For the first time ever, fans will get to see Utah Mammoth jerseys in game action this weekend.
It won’t be the full NHL squad, but some of these guys will undoubtedly end up on the big team at points this season. This week is rookie camp, which ends with a two-game showcase in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where teams typically sport their game jerseys, rather than practice tarps.
Fans might remember last year’s edition of the tournament, where Peter Repčík scored the first-ever goal in a Utah Hockey Club uniform.
The rookie tournament will take place after two days of practices and team-building events at the Mammoth’s new practice facility in Sandy. This will be the media’s first look at the new place.
Who to watch at the 2025 Rookie Showcase
Utah assistant general manager John Ferguson, whose primary responsibility is to oversee the club’s minor league operations, jumped on the phone with the Deseret News last week to talk rookies.
Several of the players of whom he spoke in the highest regard will be present at rookie camp.
Maveric Lamoureux
During his 15 NHL games last season, Maveric Lamoureux showed significant promise as both a two-way defenseman and a physical presence.
He only averaged 16 minutes a game (sheltering young defensemen is crucial when they first arrive in the NHL), but he made the most of it. He killed penalties, he fought, he hit, he blocked shots and he even chipped in a goal and two assists.
That all hit a hard stall when he suffered an upper-body injury in late November. He remained with the team throughout his recovery, living with veteran Robert Bortuzzo and hanging out around the rink with the guys — a great way to learn from experienced players.
Although he hasn’t played an NHL game since the injury, it’s likely that he comes back better than before.
“We think he’ll take another step — another step in his maturation into being a long-term pro,” Ferguson said of the 6-foot-6 defenseman. “That’s what we see for him, and I’m sure in his mind, he sees it the same way.”
Like almost any young player, there’s a lot he could do to shore up his defensive game. His turnovers far exceeded his takeaways and he let the pressure get to him in the defensive zone a little more than he should, but those are the types of things that correct themselves with experience.
Lamoureux wore the “C” as Utah’s captain during last year’s rookie games in Los Angeles. He was easily one of the best players on the ice. It’s likely that both of those are true of him this time, too.
Artem Duda
Lamoureux gets most of the media attention because he was selected in the late first round, but don’t forget that just seven picks later, at the beginning of the second round, they took another defenseman: Artem Duda.
Duda hasn’t gotten an NHL chance yet, but if he continues down his current path, that day will come.
He’s only played one AHL season, but if you didn’t know otherwise, you might assume he’s a 10-year veteran. He’s calm and collected, both with the puck and without it, and that has translated into a big role and close to a half-point-per-game in production.
“(He) made great strides last year,” Ferguson noted.
Daniil But and Dmitri Simashev
If you’re sick of hearing about “But and Simashev,” get used to it — this is only the beginning. The club intends for these guys to be major parts of the team for years to come.
They’re often grouped together for a number of reasons:
- They’ve played on the same team since age 15.
- They won the Gagarin Cup, one the most prestigious trophies in hockey, together last season.
- They’re both massive human beings.
- They were both drafted by Arizona in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft.
“These are two high-end prospects who are only 20 years old, and certainly, their best days are ahead of them,” Ferguson said.
He mentioned their KHL experience as a major asset in their development, especially having both won the championship and lost in the finals. The KHL and the AHL are similar levels of play, so if that’s where they begin the season, don’t expect them to start at the bottom of the depth chart.
But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.
“It’s going to be a learning curve for North America, (but) at the same time, nobody’s going to put a ceiling on where they can be, coming out of main camp,” Ferguson said.
Simashev was voted development camp MVP by the player development staff in July. His skating, in particular, was heads and shoulders above everyone else’s.
But, on the other hand, looked a little raw. He seemed a little clunky and his shot wasn’t at the level you’d expect from a KHL champion. He’ll have every chance to prove himself at rookie camp and training camp, though.
Tucson Roadrunners to watch this year
Ferguson’s list of impressive names also included a number of Roadrunners that won’t be at rookie camp. Here’s what he said about each one:
- Maksymilian Szuber: Took big strides in the second half of last season, even after a tough training camp.
- Cameron Hebig: Named an AHL all-star.
- Kailer Yamamoto: An NHL-caliber player.
- Ben McCartney: Had his best season since 2021-22.
- Curtis Douglas: Brings a unique combination of size and ability.
- Jaxson Stauber: Pitched an NHL shutout last year.
- Matt Villalta: Played NHL games last year.
“Any one of them, André Tourigny could lean on for a game or two — or who knows? Could be longer than that,” Ferguson said. “... I wouldn’t put it past any one of these players to show that they can come in and contribute, and who knows where it goes from there?”
Notes on player development
Aside from the best of the best, every player need to spend time in the AHL, “riding the bus,” as they say. Most incoming players have never competed against fully grown men before, and they certainly haven’t faced full teams of NHL-level competition, so that extra experience is crucial.
“We’ve seen guys over the years play too few American Hockey League games, (but) it’s rare that you see a player play too many,” Ferguson said.
For that reason, fans shouldn’t be surprised if the AHL is the initial landing spot for some of these young guys.
Utah also has a full roster of guys on one-way deals (plus Logan Cooley, whose entry-level contract is two-way but he’s not going down). Unless there are unanticipated injuries to start the season again, it’ll be tough for any unexpected names to crack the roster.
Not making the team out of camp can be frustrating for a young player, but the team designed it this way for their ultimate long-term growth. That’s why they brought in the likes of Nate Schmidt, Brandon Tanev and Nick DeSimone.
“We see a horizon for these players that is further than what they see on a day-to-day basis,” Ferguson said. “We implore them to do what they need to do to get better every day. We’re going to emphasize progress over perfection.”
Utah Mammoth rookie camp schedule
After practices on Wednesday and Thursday, the group heads to Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where they’ll take on the young guns in the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights systems.
The schedule is as follows:
- Friday, Sept. 12: @ Colorado Avalanche, 6 p.m. MDT
- Saturday, Sept. 13: vs. Vegas Golden Knights, 3 p.m. MDT
Broadcast information has not yet been released, but last year’s tournament could be streamed for free on NHL.com.