SALT LAKE CITY – According to multiple reports, The Utah Mammoth have made their first trade ahead of Friday’s deadline as they plan to acquire right-handed veteran defenseman MacKenzie Weegar from the Calgary Flames for Olli Maatta, prospect Jonathan Castagna and three 2026 second-round picks.
Per sources:
MacKenzie Weegar to Utah
For:
Olli Maatta
Jonathan Castagna
Three 2026 second-round picks.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 5, 2026
Who is MacKenzie Weegar?
Weegar is a 32-year-old defenseman from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Originally drafted by the Florida Panthers in 2013, Weegar spent seven seasons in south Florida before being traded to the Calgary Flames as part of a multi-player deal for Matthew Tkachuk.
During his 10 seasons in the National Hockey League, the seasoned D-man has registered 62 goals and 210 assists in 610 appearances.
In addition to playing on Calgary’s top defensive pairing, Weegar wore an Alternate Captain ‘A’ on his sweater for the Flames.
What does it mean for the Utah Mammoth?
As the Utah Mammoth continue to push for their first-ever Stanley Cup Playoff appearance, the front office has been slamming the phones in search of players to improve their team.
In need of more physicality and grit on their blue line, Utah will look to Weegar for his reliable defense, versatility, strength and leadership.
“MacKenzie is a high-end defenseman with the type of leadership and work ethic that we want in a top-four blueliner,” said Bill Armstrong, general manager of the Utah Mammoth.
“Acquiring MacKenzie solidifies our back end as we continue to push towards the playoffs, and he will be a great addition to our team on and off the ice.”
Demonstrated by his 143 blocked shots (Calgary Flames team-high) and 130 hits (second-most on Calgary), Weegar is a true defensive defenseman who plays with sheer physicality and is willing to put his body on the line.
Notably, he’s also added three goals and 18 assists in 60 games this season.
In terms of where he’d fit in the lineup, it’s hard to imagine Weegar not being inserted into the top four given his skill, experience and Utah’s desire to bring him in.
“He’s a top four D. He can play PP, PK, almost any situation,” Armstrong added.
“He can play a shutdown role. He’s going to be a big asset for us down the stretch.”
Contractually, Weegar is in the third season of and eight-year contract worth $50M ($6.25M AAV).
Due to the requirement for a Visa it could take anywhere from four to 10 days for Weegar to join the Mammoth.
What’s next for the Utah Mammoth?
The Utah Mammoth will continue their five-game road trip against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night at 5 p.m. MT.
The game will be available on Mammoth+.
All Mammoth games will also be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM).
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.
