Vanessa: You are looking at a team that sits first in the Central Division with a perfect 0-0-0 record, yet you’ve got more center names on the roster than you can shake a stick at. We’re talking about Owen Allard, Logan Cooley, Vincent Trocheck, and a dozen others all vying for ice time. Is this depth or chaos? Stick around.
Nick: It’s tactical gold. If the line matching is right, Utah has one of the deepest middle groups in hockey. If it’s wrong, they’re clogging up their own neutral zone. We’re breaking down exactly how Coach handles this mass of talent today.
Vanessa: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Vanessa, alongside Nick, and this is your daily Utah Mammoth mailbag show. Today we are answering your emails, digging into the roster construction, and setting the stage for our first real test against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 2nd.
Nick: That’s right. We’ve got three big segments. First, we’re tackling your questions about the starting center trio and whether Jack McBain can hold his ground after that shutout win against Colorado. Second, we’re looking at the left wing battles—Anders Lee versus Lawson Crouse—and who earns the power play minutes. And third, a hypothetical lineup puzzle plus a lightning round on what to expect from the rookie defensemen.
Vanessa: We’re going deep. So grab your coffee, check your stats, and let’s get into the mailbag. Let’s start with Segment One: The Center Ice Dilemma.
Vanessa: @HockeyMomUT asks: 'After beating Colorado 2-0, Jack McBain had two points. But you have Logan Cooley and Owen Allard too. Who is actually getting the top line minutes against Chicago?' Great question. It feels like every night could be different.
Nick: I think you’re seeing the coach’s flexibility here. McBain brought that energy against Colorado, especially with those defensive injuries we talked about yesterday. He was solid in the zone entries. But Cooley? He’s the pure playmaker. If Utah wants to control possession against Chicago’s forecheck, Cooley might see more time with Trocheck nearby.
Vanessa: So you’re saying McBain isn’t locked in as the number one center forever? That’s a shift from where he was last week.
Nick: Not locked in. Locked in *for now*. But look at the roster. You have Barrett Hayton, Samu Bau, Kevin Stenlund—all capable centers. The Mammoth aren’t going to rest on one trio. They’re going to mix matchups. Against Chicago, if they want physicality, McBain stays. If they want speed, Cooley goes up.
Vanessa: What about Owen Allard? He’s been quiet in the preseason chatter. Do fans need to worry about his role?
Nick: Allard is a grinder. He’s not going to score 50 goals, but he’ll kill penalties and win faceoffs in tight spots. He’s likely your fourth-line anchor or a specialized matchup player. Don’t expect him to jump the queue unless someone gets injured again. And given how thin the defense is, injuries are always a threat.
Vanessa: Fair point. John Marino is still carrying a heavy load. Let’s move to your second question. Sarah from Salt Lake asks: 'With Anders Lee and Lawson Crouse both on the left wing, who wins the regular season spot? And does Kailer Yamamoto have any chance?'
Nick: Lee vs. Crouse is the battle of the decade. Lee brings the board-clearing grit and the power play presence. Crouse brings the shot volume and the net-front presence. Yamamoto? He’s a wildcard. Fast, skilled, but inconsistent defensively. In a 1v1 matchup, Lee probably edges it for the opening night spot because of his veteran leadership.
Vanessa: But wait—what about Dylan Guenther? He’s on the right wing, but he plays left in practice sometimes. Does that complicate things?
Nick: Guenther is a right-shot guy playing left. He’s dangerous cutting inside. But putting him on the left side means you’re flipping your whole top line. It’s a specific tactic. I don’t think they do it every night. It’s more likely you see Guenther on the right, Keller on the left, and maybe Trocheck centering them. That’s the star power.
Vanessa: Okay, so the top line is likely Keller-Trocheck-Guenther. That makes sense. Thanks, Nick. Before we dive into the depth chart battles, I want to take a quick breath. We work hard every single day to bring you these insights, the research, and the editing to keep this feed running for free. A small contribution really helps us stay on top of the roster changes and game prep. If you enjoy the show, please consider chipping in via the link in the episode description. Every bit keeps the lights on.
Vanessa: Let’s get into Segment Two: The Defense Corps and Goalie Shuffle. Marcus in Denver writes in: 'The Mammoth lost key defensemen to injury recently. With Andrew Peeke, John Marino, and Max Psenicka, who is the true #1 defenseman for the season opener against Chicago?'
Nick: Marino is the anchor. You saw it against Colorado. When the structure broke down, Marino was the one cleaning up. Peeke is great on the breakout, but Marino handles the heavy minutes. He’s the guy you trust when the other team is pressing high in the neutral zone. Psenicka is developing, but he’s not ready for the top pair yet.
Vanessa: What about the younger guys? Terrell Goldsmith and Montana Onyebuchi. Are they safe on the roster?
Nick: They’re competing. Goldsmith has size. Onyebuchi has mobility. But right now, the top six are set. Marino, Peeke, DeSimone, Lamoureux (when healthy), Duda, and maybe Morden. Goldsmith and Onyebuchi are likely your bottom-six rotation guys or ECHL call-ups if the injury bug bites again. You never know with this team.
Vanessa: Ouch. Another injury scare? @MammothFan99 asks: 'Who starts in goal? Is there a clear winner between the options, or will it be a coin flip?'
Nick: The brief doesn’t list the goalies explicitly, but based on the recent performance, the starter is likely the guy who kept that 2-0 shutout against Colorado. Consistency matters. Against Chicago, you want someone who can handle the traffic. If the backup gets hot, though, don’t be surprised to see a change. The Mammoth are aggressive in their goaltending decisions.
Vanessa: Right. Aggressive management. Let’s talk about the power play. With Clayton Keller and Vincent Trocheck involved, who are the other key pieces? Does Cameron Hebig see time?
Nick: Hebig is a scorer. He’s got a nasty wrist shot. If he’s on the power play, he’s likely at the circle or the half-wall. But watch for Kailer Yamamoto too. He’s electric in transition. The power play unit needs to move the puck quickly against Chicago’s penalty kill. Slow movement = bad news.
Vanessa: Slow movement kills the momentum. Okay, we’ve covered the core. Let’s wrap up the roster talk. What about the fourth line? Who is bringing the fire?
Nick: Brandon Tanev is the heartbeat. He’s everywhere. Pair him with someone like Ethan Belchetz or Michael Carcone. You want hustle. You want forechecking. That’s what wins games in the playoffs. The Mammoth have that DNA right now.
Vanessa: Alright, Segment Three: Hypotheticals and Lightning Round. Liam from Provo asks: 'If you could only pick ONE center to carry the offensive load for the next ten games, who is it?'
Nick: Logan Cooley. Pure skill. He creates chances out of nothing. If you need a goal, you go to Cooley. He’s the difference-maker.
Vanessa: Agreed. Now, lightning round! Quick answers only. Question one: Best rookie on the roster? Go!
Nick: Sam Lipkin. Fast, smart, fits right in.
Vanessa: Question two: Most underrated player? Go!
Nick: Barrett Hayton. Underrated two-way center.
Vanessa: Question three: Biggest concern heading into Chicago? Go!
Nick: Defense depth. One injury away from trouble.
Vanessa: Solid. Final question: Prediction for the Chicago game? Score?
Nick: Utah wins. 4-2. Strong defensive structure, opportunistic scoring.
Vanessa: There you have it. From the center ice debates to the defensive worries, we’ve got you covered. Utah Mammoth fans, make sure you subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite platform. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear about the lineup changes.
Nick: Keep your sticks on ice and your heads up. We’ll see you on October 2nd for the Chicago game.
Vanessa: Go Mammoth!