July 1 is a double holiday in the hockey world. Not only is it Canada Day, it’s also the opening of the NHL free agency period.
Unfortunately for drama-loving hockey fans, this year’s free agency class is the weakest in recent memory. Nearly everyone has already extended their existing contracts.
Supply and demand combined with a skyrocketing salary cap should make it a player-friendly summer. There are vast overpayments every summer, but this one will be even more dangerous.
With that in mind, here are a few players the Utah Mammoth could target on Wednesday without torching the treasury.
Andrei Kuzmenko
- Position: Left wing
- Age: 30
- Height: 5-foot-11
- Weight: 200 pounds
- Hometown: Yakutsk, Russia
- 2025-26 team: Los Angeles Kings
- 2025-26 production: 52 games played, 13 goals, 25 points
Coming into the NHL as an undrafted free agent, Andrei Kuzmenko was as highly sought-after as anyone.
Recency bias may have been a factor after seeing fellow Russians Artemi Panarin and Kirill Kaprizov go from nobodies to superstars overnight — but Kuzmenko dispelled his critics.
He scored 39 goals and 74 points with the Vancouver Canucks in his first NHL season, 2022-23. Since then, though, he has struggled to put up points, bouncing from one team to the next.
On a short-term deal, Kuzmenko could be a low-risk option for the Mammoth.
In his best season, he skated alongside Elias Pettersson, helping him to a career high of 102 points. If Kuzmenko can crack the top six, he could be an excellent complement to Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz or Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther.
Kuzmenko is also an effective power play guy — and that’s an area where Utah struggled last season. He’d likely start on the second unit (which could also use help), but in the event of an injury or a needed spark, he’d be an easy guy to throw in the top group.
Scott Laughton
- Position: Center
- Age: 32
- Height: 6-foot-1
- Weight: 190 pounds
- Hometown: Oakville, Ontario
- 2025-26 team: Los Angeles Kings/Toronto Maple Leafs
- 2025-26 production: 64 games played, 13 goals, 20 points
Assuming pending UFA Kevin Stenlund does not return, Scott Laughton could be a good replacement.
Like Stenlund, Laughton is a penalty killer and a wizard in the face-off circle. Those are invaluable skills to any winning team.
Unlike Stenlund, though, he shoots left. That would make Schmaltz Utah’s only right-handed center, meaning he’d be relied upon for more strong-side draws than he’s used to. If they do bring in Laughton to replace Stenlund, they’d be wise to find an additional center who shoots right.
Carson Soucy
- Position: Left defense
- Age: 31
- Height: 6-foot-4
- Weight: 211 pounds
- Hometown: Viking, Alberta
- 2025-26 team: New York Islanders/New York Rangers
- 2025-26 production: 76 games played, 5 goals, 12 points
Ian Cole has held down Utah’s second pairing since day one of the franchise, but at this point in time, he’s unsigned. It’s likely that Dmitri Simashev takes on a bigger role this season, but it might be good to have another veteran there to fill a role if needed.
Carson Soucy could be that guy.
He’s a big, reliable defenseman who doesn’t need offensive production to be effective. He has also played for new Mammoth assistant coach Adam Foote, who led the defensemen for the Canucks while he was there. Familiarity makes a difference when switching teams, so it might make sense for Soucy to rejoin Foote.
Luke Schenn
- Position: Right defense
- Age: 36
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 225 pounds
- Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- 2025-26 team: Buffalo Sabres/Winnipeg Jets
- 2025-26 production: 50 games played, 1 goal, 7 points
Speaking of familiarity, Luke Schenn tied his career high in points in 2022-23, the year he played under Foote. He has also played with Mikhail Sergachev, Clayton Keller, Lawson Crouse, Brandon Tanev and pending UFA Alexander Kerfoot.
Schenn might not be able to replace Cole in terms of ice time, but he could replace his leadership. He’s a veteran of 18 NHL seasons and has played for 10 different teams. He’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion, too.
Whether they need him to play 82 games or 10 games, he won’t complain — just like Robert Bortuzzo in Utah’s inaugural season.
Ilya Mikheyev
- Position: Right wing
- Age: 31
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 192 pounds
- Hometown: Omsk, Russia
- 2025-26 team: Chicago Blackhawks
- 2025-26 production: 77 games played, 18 goals, 36 points
Mikhail Sergachev took Dmitri Simashev under his wing this season, which helped him succeed in the NHL. Daniil But, who’s still trying to find his game at the NHL level, could probably use a similar mentor.
Ilya Mikheyev could be that guy — and his on-ice ability would be useful, too.
Mikheyev is a speedy winger who also kills penalties. He’s good for 20 goals a season and he doesn’t need power play time to put the puck in the net.
That type of versatility is useful to any team. If Utah opts not to bring Kerfoot back, Mikheyev could fill that role perfectly.
