SALT LAKE CITY – While opening night against the Chicago Blackhawks is still 48 days away, Utah Mammoth hockey will return to the ice in just a few short weeks.
Before the NHL skaters hit the ice for training camp in Mid-September, Utah’s deep pool of prospects will have a chance to prove themselves during rookie camp which begs the question:
Will any Utah Mammoth prospects make the opening night roster?
Stepping into year six of the rebuild, the Utah Mammoth have reached a point where each training camp will be even more competitive than the last.
With several players stepping into their prime, young stars continuing to break out, deeper talent joining the roster via free agency or the trade market and a collection of young prospects knocking on the door, every player will have to fight for a job.
So, which of Utah’s prospects stand a legitimate chance to potentially take one of those jobs?
While anything could happen, the likes of Dmitri Simashev, Tij Iginla, Caleb Desnoyers, Daniil But and Maveric Lamoureux likely stand the best chance.
Entering his fourth year in the pipeline, it’s time for 21-year-old defenseman Dmitri Simashev to make Utah’s opening night roster and stick.
Despite bouncing between the NHL and AHL last season, Simashev was nearly a point per game player in Tucson (35 points in 40 appearances) while showing flashes of potential during his 28 games in a Mammoth sweater.
Heading into the 2026-27 campaign, the young defenseman will have his best opportunity to secure a full-time NHL position in Salt Lake City.
“I have Simashev penciled in as the left side of the third pair,” Utah Mammoth Radio Play-by-Play Announcer Mike Folta said on the latest episode of the Utah Hockey Podcast. “When you look at the depth on defense, you’ve got seven D after the signing of Andrew Peeke and Nick DeSimone.”
“I’m putting Simashev in that seven as well. I thought Simashev did a lot of really good things last year. He needed more confidence with the puck, and I think he got a lot of that in Tucson.”
Dmitri Simashev TAKES THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/QJApnfkL8b
— Tucson Roadrunners (@RoadrunnersAHL) December 20, 2025
Dmitri Simashev SCORES THE GAME WINNING GOAL IN OT pic.twitter.com/wGk7lXgPPg
— Tucson Roadrunners (@RoadrunnersAHL) December 13, 2025
With the departure of Ian Cole and Sean Durzi this offseason, Simashev’s time has come with two jobs up for grabs.
As Folta pointed out, while he lacked confidence on the puck in the NHL a year ago, a productive season in the AHL should have him fully prepared to take that left spot on the third pairing and never look back.
As it currently stands, I have Simashev making the opening night roster and playing a full season in a Mammoth sweater.
Based on their development and performances over the last year, I anticipate that Tij Iginla or Caleb Desnoyers will make the opening night roster with a slight advantage currently in favor of the first ever draft selection in Utah’s history.
That doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily play the entire season in the NHL, but I’m anticipating we’ll see one on October 1.
“With the upside of Desnoyers & Iginla, they can also filter into the top two lines…Caleb & Tij have the ability to come in and make our team…there’s openings,” Bill Armstrong noted this summer.
Without question, No. 12 was the most impressive prospect at Utah’s most recent development camp as he made his intentions incredibly clear.
“I think I’m ready,” Iginla said in regard to whether or not he’s ready to make an NHL roster this season. “I’m looking forward to a big summer of training and pushing it hard in the gym. I feel ready.”
“My goal is definitely to make the team this year.”
What followed was proof of his intentions as he was laser focused, took every drill seriously, dominated the competition and eventually registered a hat-trick in the scrimmage.
Iginla’s speed and creativity on full display this afternoon.
So dangerous every shift. pic.twitter.com/7oTkOeFgDq
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) July 2, 2026
While nobody is going to make an NHL roster out of development camp, what stood out about No. 12 was his mindset.
He simply looked like a player that is ready to make the team.
“No one is making the team out of development camp. But the goal coming in here is to plant that seed. … Put that in the minds of people that are watching and stuff,” he said at the camps conclusion.
As for Desnoyers, watch him for just a few moments and his hockey IQ absolutely jumps off of the page.
Demonstrated throughout the development scrimmage, “Desy” was everywhere as he battled along the boards, delivered checks, generated turnovers, lit the lamp, facilitated with ease and was a constant danger every single shift.
Similar to Keller, Desnoyers has the ability to patiently survey the zone while keeping things moving and swiftly locating the most dangerous option.
Additionally, Desy’s 6-foot-2 frame generally gives him a size advantage in a lot of situations while he appears to possess even more speed than before.
In terms of Desnoyers’ latest injury status, while nothing has been announced at this point, that is likely a good sign.
Really awkward tumble here involving Caleb Desnoyers.
He exited the game in what appeared to be a significant amount of pain. pic.twitter.com/eZF7avWi57
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) August 1, 2026
If it was a serious or lengthy injury, we likely would’ve heard something by this point although we’ll have a better idea of where he’s at once rookie camp begins.
Related: Caleb Desnoyers leaves game early after suffering leg injury during Summer Showcase
Now, to be clear, it’s still going to be incredibly difficult for either Iginla or Desnoyers to claim a spot as Utah’s roster has never been deeper.
If either of them makes the squad that means the Mammoth will have to figure out what to do with one of their scratches (Brandon Tanev or Liam O’Brien).
A tough position to be in but a good problem to have as the Mammoth continue to become more competitive.
To preface, Daniil But is a player with incredible potential.
Standing 6-foot-3, 203 pounds, But is a towering power forward with good hands and a wicked shot which he utilized to dominate the AHL as nearly a point per game player last season (39 points in 41 appearances).
Daniil But putting us UP BY 2. Daniil Bah ah ah ah ah T (BECAUSE HE’S THE GOAT) pic.twitter.com/7XUg0utMGt
— Tucson Roadrunners (@RoadrunnersAHL) October 19, 2025
However, part of the reason he was eventually sent back down to Tucson last year is that we have yet to see that same confidence in his game at the NHL level as he consistently struggled to finish Grade A scoring chances and at times just simply looked lost.
For those reasons, I don’t anticipate But making the opening night roster unless he has an absolutely perfect training camp which likely means even more time in Tucson.
The good news for But though is that we will likely see him at some point as injuries are inevitable and he’s laser focused on returning to Salt Lake City as soon as possible.
“I want to play the entire season in the NHL,” But told thehockeywriters.com in a recent interview. “All I can say is that I believe in myself, and I think everything will work out for me.”
Stepping into his fifth year in the pipeline, it’s been a long journey for defenseman Maveric Lamoureux.
After navigating a few injuries early in his career and despite playing some NHL minutes during Utah’s inaugural campaign, Lamoureux just hasn’t quite found his footing enough to earn a full-time job.
When Mav is at his best, he’s using his 6-foot-6 size to lock down forwards, clear the net front, interrupt shooting/passing lanes and dropping the mitts.
But what’s held him back is that at times he wants to do too much which simply isn’t his game.
He’s not a Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar type of player and that’s okay.
Rather, he’s a towering lengthy D-man who can shut down anybody and make it hard for teams to get to the front of the net.
Once he figures that out, he’ll have a great chance to claim a spot as a door has recently opened for Lamoureux on Utah’s bottom pairing, although he’d have to beat out Andrew Peeke and Nick DeSimone in order to do so.
“Lest we forget about Maveric Lamoureux,” Folta said. “A former first-round pick who had a really good season in the AHL.”
“He’s a little bit further down the depth chart so he would have to steal somebody’s spot to get a job but he’s still here. He’s going to be coming into camp expecting to make the team. That’s going to be his mindset.”
Rookie camp is expected to begin in early September with the showcase scheduled for September 12 to the 15.
