Vanessa: You are looking at the deepest center group in franchise history, and it is causing a serious headache for Steve Yzerman’s front office. The Utah Mammoth have Vincent Trocheck, Logan Cooley, Barrett Hayton, Nick Schmaltz, Jack McBain, and six other centers on the roster. How do you fit them all? And more importantly, who is making the opening night lineup against Chicago?
Nick: It is a beautiful problem to have, Vanessa, but only if you can execute the neutral-zone trap effectively with that much speed. We are talking about a logjam that will define our regular season.
Vanessa: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, the number one daily sports podcast network! I am Vanessa, and this is your daily Utah Mammoth show. Joining me as always is our lead analyst, Nick.
Nick: Good morning, everyone. It is September 3rd, 2026. The preseason is wrapping up, and the real work begins now.
Vanessa: Today is all about roster battles. We are breaking down the three most critical position groups where minutes are being fought over. First, we tackle the undeniable center logjam and figure out who sits on the bench. Second, we look at the left wing competition between Lawson Crouse, Brandon Tanev, and Anders Lee. And third, we decide who is actually starting in net when the puck drops on October 2nd against the Blackhawks.
Nick: We also need to talk about John Marino’s new eight-year, $54 million extension and how that anchors our blue line amidst the defensive depth chart.
Vanessa: Let’s dive straight into Segment One. The biggest battle in camp right now is undeniably at center ice. We have Vincent Trocheck, acquired from the Rangers, sitting next to Logan Cooley, Barrett Hayton, who just matched an offer sheet from New Jersey, and Nick Schmaltz. That is four top-six caliber centers before you even get to McBain or Hebig.
Nick: Exactly. And from a tactical standpoint, the competition isn't just about skill; it is about forechecking pressure and zone entry efficiency. Trocheck brings a physicality and two-way responsibility that Cooley sometimes lacks, but Cooley has the elite playmaking vision that Trocheck doesn't quite match in transition.
Vanessa: So, where does Barrett Hayton fit? He just signed that one-year, $4.775 million deal after matching the Devils' offer sheet. He has been here for years, he knows the system, but now you have Trocheck coming in with that Stanley Cup pedigree.
Nick: Hayton is going to be the victim of this logjam, unfortunately. He is a restricted free agent who just got locked in, which gives the team control, but it limits his trade value slightly compared to an unrestricted free agent. I think he gets pushed to the fourth line or used as a penalty kill specialist early on because Trocheck and Cooley are too good to sit.
Vanessa: That seems harsh for a guy who stayed loyal. But let's look at the power play unit. If you are running a PP1, are you putting Trocheck on the point or in the slot? Because having both him and Schmaltz creates a massive bottleneck in the offensive zone.
Nick: Schmaltz needs the puck. He is a distributor first. Trocheck is more of a finisher and a board-walker. I think you see Trocheck moving to the right side of the circle to create space for Schmaltz to operate in the middle. But then you have to ask: what happens to Jack McBain? He is a great faceoff man, but does he have the offensive upside to stay above Cameron Hebig or Liam O'Brien?
Vanessa: I think McBain holds the fourth-line center spot because of his defensive reliability, but Hebig is the player to watch. If Hebig shows he can drive play in the neutral zone, he might force McBain into a bottom-six role permanently. This is a crowded house, Nick.
Nick: It is crowded, but it is also deep. The risk is that you dilute the quality of the bottom six. If you are playing Trocheck, Cooley, Schmaltz, and McBain, you have four very skilled players who might not all click defensively. That is where the penalty kill suffers.
Vanessa: Speaking of defense, let’s pivot to the blue line. John Marino just signed that massive eight-year, $54 million extension. That is a long-term commitment. How does that change the dynamic with Mikhail Sergachev and MacKenzie Weegar?
Nick: It solidifies the top pairing. You have Sergachev and Marino as your heavy hitters, and Weegar provides that shutdown capability. The issue is Nate Schmidt and Andrew Peeke. They are fighting for the third-pairing spots, and with Dmitri Simashev and Terrell Goldsmith pushing from below, it is a cutthroat environment for those last two D-man slots.
Vanessa: Simashev is young. Does he have the experience to compete with Schmidt right now? Schmidt has been in the league a long time.
Nick: Schmidt has the experience, but Simashev has the upside. If Simashev wins the training camp battle, he could push Pete DeBoer to make a tough decision on veteran contracts later in the year. For now, though, Marino is untouchable. He is the anchor.
