NHL EDGE stats 2026-27 season outlook for Utah Mammoth

As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, we will identify key NHL EDGE stats for each team to preview the 2026-27 season. Today, we look at three advanced metrics trends surrounding the Utah Mammoth:

1. High-danger goal-scoring

The Mammoth had three players with at least 15 high-danger goals last season in forwards Nick Schmaltz (22; tied for 10th in NHL), Dylan Guenther (16) and Logan Cooley (15); the only teams with more such players were the Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights (four each). Other Utah players with double-digit high-danger goal totals last season included forwards Clayton Keller (12), Lawson Crouse (11) and JJ Peterka (10; traded to Boston Bruins on June 26).

After the Peterka trade, Utah added wing Anders Lee, who signed a three-year contract July 1 and was among the NHL leaders in high-danger shots on goal last season with the New York Islanders (107; eighth in NHL). Lee, 36, was also a standout in high-danger goals (15; 90th percentile among forwards) and could help Utah become even better at finishing around the net; the Mammoth ranked 14th in high-danger goals (127) last season.

The Mammoth also acquired center Vincent Trocheck from the New York Rangers on July 1. He scored eight high-danger goals in 67 games last season and was a standout among forwards in offensive zone time percentage at even strength (43.0; 87th percentile), and on the power play (62.6; 92nd percentile). Trocheck was even better in terms of high-danger offense two years ago; he ranked in the 95th percentile among NHL forwards in high-danger shots on goal (76) and 93rd percentile in high-danger goals (17) for New York during the 2024-25 season. Trocheck, who is 33, and Lee could complement the Mammoth's promising young core and be X-factors in them winning a Stanley Cup Playoff round; Utah qualified for the postseason in 2026 but lost the Western Conference First Round in six games to the Golden Knights.

2. Cooley's skating speed

Despite being limited to 54 games last season because of a lower-body injury, Cooley scored 24 goals -- one behind his career high of 25 (from 2024-25 when he played 21 more games). Cooley, who is only 22 and was the No. 3 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes, has elite skating speed metrics and high offensive ceiling in the years ahead.

He ranked fourth in the NHL in max skating speed (24.38 mph) last season, was tied for eighth in 22-plus mph speed bursts (33) and also ranked highly among forwards in 20-plus mph bursts (214; 97th percentile). As a team, Utah ranked fourth in both 22-plus mph speed bursts (127) and 20-plus mph bursts (2,207).

Cooley remained effective after his injury absence; he was tied for 13th in the NHL in high-danger goals per game (0.28) last season among those who played at least 50 games. He finished the regular-season strong with 13 points (seven goals, six assists) over his final 10 games and then added three points (two goals, one assist), including a game-winning goal, and 17 shots on goal in the first six postseason games of his NHL career. Despite Utah only playing one playoff round, Cooley was tied for sixth in the postseason in 22-plus mph speed bursts (six).

3. Guenther's elite advanced metrics

Guenther, who was one of 15 players in the NHL to score at least 40 goals last season and ranked ninth in the League in even-strength goals (31), had a breakout performance backed by elite underlying metrics.

Guenther excelled in perimeter shot metrics last season; he was in the top 10 of the NHL in mid-range goals (17; tied for eighth), while also finishing among the top 10 forwards in long-range shots on goal (40; sixth) and long-range goals (three; tied for 10th). He had one of the most well-rounded shots-by-location profiles among forwards by also ranking highly in mid-range shots on goal (97; 97th percentile), high-danger goals (92nd percentile) and high-danger shots on goal (59; 83rd percentile).

Guenther's goal-scoring versatility and high shot volume across the board can be traced to his shot speed prowess; he ranked highly among forwards in both average shot speed (61.40 mph; 93rd percentile) and hardest shot (91.39 mph; 89th percentile). Guenther also has strong skating metrics, ranking in the 97th percentile among forwards in 20-plus mph speed bursts (217), 94th percentile in 22-plus mph bursts (14) and 88th percentile in offensive zone time percentage (45.2). Guenther, who is 23 and skyrocketing from an EDGE stats standpoint, could emerge as a dark horse contender for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (NHL regular-season goal leader) in the years ahead.