Utah Mammoth News

With rumours circulating all week that Buffalo was looking to move a few key players, Utah swooped in late Thursday by acquiring the rights to JJ Peterka for forward Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring. Minutes after the trade, Utah announced they had signed Peterka to a 5-year extension worth $7.7M AAV ($38.5M total). The 23-year-old right-winger has made consistent 18-point jumps in each of his first three NHL seasons, finishing 2024-25 with 27 goals, 68 points and 173 SOG in 77 GP after 50 points in 82 games the year before.

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.

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.

Utah acquired DeSimone via waivers and he made an impact with the club, securing a one-year contract extension. The 30-year-old defenseman had six points (1G / 5A) in 20 games with Utah this season.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Perunovich will slot in for Alexander Romanov (undisclosed). Perunovich has appeared in nine games since joining the Islanders earlier this season, registering zero goals and three assists.

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.

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 will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues, allowing Yamamoto to re-enter the lineup. Yamamoto has played 11 games with Utah this season, averaging 12:18 time-on-ice and scoring three points (2G / 1A).

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.

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.

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 will draw back into Utah's lineup on Monday against the Nashville Predators, resulting in Yamamoto being a healthy scratch. Yamamoto has played 11 games with Utah this season, averaging 12:18 time-on-ice and scoring three points (2G / 1A).

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).

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).