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Utah Mammoth News

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
Rooney is not expected to play Thursday in Los Angeles.

Officially eliminated from playoff contention, the Flames will give Rooney the night off in their season-finale on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 31-year-old Rooney ends the 2024-25 campaign with 10 points (5G / 5A) in 70 games.

Kevin Rooney
Vanecek will start in Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

The Panthers will turn to Vanecek between the pipes on Tuesday in their final game of the regular season, facing off against the Tampa Bay Lightning in a potential first-round playoff preview. The 29-year-old Vanecek played well in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout win over the Buffalo Sabres. The Czech netminder has a 2.66 GAA and .900 SV% in six games with Florida this season (2-3-1). The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest as +168 road underdogs against the Lightning.

Vitek Vanecek
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