Perhaps Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito pulled off the biggest stunt this free agency season. After a spectacular season culminating in a second consecutive Stanley Cup win, Zito shocked the community by re-signing star trio Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand, handing handsome contracts to each.
On the other hand, Mitch Marner broke his long association with the Toronto Maple Leafs to join the Vegas Golden Knights.
While it was evident that Florida’s front office was desperate to keep the championship roster, Zito’s feat meant significant heartbreak for those looking to land talent like Marchand or Bennett. Among them, the Utah Mammoth stands out.
The Mammoth couldn’t make the playoffs despite their exceptional form towards the end of the season, when they won six of their nine final games. The front office is looking to remedy that in the upcoming season.
The team acquired J.J. Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres, but signing Marchand, Bennett, or Marner could have taken the team to the next level. An NHL insider has shared his thoughts about the Mammoth’s free agency moves.
Elliotte Friedman Analyzes the Utah Mammoth’s Free Agency Moves
In a recent episode of the “32 Thoughts” podcast, Elliotte Friedman weighed in on the Mammoth’s decisions this offseason. Friedman believes that Peterka was the team’s most significant acquisition, and while he has a great career ahead of him, Friedman cannot help but wonder what the Mammoth’s offer to Marchand would have been had it come to that.
“You know, Peterka obviously was the big one,” Friedman said. “That gets a lot of attention. He’s a scorer, a very young scorer. You know, Utah wanted to swing big. I would love to know if Brad Marchand had hit the open market, what Utah would have offered them, and what Toronto would have offered them.”
Elliotte Friedman: Even if Utah didn’t get some of their number one targets, guys like Sam Bennett, Mitch Marner, Brad Marchand, they still made good fits; I still think they need some meat up there, Brandon Tanev helps – 32 Thoughts Podcast
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 14, 2025
The Mammoth needs more power, and signing forward Brandon Tanev is an excellent step in that direction. On July 2, the Utah front office announced that Tanev would join the team on a three-year, $7.5 million contract with an average annual value of $2.5 million. Friedman recognizes the merit of this decision.
“They needed bangers. Tanev is perfect for them,” Friedman said.
Similarly, the insider also approves of the decision to land Nate Schmidt. The veteran defenseman, fresh off a championship with the Panthers, signed a three-year, $10.5 million contract with the Mammoth on July 1.
Overall, Friedman believes this offseason was a successful shopping spree for the Mammoth, even if they didn’t land the big names.
“I think that even if they didn’t get some of their number one targets, who I believe were guys like Bennett, and Marner, and Marchand, they still made good fits, and they weren’t irresponsible with their contracts. I still think they need some meat up there,” Friedman said.
The Mammoth may lack the star power that could have come with players like Bennett, Marner, and Marchand. Still, the team has a solid core of promising young hockey players, with Peterka, Dylan Guenther, Clayton Keller, and Logan Cooley leading the charge.
Moreover, the team drafted Caleb Desnoyers with the No. 4 overall pick this year, further strengthening the roster. On the other hand, veterans like Tanev and Schmidt bring considerable experience to the young team.
