Utah Mammoth News

Utah has signed Ben McCartney to a two-year, two-way contract extension.

After picking up 16 goals and 33 points with Tucson (AHL) in 2024-25, Ben McCartney has earned himself a two-year, two-way contract extension with Utah on Wednesday. The 23-year-old winger was Utah's 2020 7th overall pick (204th overall) and has spent the last four seasons in the AHL.

Ben McCartney
Utah has signed Gabe Smith to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Smith is Utah's 2024 4th-round pick (103rd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract upon the completion of Moncton's Memorial Cup run. The 18-year-old center spent 2024-25 with Moncton (QMJHL) and had 20 goals, 39 points and 62 PIMs in 52 games played.

Gabe Smith
Utah has signed Daniil But to a three-year, entry-level contract.

But was Utah's 2023 1st-round pick (12th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Mammoth on Wednesday. The 20-year-old left-winger is expected to head over to North America for the 2025-26 season after putting up nine goals and 28 points with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) in 2024-25.

Daniil But
Utah has signed Dmitri Simashev to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Simashev was Utah's 2023 1st-round pick (6th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Mammoth on Wednesday. The 20-year-old Russian defenseman is expected to head to North America for the 2025-26 season after putting up a goal, six points and a +9 plus/minus in 56 games played with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) in 2024-25.

Dmitri Simashev
Utah has signed Jaxson Stauber to a two-year, two-way contract extension.

Stauber is an undrafted goalie that has spent most of the previous three seasons in the AHL with several short stints in the NHL. The 26-year-old netminder posted a 3.14 GAA and .892 SV% in six appearances (2-1-1) with the Utah Hockey Club this season.

Jaxson Stauber
O'Brien will be a healthy scratch in St. Louis on Tuesday.

Kailer Yamamoto will draw back into Utah's lineup on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues, resulting in O'Brien being a healthy scratch. O'Brien returned to the lineup yesterday from a one-month absence due to injury, recording three shots and two hits in 11:54 time-on-ice.

Liam O'Brien
DeSimone will be a healthy scratch in St. Louis on Tuesday.

Robert Bortuzzo will draw back into Utah's lineup on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues, sending DeSimone to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old DeSimone is averaging 15:35 time-on-ice and has six points (1G / 5A) in 20 games this season.

Nick DeSimone
Vejmelka will start in St. Louis on Tuesday.

Vejmelka did not play in yesterday's 7-3 win over the Nashville Predators, his first rest in nearly two months, but will return to the crease on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. The 28-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.52 GAA and .906 SV% in 57 games this season (26-21-8). Utah HC enters Tuesday's contest as +132 road underdogs against a hungry St. Louis team that can clinch a playoff berth with a regulation victory.

Karel Vejmelka
O'Brien (lower-body) will return to Utah's lineup on Monday in Nashville.

O'Brien has not played since March 14th but will return on Monday against the Nashville Predators. The 30-year-old O'Brien has played 27 games this season, averaging 9:12 time-on-ice and scoring two points (0G / 2A). Kailer Yamamoto will be a healthy scratch to accommodate O'Brien's return to the lineup.

Liam O'Brien
Villalta will start in Nashville on Monday.

After starting 23 consecutive games, Karel Vejmelka will finally have a break on Monday as Villalta will be between the pipes for Utah against the Nashville Predators. Villalta only has two games of NHL experience and has yet to play this season. The 25-year-old goalie has a 3.01 GAA and .906 SV% in 41 games (17-21-3) with the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) this season. Utah enters Monday's contest as -160 road favorites against a Nashville team that has lost seven of their last nine games (2-7-0).

Matt Villalta
Villalta was the first goalie off the ice at Utah's morning skate.

After starting 23 consecutive games, Karel Vejmelka will finally have a break on Monday as Villalta will be between the pipes for Utah against the Nashville Predators. Villalta only has two games of NHL experience and has yet to play this season. The 25-year-old goalie has a 3.01 GAA and .906 SV% in 41 games (17-21-3) with the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) this season. Utah enters Monday's contest as -160 road favorites against a Nashville team that has lost seven of their last nine games (2-7-0).

Matt Villalta
Carcone is expected to be a healthy scratch vs. Nashville on Thursday.

With Alex Kerfoot (illness) returning to the lineup, Carcone will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 28-year-old Carcone scored a goal in Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Seattle Kraken. He has 19 points (7G / 12A) in 53 games this season.

Michael Carcone
Kerfoot (illness) is expected to return to Utah's lineup vs. Nashville on Thursday.

Kerfoot did not play Utah's previous game due to an illness but he will draw back into the lineup on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 30-year-old Kerfoot is averaging 15:17 time-on-ice and has 24 points (11G / 13A) in 77 games this season.

Alex Kerfoot