Dmitri Simashev, center, practices at Utah Mammoth rookie camp at Utah Mammoth Ice Center in Sandy on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 (Tess Crowley, Deseret News).
(Tess Crowley, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – As the leaves begin to change and temperatures cool off; hockey has returned to the Wasatch front as the Utah Mammoth’s training camp officially kicked off this week with a collection of practices.
Featuring a handful of new players and young prospects battling for roster spots, Utah’s first week of training has been incredibly productive.
So, with a few days in the books, can we definitively say that any of Utah’s prospects are ready to play in the NHL?
Let’s take a closer look at their performances and what’s been said thus far.
The million-dollar question everybody wants an answer to.
Will any of Utah’s young prospects make the opening night roster this season?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear answer to that question as it’s only been three days since camp started and Utah has yet to play a game.
However, what we can discuss is how each young player has fared thus far and whether or not there’s a legitimate spot for them to claim.
Let’s begin with the defense.
Following the departure of Ian Cole and Sean Durzi this past offseason, there are now two spots up for grabs on the third defensive pairing.
Which players are legitimately in the conversation for those spots?
Dmitri Simashev, Maveric Lamouruex, Andrew Peeke and Nick DeSimone.
Two young prospects against a pair of seasoned veterans who’ve played their fair share of NHL games.
So, do the young guys even stand a chance?
According to head coach Andre Tourigny, they do.
“He’s [Lamoureux] a shutdown defenseman who has to be physical, but has to be smart as well,” Tourigny said of Lamoureux. “I think in the NHL today, the physicality is really important in his role, but as well, he needs to be able to defend and make the right reads. And I think on that, he’s heading in the right direction.”
“We like what we see and he’s in the competition for a spot, absolutely.”
For Lamoureux, he’s facing a make it or break scenario as he enters year five in the pipeline.
With that in mind, the 22-year-old knows exactly what he needs to do in order to make the team.
“My game is more mature,” Lamoureux told KSL Sports in regard to his confidence to make the team this year. “My mind is not racing as much…I know I can play in this league & I know I can play right from the start of the season.”
Lamoureux on his confidence to make the team this year:
“My game is more mature…my mind is not racing as much…I know I can play in this league & I know I can play right from the start of the season.” pic.twitter.com/Won75ZttrP
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) September 19, 2026
As the young defenseman noted, he’s focused on playing a very mature game this week.
He’s not forcing things or trying to be something he’s not, but rather, he understands his role on the ice and has simplified his approach to better his chances of landing a spot.
“I’m there to defend and be hard to play against,” he said. “I’m there to be physical on the ice, to play simple, to move the puck quick, and to jump in the rush when I can.”
“I am not here to score goals or to be fancy, but to be simple and hard to play against…I feel like I’m at this point now that I am ready.”
Watch for Lamoureux to assert himself physically and likely drop the gloves once or twice during his preseason appearances.
The opportunity is there.
The question is whether or not he can seize it.
As for Simashev, the 21-year-old from Russia has impressed all week by locking down the defensive zone, moving the puck, making the right reads, and occasionally jumping into the offense.
Little scrimmage during practice today.
Simashev scores on a penalty shot after being tripped up by Lamoureux. pic.twitter.com/b4Lz3Z8e1s
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) September 19, 2026
To be completely honest, it’s hard to imagine Simashev not making the team to begin the year based on what he’s accomplished and how he’s progressed over the last 12 months.
With that being said, nobody is a lock and he’ll still have to earn his spot.
Through just a handful of practices, Utah’s top forward prospects have already proven that they can compete at this level.
As each skater attempts to capture a spot, Tij Iginla has battled ferociously with a few moments of razzle dazzle while Caleb Desnoyers has utilized his speed to make plays and Daniil But has demonstrated his power.
Watch this crafty play by Iginla.
Battles with Trocheck along the boards, retrieves the puck, goes between his legs to bypass the defender, and then threads a pass between two others to a high danger area.
Pass wasn’t tape to tape but that’s a great effort. pic.twitter.com/FA7p0FhnX6
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) September 18, 2026
“I think he was strong in his battles,” Tourigny said of Iginla. “[He] was rock solid in his positioning down low as well. He was good in the d-zone and d-zone drills. He had a really good day.”
“Great speed, great pop,” He said of Desnoyers. “There’s a lot of teaching. This is his first time on the ice with us…I like the way he carries himself. I like the way he thinks the game. I like his speed; I like his stick. There’s a lot to like.”
Like Tourigny pointed out, both players have impressed during the first week of camp as they both look stronger and faster than before.
Here’s the catch though.
With the additions of Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee, where do they fit in the lineup?
You’re not going to stick either of those guys on a checking line and fourth line minutes would be a complete waste as they’d be better off playing top minutes in the AHL.
Not to say that it’s impossible for Desnoyers or Iginla to make the opening night roster, but stealing a job became significantly more difficult once Utah added Lee and Trocheck this summer.
What about But?
Given his size, frame and style, Daniil But likely stands a better chance as of now to make Utah’s opening roster.
“He’s bigger, more confident, stronger, and he can make plays,” Tourigny said of But starting the week with Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz. “We know eventually he’s a guy who will be able to play that kind of a role.”
“What we want to know is, where is he? Is he ready now? A year away? Six months away? We have a window here to give him a real good look with that kind of a line. Then it’ll be up to us to make the decision. First, we need to give him the opportunity…we like what we saw. He’s powerful, he went at the net.”
The advantage But has over Iginla and Desnoyers is that he can play outside of the top six.
While he spent the first two days with Schmaltz and Keller on the top line, he eventually transitioned to play alongside Carcone on Saturday and continued to play well.
Using his frame and power, But has consistently crashed on the forecheck, generated several turnovers, gone to the net and looked for his shot.
“I want to show that I’m ready for the NHL,” But told KSL Sports. “I’m trying to use my power to win battles, go to the net, my shot, scoring goals.”
“Way more [confidence] than last [year] to be honest.”
Again, But likely stands the best chance as of now to steal a job but it’s not because he’s necessarily better or that there’s anything wrong with 77 or 18.
It’s simply situational.
Utah’s forward group got a lot deeper this summer, especially amongst the top six which made it much more difficult for Iginla or Desnoyers to claim a spot.
But simply has an easier path given the opportunities in the bottom six.
However, all things considered, there’s still plenty of time remaining in training camp and anything could happen.
For now, it’s up to the players to perform and make the coaching staff’s job incredibly difficult before the regular season begins on October 1.
The Utah Mammoth will face the Colorado Avalanche in their first preseason matchup on Sunday at 5 p.m. MT.
The game will be available on SEG+.
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. Follow him on X. You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