Vanessa: Let’s move to Segment Two. We have talked centers and defense. Now let’s look at the wings. You acquired Anders Lee in free agency. He is a captain type. But you also have Lawson Crouse, Brandon Tanev, and Michael Carcone. Who is winning the left-wing spots?
Nick: Anders Lee is almost certainly a top-six winger. His shot and his net-front presence are exactly what you want against teams like Chicago. But the battle for the other spots is fierce. Lawson Crouse brings size and scoring potential, while Brandon Tanev brings the grit and penalty killing.
Vanessa: Tanev is a fan favorite for his energy. But does he beat out Crouse for a top-nine spot? Crouse has more offensive upside.
Nick: Crouse has the upside, but Tanev is a proven winner. In a tight Central Division race, you might prefer Tanev’s defensive reliability. However, if Dylan Guenther is having that breakout season we predicted—around 40 goals—he needs skilled wingers to feed him. That might push Tanev to the fourth line.
Vanessa: Right. So maybe the line looks like Cooley-Trocheck-Guenther? Or is Cooley better on the left?
Nick: Cooley is a center, so he stays in the middle. You probably see Trocheck on the right, Guenther on the left, and someone like Kailer Yamamoto or Clayton Keller cutting inside. Wait, Keller is on the right wing? Yes, he is listed as RW. So you have a lot of skill on the right side.
Vanessa: Kailer Yamamoto and Clayton Keller both on the right. That means they are competing for ice time directly. Yamamoto is faster, but Keller has the playmaking vision. This is a luxury problem, but it means one of them is going to be frustrated.
Nick: Yamamoto is likely the odd man out unless he shows he can kill penalties effectively. His defensive game has always been a question mark. If he can’t contribute on the PK, he loses minutes to someone like Ben McCartney or Andrew Agozzino who can grind it out.
Vanessa: Let’s talk about the goalies. This is the final big battle. You have five goaltenders on the roster: Michael Hrabal, Colten McIntyre, Jaxson Stauber, Anson Thornton, and Karel Vejmelka. Who is starting?
Nick: This is wild. Five goalies? Usually, teams carry two. You have three extra guys. Hrabal and Stauber seem to be the frontrunners based on recent performance, but Vejmelka has the veteran presence. Thornton and McIntyre are likely trying to earn their keep.
Vanessa: I feel like Hrabal has the edge. He has been developing in the system. But Stauber is a reliable back-up. Do you think Pete DeBoer carries three goalies into the opener?
Nick: Unlikely. He will probably send one of the younger guys down to the AHL. I suspect Hrabal starts the opener against Chicago, with Stauber as the clear number two. Vejmelka might be a trade chip if another team needs a vet.
Vanessa: If they trade Vejmelka, does that open up a spot for Thornton? Or is Thornton strictly an AHL starter?
Nick: Thornton is likely an AHL starter. He is too raw for the NHL right now. So the battle is really between Hrabal and Stauber for that number two job. Whoever loses that battle goes to Salt Lake City.
Vanessa: Stick with us. We are coming back with Segment Three, where we predict exactly who makes the final 23-man roster and who gets sent down. Don't go anywhere.
Vanessa: Welcome back. In Segment Three, we are making our final roster predictions. Let’s start with the centers. Who is the last center to make the team?
Nick: Jack McBain. He is the most complete two-way forward among the extras. Hebig is talented, but McBain’s faceoff percentage and defensive awareness make him indispensable for a playoff run.
Vanessa: Agreed. Now, the left wing. Anders Lee is in. What about Crouse, Tanev, and Carcone? Who makes the cut?
Nick: Lawson Crouse and Brandon Tanev. Carcone is likely the odd man out. He doesn’t bring enough to the table offensively to offset his defensive liabilities, and Tanev’s penalty killing saves more points than Carcone’s occasional spark plays.
Vanessa: And the defensemen? With Marino, Sergachev, and Weegar locked in, who are the other three?
Nick: MacKenzie Weegar is already counted. So you need three more. I think it is Andrew Peeke, Nate Schmidt, and Terrell Goldsmith. Goldsmith is the wildcard, but if he impresses in preseason, he takes the last spot over Simashev.
Vanessa: So our predicted opening night roster against Chicago includes Hrabal in net, a top line of Cooley-Trocheck-Guenther, and a defensive core anchored by Marino. It is a stacked team, Nick.
Nick: It is. If they can gel quickly, especially on the power play, they have a real chance to challenge for the division title. Remember, we predicted 108 points last week. This roster supports that.
Vanessa: Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. If you enjoyed this breakdown of the Mammoth’s roster battles, please subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts. Share this episode with a fellow Mammoth fan!
Nick: Go Mammoth!