For the first time in franchise history, the Utah Mammoth’s highest pick in the NHL draft is not in the top six overall this year, as they’re slated to select at No. 19 on Friday.
Regardless of where he picks, though, GM Bill Armstrong — who spent 16 seasons as a scout — understands the importance of landing good players at the draft.
“You really study what’s going to be around the area, who’s coming your way,” he said in a press conference at the Mammoth Ice Center Monday afternoon.
“That kind of stays the same, and you just get comfortable with the talent level that’s around that area and you do as much homework as you can, and you attack it.”
Armstrong’s draft portfolio is strong, even when picking in the second half of the first round. Dating back to his time with the St. Louis Blues, his picks include:
- Tage Thompson, 26th overall, 2016.
- Robert Thomas, 20th overall, 2017.
- Vladimir Tarasenko, 16th overall, 2010.
- TJ Oshie, 24th overall, 2005.
- David Perron, 26th overall, 2007.
- Jake Neighbours, 26th overall, 2020.
- Ian Cole, 18th overall, 2007.
- Patrik Berglund, 25th overall, 2006.
He has also hit big on a number of early second-rounders, including Jordan Kyrou, Ivan Barbashev, Vince Dunn, Joel Edmundson and Jake Allen.
The Mammoth traded away all three of their second-round picks in the MacKenzie Weegar deal, but No. 19 remains intact. This draft is considered a deep one, so teams have a decent chance at landing good players even when picking later.
In fact, a 19th overall pick was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame on Sunday: Keith Tkachuk.
What type of player might the Utah Mammoth draft at No. 19?
It’s uncommon for players to make the NHL immediately after being drafted, so teams typically select the best players available rather than drafting for positional need. Positional needs, after all, will be completely different by the time the player actually suits up for the club.
Tij Iginla, for example, was the first draft pick in Mammoth history at No. 6 in 2024. He’s just now looking to crack the NHL squad — and that’s completely normal.
Since Armstrong took the reins of the Arizona Coyotes in 2020, the bulk of his picks have fit the same mold: Big bodies. A number of players projected to go in the 19 range fit that bill:
- Maddox Dagenais (6-foot-4).
- Ilia Morozov (6-foot-3).
- Oscar Hemming (6-foot-4).
- Brooks Rogowski (6-foot-7).
- Gleb Pugachyov (6-foot-3).
- Adam Novotný (6-foot-1).
If the Mammoth opt to prioritize other aspects of players’ games over size, another handful of players provide intrigue:
- Adam Valentini (small, but plays like a pitbull).
- JP Hurlbert (prolific scorer).
- Tommy Bleyl (offensive defenseman).
- Ryan Lin (high-IQ defenseman).
- Elton Hermansson (dynamic scorer).
“It’s a decent draft this year,” Armstrong said. “I think our guys are excited about some of the guys that could come our way.”
How to watch the 2026 NHL Draft
The first round of the 2026 NHL Draft will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+. Rounds two through seven will be on ESPN+ and NHL Network.
Round one is on Friday, beginning at 5 p.m. MT. Rounds two through seven take place on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m.
As of Tuesday evening, the Mammoth have not announced a draft watch party.
