo: Jamie Sabau / Getty Images)