Utah Mammoth Poised for Playoff Push Following Weegar Trade

The Utah Mammoth were quiet on the actual NHL Trade Deadline day, having made zero moves. However, they’re still gearing up for a run towards their first Stanley Cup Playoff appearance in franchise history. On Wednesday, they made a big trade, acquiring MacKenzie Weegar from the Calgary Flames. 

It certainly came as a surprise because there weren’t any rumours of the Mammoth having interest in a defenceman. Instead, the talk among Utah was getting a top-six centre, but that didn’t materialize.

It’s unlikely that the Mammoth will catch the top three teams in the Central division. However, Utah remains in the first Wild Card Playoff position in the Western Conference, six points clear of the Seattle Kraken. They’re hoping Weegar will help push them over the finish line. 

Mammoth Hope Weegar Addition Boosts Playoff Chances

Adding Weegar shows that general manager Bill Armstrong is confident that his current squad could not only make the playoffs, but perhaps go on a run. The Mammoth sent Olli Maatta, prospect Jonathan Castagna, and three second-round picks in this year’s draft to get the 32-year-old from the Flames.

Maatta was stuck outside the rotation for some time, so moving his contract out for Weegar’s made sense. Moreover, he had recently helped Finland win a bronze medal at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Castagna, a former third-round pick, is currently playing at Cornell University. 

This was a great move for Utah because they bolstered an already excellent defence without giving up any of their top prospects or picks. It also gives the Mammoth flexibility to use the assets in the summer and get another top player if they choose. Utah’s ranked fourth in the NHL in goals allowed, and Weegar will only help in that department. 

Once Mikhail Sergachev returns from injury, Weegar will likely play on the top defence pair alongside him. Sean Durzi will drop to the second pair. The defence will deploy a group of Weegar, Sergachev, Durzi, Ian Cole, Nate Schmidt, and John Marino. 

What does Weegar Bring to Utah?

Weegar’s a guy that can do just about everything. He’s a right-handed blueliner that can put up points, block shots, hit, and play both the left and right sides. Weegar has 22 points, 128 shots, 147 blocked shots, and 135 hits in 62 games this season while averaging 23:04 of ice time. Although his offence has taken a hit due to the Flames’ struggles this season, he’ll still play a big role for the Mammoth. 

Two key reasons Weegar was brought into Utah are his ability to move the puck and his active stick. The Mammoth already have a few stay-at-home guys, so having Weegar adds a more dynamic element to the defence.

Weegar will look to bounce back and find his offensive game again. His career-high in points is 81, which was in 2021-2022 with the Florida Panthers. He was also involved in the blockbuster trade that sent Matthew Tkachuk to the Panthers.

He’s in the third year of an eight-year, $50 million contract. 

Besides his on-ice skills, Weegar also brings more experience and veteran leadership to Utah. While they already have older veterans like Cole (37) and Schmidt (34) on defence, Weegar was an alternate captain for the Flames. Per Elite Prospects, the Mammoth are in the middle of the pack, ranked 17th with an average age of 28. 

The former seventh-round pick by Florida in 2013 made his Mammoth debut in Saturday’s 5-4 overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. He logged 23:21 and recorded an assist, two hits, and blocked three shots. 

Head coach Andre Tourigny coached Weegar on Canada’s national team at the 2024 World Championship. 

Looking Ahead

The Mammoth conclude their five-game road trip on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. The Wild are one of the top teams in the division. Karel Vejmelka will look to continue the best season of his career. He became the first goaltender in the NHL to reach 30 wins this year.

The Mammoth certainly have their eyes on the playoffs.