The Utah Mammoth are shaping their roster for the 2026‑27 season by scouting a select group of high‑profile prospects, each bringing a distinct skill set that could bolster the franchise’s competitiveness. The organization has identified several players with NHL potential, focusing on talent that can contribute immediately or develop into core pieces for the future.
Prospects on the Radar
Sebastian Cossa arrived as a first‑round selection by the Detroit Red Wings in 2021 and quickly added a WHL championship with the Edmonton Oil Kings. In 98 WHL appearances he posted a 2.12 goals‑against average and a .921 save percentage, compiling 71 wins, 16 losses and 14 shutouts. His NHL debut came on December 9, 2024, when he turned aside 12 shots in a shootout victory, signaling a smooth transition to the big league.
Tij Iginla, the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, has already posted 90 points in 48 WHL games for the Kelowna Rockets and earned a spot on the Western Conference First All‑Star Team. The forward was also a finalist for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy and contributed eight points at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, helping Canada secure bronze.
The depth extends to forward Ben McCartney, an alternate captain for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners who has logged 161 points in 274 AHL appearances and made his NHL debut with the Arizona Coyotes in 2021‑22. Defenseman Montana Onyebucha, though undrafted, signed an entry‑level contract with the Coyotes after five WHL seasons. Max Psenicka, a second‑round selection by the Mammoth in 2025, posted 30 points in his rookie WHL season, while Veeti Vaisanen, a 2024 third‑round pick, captured the 2025 Ed Chynoweth Cup with the Medicine Hat Tigers and earned silver with Finland at the 2025 and 2026 World Junior tournaments. Reko Alanko, a sixth‑round prospect, was selected in the 2025 draft and later entered the CHL Import Draft with Seattle Thunderbirds.
With a blend of elite goaltending, offensive firepower and defensive reliability, the Mammoth’s prospect pool offers a promising foundation for the 2026‑27 campaign and beyond, drawing talent from markets across North America and Europe.