Utah Mammoth News

Vejmelka is likely to get the start for the Coyotes in their season opener against the New Jersey Devils on Friday night. Vejmelka is coming off a 50-game campaign (18-24-6) that saw him record a 3.41 GAA and .900 SV% along with three shutouts. The Coyotes should see some improvements on their 28-40-14 record from last season but will be put to the test in their opening matchup against Jack Hughes and the high-flying offence of the Devils.

Tanev was the recipricantt of a high Brett Howden crosscheck which resulted in a two-game suspension and caused the grinding winger to leave after only 10:07 TOI and will now be out for Seattle's game Thursday vs. Nashville. The 31-year-old's absence creates a glaring hole in the Krakens lineup as Tanev had 16 goals, 35 points and a +21 in 82 games played in 2022-23. Rookie Ty Kartye will be making his NHL debut in place of Tanev.

Entering his fourth NHL season, Vanecek is coming off of his busiest campaign which saw him play 52 games (33-11-4) and record a 2.45 GAA and .911 SV%. Vanecek had an extremely strong start to last season before cooling down to a .896 SV% in his final 16 regular season games (9-6-1). His struggles continued in the postseason where he posted a 4.64 GAA and .825 SV% in seven games (4-1-3) and battled for time with Akira Schmid. The two goalies will likely share time in the crease this season unless one can pull away as the clear favourite. The New Jersey Devils are considered a serious Stanley Cup contender this season and open their campaign as -230 home favourites against the Detroit Red Wings.

Tanev left Tuesday's loss in Vegas after a hit to the head from Brett Howden. The Golden Knights' forward was suspended two games for the hit. Tanev did not return to the game, and the Kraken did not provide an update on his status, so consider him questionable for Thursday's game in Nashville. Tye Kartye would likely replace Tanev if he can't play.

Guenther made the Coyotes roster out of training camp last season, tallying 15 points (6G / 9A) in 33 games before finishing his season with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. This year, the ninth overall pick from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft will debut the season in the AHL. Guenther proved that he could compete in the NHL last season and could find his way back with the Coyotes at some point this year.

Rooney had an assist, 14 SOG, seven PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 17 games played with Calgary in 2022-23 but will be forced to miss the start of the 2023-24 season as he is out long-term with an upper-body injury. The 30-year-old forward was expected to battle for one of the Flames' final roster spots but will be added to their injured reserve which is also occupied by Jakub Pelletier (shoulder surgery).

Nate Schmidt did not take part in the Jets' practice Thursday as he is dealing with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day. The 32-year-old defenseman is in his third season with Winnipeg and had seven goals, 12 assists, 101 SOG, 19 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus through 71 games played in 2022-23. The Jets are expecting to have him back before their season opener in October.

McBain had 12 goals, 14 assists, 85 SOG, 64 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 82 games in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $3.2 million contract extension with Arizona. The 23-year-old centre was drafted by Minnesota in the third-round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft (63rd overall) and has 14 goals and 29 points across 92 games and two seasons with Arizona.

Cooley had originally committed to the University of Minnesota (NCAA) for the 2023-24 season but has decided against that decision as he signed a three-year, entry-level contract Thursday with Arizona. The 19-year-old centre was Arizona's 2022 1st round-pick (3rd overall) and had 22 goals, 38 assists, 42 PIMs and a +38 plus/minus through 39 games with the University of Minnesota in 2022-23.

Onyebuchi is an undrafted free agent out of the WHL, that played 81 games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) over the last two seasons. The 6-foot-3, 210 lbs. defenseman has commonly been found among the team's PIMS leaders during his WHL and AHL stays.

Villalta was a third-round pick of the Kings in 2017 and played for their AHL team for the last four seasons. In 2023, Villalta went 12-8-1 with a 2.65 GAA and .910 SV% in 22 games with Ontario (AHL). Villalta will likely start the 2023-24 season in the AHL, as he sits behind Karel Vejmelka, Connor Ingram and Ivan Prosvetov (RFA) on the depth chart.

Kerfoot played the last four years in Toronto, where he had a career-high 51 points (13G / 38A) in 82 games during the 2022 season. His role diminished in 2023 and he finished with just 32 points (10G / 22A) in 82 games. Kerfoot has the versatility to play all three positions and will likely move up and down the Coyotes' lineup throughout the 2023-24 season.

Stenlund had six goals, three assists, 63 SOG, 20 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 54 games with Winnipeg in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $1.0 million contract with Florida. The 26-year-old Centre was drafted in the second-round of the 2015 NHL Draft (58th overall) by Columbus and has 17 goals, 29 points and 168 SOG through 125 NHL games played in his career.

Yamamoto was dealt to the Red Wings alongside Klim Kostin for future considerations on Thursday and has now been placed on unconditional waivers with the purpose of a buyout. The 24-year-old right-winger had 10 goals, 15 assists, 97 SOG, 24 PIMs and a +12 plus/minus through 58 games with Edmonton in 2022-23 and will test the free agency on July 1st. The winger has played six NHL seasons, racking up 118 points (50G/68A) in 244 career NHL games.

Yamamoto has one year left on his deal that carries a $3.1M cap hit. The move provides the Oilers with some much-needed cap space and gives the Red Wings added depth on the wing. Yamamoto was the No.22 overall pick in 2017 and has 118 points (50G / 68A) in 244 career games with the Oilers. Most recently, he had 10 goals and 15 assists (25 points) in 58 games during the 2022-23 season.

Agozzino had a goal and two assists with nine SOG through four games with San Jose in 2022-23 and has been traded to Anaheim for Andrej Sustr. The 32-year-old travelling left-winger has three goals, and 12 points across 51 NHL games played.

Perunovich spent much of his 2022-23 nursing an injury but still collected two goals and 20 points across 22 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL). The 24-year-old defenseman was impressive representing the United States as the World Championships, putting up eight points (1G/7A) across 10 games played.

Durzi had nine goals, 38 points, 110 SOG, 50 PIMs and a -12 plus/minus through 72 games in 2022-23 with Los Angeles but has been traded to the Arizona Coyotes for a 2024 2nd Round Pick (via Montreal). The 24-year-old heads to the desert having collected 136 career NHL games with Los Angeles, picking up 65 points across that span (12G/53A).