The Utah Mammoth are middle of the pack in offensive rating this season, but they’re said to be ‘lurking’, looking to make a big splash for an offensive upgrade at the trade deadline.
The Mammoth hold down the first Wild Card berth in the Western Conference, but they’ll need to fortify themselves for the stretch run. They’ve been engaged in talks for a top-six forward addition. In particular, they’d like a center.
Insider Marco D’Amico has linked three big names as players the Mammoth could make a push for:
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
This would be the most expensive target, with his $11.6 AAV, and the six years remaining on the deal. It could also be considered the riskiest, given Pettersson’s second straight disappointing season since signing that massive deal. But he’d fit right into the timeline, at a similar age as Utah’s other top players up front.
Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues
The Blues are asking for the moon to land Thomas, but if the Mammoth are dead set on taking a big swing, this would be a huge one. Only 26, Thomas is even a year younger than Pettersson, but maybe without the same immense upside (as Pettersson has a 100-point campaign in the not-too-distant past). Thomas has five years remaining on an $8.125 million cap hat.
Nazem Kadri, Calgary Flames
Just this weekend, we heard that we can add Utah’s name to the list of contenders who will be suitors for the Calgary Flames’ playoff-hardened center. His postseason experience with Stanley Cup pedigree would be a welcomed addition to their young forward corps.
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