The Utah Mammoth may be the NHL’s newest franchise, but one veteran defenseman believes they’re already on a championship trajectory. Fresh off a Stanley Cup victory with the Florida Panthers, Nate Schmidt sees striking similarities between his new team and the champions he just left behind.
Why Does Nate Schmidt See Stanley Cup Potential in Utah?
The Utah Mammoth is the latest addition to the National Hockey League even though the team finished sixth in the Central Division of the Western Conference. With a roster studded with gems like Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther, Logan Cooley, and the recently acquired forward J.J.
Getting Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring and making the playoffs doesn’t seem very far-fetched.
Additionally, a 33-year-old defenseman who was part of the Florida Panthers when the team secured their Stanley Cup victory this year against the Edmonton Oilers believes the Mammoth are already on their way to a Cup victory.
After his brief stint with the Panthers, veteran defenseman Nate Schmidt secured a three-year contract with the Mammoth, worth $10.5 million with a cap hit of $3.5 million. Riding high on the wave of championship glory, Schmidt already looks forward to another, and this time, with the Utah outfit.
Schmidt to Utah!
We’ve signed Stanley Cup Champion Nate Schmidt to a three-year contract. pic.twitter.com/lbEpLG9WfT
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) July 1, 2025
Furthermore, the defenseman believes the Mammoth has much in common with the Panthers. “It kind of, in a lot of ways, mimics Florida and how they went through the draft, had a bunch of guys grow up together, and then start to make noise later as they got on in their careers. And that’s how I see this team. That’s something that kind of excited me. You see that type of trajectory again and see how it worked.”
What Parallels Does Schmidt Draw Between Utah and Championship Teams?
Schmidt also believes the Mammoth has much in common with the Vegas Golden Knights. The Knights are a strong Cup contender and, despite the team’s newness, have been able to leave quite a mark already. The Knights captured a conference title in their debut season and won the Cup in 2023, securing another conference title the same year.
However, the Mammoth exhibited considerable talent in 2024-25 but couldn’t overcome the St. Louis Blues to secure a playoff berth. “The Mammoth made a late push for the postseason, winning six of their final nine games (6-2-1), but they were unable to reel in the Blues for that last playoff spot.”
Meanwhile, Schmidt, who has played with teams like the Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets, Panthers, and Knights, brings considerable experience to a team with a young core.
Considering his time with the Panthers in 2024-25, he also brings the championship spirit. “This team plays hard, and they have more than just a couple of skilled guys. It’s becoming a more complete team, and the defensemen are a lot more veteran now.”
Schmidt has accumulated 239 points over 741 regular-season games and added 40 more in 99 playoff games. With his experience and the likes of Peterka and Keller, the Mammoth could lift the Cup sooner rather than later.
