DENVER – A new ice age dawns as the Utah Mammoth (formerly Utah Hockey Club) prepare to begin their second season in the NHL against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.
Ahead of their full 82-game schedule, here are four predictions for the league’s newest team as they step into year two.
Four Utah Mammoth Predictions
Lawson Crouse will register 50 points for the Utah Mammoth
While the puck has yet to drop on year two, I’m pretty bought in on the Lawson Crouse stock based on his performance during training camp and the preseason.
Following an abysmal year for the Utah Hockey Club with only 12 goals and six assists, “The Sheriff” is back in the saddle and looks ready for a redemption campaign in 2025-26.
“Crouser was real honest with me when we had the exit meetings,” General Manager Bill Armstrong explained. “He said, ‘Hey listen I’m going to go home and work as hard as I’ve ever worked, maybe twice as hard.’”
“I couldn’t believe the shape he was in. He was refocused, he was refreshed, he worked on his goal scoring. I think in the preseason he was one of our best players.”
Like Armstrong pointed out, Crouse was undoubtedly one of the Mammoth’s best skaters during the preseason, if not the best.
With a goal and two assists in three appearances, Crouse was laser focused, dialed in, aggressive, confident, assertive, and simply played his style of hockey.
Total domination by Lawson Crouse🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/XF4X11GqH6
— Cap’n Cook 🦣 (@JazzePinkman) September 22, 2025
Crouser sneaks one in!
2-1, Utah. pic.twitter.com/3JJaUh3D9P
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 3, 2025
Not only has Crouse looked more confident on the ice, but he’s just had a different, more positive demeanor about him around the facility and during interviews.
He’s upbeat and you can sense that eagerness to take the season by storm.
So, if you haven’t already, buy the Crouse stock now because I’m predicting a career year for No. 67.
The Guenther, Cooley, Peterka line will combine for 220 or more points
Perhaps the most dangerous young forward line in the league, Dylan Guenther, Logan Cooley and JJ Peterka are about to take the NHL by storm with their speed, finesse, creativity and firepower.
As three of only 15 skaters 23 years or younger to register 60+ points a year ago, the Mammoth trio is downright lethal in the offensive zone.
While they have the ability to wear down teams by working the puck around the zone, the goal is to utilize their blazing speed off the rush to surprise defenses and get pucks on net before they even have a chance to blink.
Another great pass, another great shot. What a night for Gunner and the boys! 💪 pic.twitter.com/PKTxDSaXYG
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) September 26, 2025
“We’re super quick…We can see the ice pretty well,” JJ Peterka told KSL Sports.
“We catch defenders off guard a lot of times…For us right now, it’s just to come more together, be more connected to be even more dangerous.”
Peterka on playing with Guenther/Cooley & their speed:
“We’re super quick…We can see the ice pretty well.”
“We catch defenders off guard a lot of times…For us right now, it’s just to come more together, be more connected to be even more dangerous.” pic.twitter.com/hVBwIAS5go
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) September 25, 2025
As Cooley re-enters the lineup and joins his youthful linemates, those three are going to cause chaos every single shift.
Just imagine 92 flying up the ice with the puck on his twig as both 11 and 77 get to their spots, circulate the puck and breakdown opposing teams as they find openings and unleash blazing one-timers that goaltenders won’t have a chance to stop.
IF those three can stay mostly healthy and play the way the coaching staff expects, 220 or more collective points shouldn’t be out of the question.
A year ago, those three would’ve combined for 193 points.
220 should be doable.
Vitek Vanecek will push for the starting goaltender spot
While he only appeared in net twice during the preseason, Vitek Vanecek looked good, like really good.
Facing a total of 53 shots between the two contests, Vaneck stopped 49 (.924 SV%) and was absolutely superb against the Los Angeles Kings as he led Utah to victory.
Related: The Hat Trick: Vitek Vanecek Stands On His Head As Utah Mammoth Claim First Preseason Win
What a stop by Vaněček! pic.twitter.com/9f8S0Q0wqA
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 3, 2025
Vítek Vaněček ladies and gentlemen 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/gxxY8bbuvK
— Cap’n Cook 🦣 (@JazzePinkman) October 3, 2025
When Vanecek first arrived in Utah, he made it clear that he wasn’t simply going to settle for backup minutes.
He’s a reigning Stanley Cup Champion with years of experience and his focus is to prove that he’s good enough to start.
“In the NHL, it’s always the better goalie plays. So, I don’t think that way, what he [Vejmelka] signed or not,” Vaněček told KSL Sports.
“I know if I am winning a lot of games, they’re going to give me the time. If he is winning a lot of games, he’s going to get the time. I think it’s going to be a good battle with him.”
For Utah, that’s what you want from Vanecek.
Zero fear and a determination to push both himself and Karel Vejmelka.
However, on the flipside, I haven’t been as impressed with Vejmelka through the preseason.
Granted, those were exhibition games that lacked six NHL defensemen in front of him, but still, his numbers weren’t the most impressive.
In two games, Vejmelka stopped just 28 of 34 (.823 SV%).
That’s obviously not good enough but we’ll see how things pan out as the regular season gets rolling.
Like Vanecek explained, the goalie with the hot glove is the one that’s going to play.
As of right now, that appears to be Vanecek, and it would not surprise me whatsoever if he gets the nod to be the more consistent starter at some point this season.
The Mammoth will be in a dogfight down the stretch to claim a playoff spot
On paper, the Utah Mammoth should be a playoff team.
After narrowly missing the postseason a year ago by just seven points, the team improved as they added goal scoring, depth, and more playoff experience to their roster.
In theory, that should get the job done.
However, given their division and the Western Conference as a whole, it’s not going to be that easy.
“Everyone says, ‘Well, you should be good enough to make the playoffs,’ Yes, I agree with that,” Armstrong told KSL Sports.
“We are in a division that they don’t care about Utah. They’re just as good. If you’re not ready to put it down every night, put your face down, block a shot, to bleed for this organization, we’ve got no chance.”
Bill Armstrong shared his opening speech to the Mammoth on the @uthockeypod.
“Every single person in our entire organization, including myself, has to give more.”
“We will not get in unless you’re ready to bleed for this organization.”
Full episode: https://t.co/qac1YgY1nQ pic.twitter.com/tyx9JVaIVw
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 7, 2025
As Armstrong pointed out, the Central Division is an unforgiving monster.
Winnipeg isn’t going anywhere, Colorado and Dallas could be Cup contenders, Minnesota is formidable and we all witnessed the tear St. Louis went on to conclude the season last year.
So, while Utah has improved and on paper, yes, they should make the playoffs, it is not going to be an easy task whatsoever.
It’s going to require consistency, maturity, growth, blood, sweat, tears and a little extra from every single person in the organization as Armstrong stated.
Should they make the playoffs? Yes.
Will they? Probably.
Would it be shocking if they didn’t? No.
So, buckle up Mammoth fans because this season is going to be a dogfight to the bitter end as the team battles in the NHL’s toughest divison to bring Lord Stanley’s playoffs to Salt Lake City in the spring.
What’s next for the Utah Mammoth?
The Utah Mammoth will officially kick off the regular season on October 9 against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena at 7 p.m. MT.
The game will be available on Mammoth+.
Cole Bagley is the Utah Mammoth insider for KSL Sports. Keep up with him on X here. You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
Take us with you, wherever you go.
