SALT LAKE CITY – For those who watched the first-round series between the Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Mammoth this past spring, there was a pretty blatant discrepancy between the two clubs through each of those games.
While the Mammoth utilized their speed and young talent to generate dangerous scoring opportunities, the Golden Knights simply overwhelmed Utah physically which ultimately led to a 4-2 series victory in round one.
So, what have the Mammoth done to counteract the outcome of their first ever playoff appearance?
Amongst other adjustments to the roster, Utah added two, gritty, nasty, net-front type players in Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee who should offer exactly what the club was missing against Vegas.
Of the 23 goals the Vegas Golden Knights scored in the first round against Utah, 14 of them could be considered dirty goals.
As demonstrated throughout the series, the Knights dominated the front of the net as they consistently won 50-50 position battles near the crease, screened Karel Vejmelka and successfully tormented the defense by finishing a plethora second chance opportunities.
FIND A WAY, SIS ✂️ pic.twitter.com/ce9QZGffmB
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 20, 2026
EXPRESSIVE!!! MARK!!! STONE!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/Y748AAQBVZ
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 20, 2026
Meanwhile, of the 18 goals scored by the Mammoth, only five of those could be considered dirty as they simply could not compete with the Knights in front of the net.
Upon examination, that didn’t sit well with the front office.
“When we internally broke down our team, a lot of it had to do with the Vegas series,” Utah GM Bill Armstrong told KSL Sports. “We have to get to the inside. We’ve got to play harder on the inside.”
“You have to have people who are designated to be net front guys and they own the front. To the Barrett Hayton’s of the world to the Vinny Trocheck and Anders Lee, who is a master at it, you can just feel we’re going to be a harder team to play against when we get to the middle of the ice.”
As Armstrong pointed out, Utah took a very calculated approach to the offseason with a desire to be tougher and more physical in front of the net.
After moving on from players such as Alexander Kerfoot and JJ Peterka who simply couldn’t live up to that expectation, the Mammoth brought in two ferocious and experienced forwards who’ve made most of their living by hunting for pucks in close.
Standing 6-foot-3, 234 pounds, 14-year veteran Anders Lee is a pure power forward known for his net-front presence, physicality, scoring touch, and proven leadership as an eight-year captain of the New York Islanders.
“I like to do a lot of the dirty work for the guys on my line,” Lee said. “Get in front of the net & try to create some havoc for the goaltender.”
“Allow the skill guys to do their thing…[I’ll] try to put something dirty in the net.”
Anders Lee shares what he brings to the Mammoth roster:
“I like to do a lot of the dirty work for the guys on my line…get in front of the net & try to create some havoc for the goaltender.”
“Allow the skill guys to do their thing…[I’ll] try to put something dirty in the net.” pic.twitter.com/6fiCICpSV3
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) July 10, 2026
Anders Lee wasn’t kidding today when he said he plans to create havoc around the net for Utah. pic.twitter.com/zO4t8JWiSa
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) July 11, 2026
As for Trocheck, while not as big as Lee, he too likes to use his body as he plays a hard-nosed, agitating style of hockey that produces dirty goals while getting under the skin of the opposition.
DOUBLE OT GAME WINNER FOR THE HOME TEAM! 🚨
Vincent Trocheck is the Game 2 hero for the Rangers as he scores the @SUBWAYCanada OT winner. pic.twitter.com/LIRRm5dKuL
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 8, 2024
Additionally, No. 16 is also a faceoff specialist with a ton of skill and strong two-way instincts which make him a versatile weapon that Utah has long since coveted.
VINCENT TROCHECK ON THE POWER PLAY! 🤌🤌 pic.twitter.com/Fs6dR286Cc
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 29, 2024
“I also like to use my size,” Trocheck said. “I play a similar style [to Lee]. It’s a lot of dirty work. Hard on the forecheck, gritty-style game, play two hundred feet. Play on the penalty kill, power play, wherever I can.”
The approach this offseason was clear.
Get bigger, stronger, nastier and more aggressive in front of the net by acquiring two of the guys who were at the very top of their list.
Not that it will necessarily solve all of their problems, but it will certainly make them more competitive and should serve them well in the playoffs where grit and physicality often win the day.
Just as the reigning Stanley Cup Champions demonstrated this summer, a combination of speed, finesse, physicality and grit is often a great recipe for success.
For a team that already has all the speed and skill in the world, adding Trocheck and Lee will give them that extra edge to potentially win more games and possibly a playoff series or two next spring.
