Utah Mammoth fantasy projections for 2026-27

As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, the fantasy hockey staff ranks the top five Utah Mammoth players for standard leagues and provides skater points and goalie wins projections for the 2026-27 season.

1. Dylan Guenther, F

NHL.com fantasy rank: 33

Guenther is coming off a breakout season with NHL career highs in goals (40; tied for 13th in League), points (73 in 79 games), shots on goal (242; 18th) and average ice time (17:24 per game), leading the Mammoth in goals, even-strength goals (31) and shots on goal. Guenther was also one of six players in the NHL with at least 40 goals, 240 shots on goal and 60 hits (66); the others were Filip Forsberg, Tage Thompson, Nathan MacKinnon, Cutter Gauthier and Matt Boldy. Guenther is a fringe top 15 player in NHL.com's fantasy keeper rankings, which are the best 25-and-younger options for long-term formats.

NHL.com point projection: 83

2. Clayton Keller, F

NHL.com fantasy rank: 43

Keller has proven he has staying power among the best point producers in the League. He quietly ranks 12th in the NHL in points over the past four seasons (340 in 323 games since 2022-23) and has had at least 86 in three of the past four seasons (88 last season). Last season, Keller was tied for 10th in even-strength points (61) and tied for 12th in assists (62), and led Utah in assists, points, even-strength points and power-play points (27) and was second on the team in shots on goal (225). The 28-year-old is worth prioritizing in the first four rounds of most drafts and now has a potent supporting cast on the first power play with Guenther, Logan Cooley and Mikhail Sergachev (59 points last season; tied for 14th among defensemen). 

NHL.com point projection: 87

3. Logan Cooley, F

NHL.com fantasy rank: 75

Despite being limited to 54 games last season because of a lower-body injury, Cooley was one of six Utah players to score at least 24 goals and average 0.80 points per game, one of four players on the team to do so (Keller, 1.07; Guenther, 0.92; Nick Schmaltz, 0.90). He made an impact on special teams when healthy, ranking third on the Mammoth in power-play goals (six) and tied with Schmaltz for the team lead in short-handed goals (two each). Cooley is one of three Utah players in the fantasy top 75 overall and is a fringe top 20 option in the keeper and dynasty rankings.

NHL.com point projection: 80

4. Nick Schmaltz, F

NHL.com fantasy rank: 83

Schmaltz had a career year in many key offensive categories: goals (33; second on Utah behind Guenther), points (74; second on team behind Keller), power-play goals (11; led Mammoth), game-winning goals (nine; tied for third in NHL) and shots on goal (206; third on team). He also led Utah in power-play goals (11). Schmaltz, who has played all 82 games in consecutive seasons, has strong chemistry with Keller dating to their years with the Arizona Coyotes and is a potential draft bargain attainable around the top 100 overall or later.

NHL.com point projection: 69

5. Karel Vejmelka, G

NHL.com fantasy rank: 117

Vejmelka led NHL goalies in games played (NHL career-high 64) and was second in wins (career-high 38) behind Andrei Vasilevskiy (39). He also had two shutouts and his second straight season with a sub-3.00 goals-against average (2.75; 2.58 in 2024-25). Although Vejmelka took a step back in save percentage (.897) compared to two seasons ago (.904), he ranked sixth in the NHL in quality starts percentage (33; starts with greater than .900 save percentage) and benefited from Utah's goal support (3.27 goals per game; tied for 10th). The 30-year-old is a fringe top 10 goalie in NHL.com's rankings at the position.

NHL.com win projection: 34

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Potential draft bargains: Mikhail Sergachev, D (point projection: 66); MacKenzie Weegar, D (point projection: 47)

Category coverage players: Vincent Trocheck, F (point projection: 59); Anders Lee, F (point projection: 53); Lawson Crouse, F (point projection: 44)

Deep sleeper: Barrett Hayton, F (point projection: 48)

Rookie to watch: Sebastian Cossa, G (win projection: 10)

Players to watch in keeper/dynasty leagues: Tij Iginla, F; Caleb Desnoyers, F

Hits specialist: Brandon Tanev, F