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Logan Cooley gets pushed into the corner during a three-on-three summer game in Pittsburgh, knocks an opponent’s stick away, loses his helmet and winds up in the middle of a scrap before a teammate jumps in. He is playing for Team Raising Cane’s, which somehow makes the whole thing even better.

The clip is funny, but Austin’s point is that Cooley’s competitive edge is already in midseason form. From there, the episode zooms out to Cale Makar’s new $20 million deal and Utah’s cap position. For about the price of one Makar, the Mammoth can stack together Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther, Michael Carcone, and Karel Vejmelka. Utah may not be a true Cup favorite this season, but its championship window looks a lot more real.

Subscribe and listen for the full Cooley summer-league chaos, the cap-space spiral and Austin’s case that a changing of the guard is coming in the Central.

Connor Hellebuyck formally requested a trade, and Austin’s whole argument is simple: Utah has to at least explore it. Not because Karel Vejmelka isn’t good, but because Vejmelka was pushed into 64 appearances last season and a Hellebuyck-Vejmelka tandem would instantly change how seriously the league talks about the Mammoth.

The episode walks through the actual thought exercise: move Sebastian Cossa, attach first-round picks, clear cap by moving Kevin Stenlund, and suddenly Utah looks a lot more like a real Stanley Cup threat than a cute playoff team. Austin still thinks Buffalo is probably the favorite, but the point is that a team serious about winning has to make the call.

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The main question in this episode is pretty simple: what actually happens to the Utah Mammoth this season, not what we hope happens. Austin and Sam make three predictions each, and the biggest thread is obvious — Utah needs a real plan behind Karel Vejmelka after he played 64 games last year, because asking him to carry that kind of load again feels like a good way to wilt by spring.

They also get into whether Andre Tourigny survives the season, why Logan Cooley feels like a real All-Star skills candidate, and why 99 points might be the honest prediction even if everybody wants to say 100. Plus: the unexpectedly intense Delta Center concessions discourse, including Cafe Rio over Costa Vida and Apollo Burger invading Crown Burger territory.

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Austin found a real little jersey-number scoop at the Mammoth Ice Center team store: Tij Iginla jerseys are already being pressed with No. 77, not 12. After Tij wore 12 in earlier Mammoth appearances, this looks like the clearest sign yet of what he’ll wear when he reaches the NHL roster.

My read is simple: this is Tij trying to forge his own path. He wore 11 with Kelowna, Dylan Guenther already has 11 in Utah, and 77 opens up after JJ Peterka was moved out. More than anything, I think passing on Jarome Iginla’s famous 12 says Tij wants his own story.

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The Utah Mammoth license plates are officially here, and honestly this is the exact kind of offseason content gift I live for. Austin digs into the new DMV plate, the $25 initial contribution, the six-character vanity limit, and the deeply important civic duty of using government records to make strangers laugh in parking lots.

Then it turns into a full-blown brainstorming session: ASMAN, OUTLAW, YETIS, SLC PUK, PUCKME, BIG TSK, VEGGIE, ARCHIE, GUNNER, and more. It’s weird, extremely Utah, and exactly what late-night SLC Puck was built for.

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Austin digs into The Hockey Guy’s Utah Mammoth season preview and lands on a take that feels very Utah: being liked is nice, but being feared is better. The big stat that set him off was Utah getting just 0.42% of the vote as the NHL’s most hated team.

From there, it turns into a challenge for the two young stars. Austin wants Dylan Guenther to score 45 goals and drop the gloves once, and he wants Logan Cooley to turn 54 hits in 54 games into 100 hits over an 84-game season. A little more villain energy, please.

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Austin’s argument in this one is simple: Utah Mammoth season doesn’t just feel close on the calendar, it feels close because the Delta Center is visibly transforming right now. He talks through Ryan Smith’s August 13 arena photos, the stacked party deck, the absurdly steep new section, and why year three might give Utah its third straight opening night that feels historic in the room.

He also says goodbye to the original Sugar House SLC Puck studio, shouts out Eric Jensen for the text that sparked the episode, and leans into the bigger idea that this team is changing weekends, downtown Salt Lake, and sports culture across Utah.

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Austin breaks down Vincent Trocheck’s positioning, faceoff ability, and why his veteran game could help Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther.

Caleb Desnoyers left the World Junior Summer Showcase needing help off the ice after a brutal collision, and that’s the whole story right now for Mammoth fans. Austin breaks down the clip, why it looked so alarming in real time, why he doesn’t think Wyatt Cullen meant to injure him, and why this still feels like a massive, infuriating setback for a fourth overall pick who was supposed to be pushing toward Utah.

He also gets into the worst part of it: we may not get a real update until rookie camp in September. That uncertainty is what makes the whole thing so maddening, especially when leg and knee injuries can mess with a player’s development at exactly the wrong moment.

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Austin goes deep on why the JJ Peterka era ended so fast in Utah, and why this feels less like a total player failure and more like a role problem that got worse as the season went on. The numbers are rough: 68 points in Buffalo dropped to 47 in Utah, his power-play production cratered from 18 points to 5, and he finished the playoffs with zero points in six games.

There’s also the bigger trade picture now. Utah gave up Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring to get Peterka, then flipped Peterka to Boston in the deal path that eventually brought back Sebastian Cossa and a future first. Austin’s grade for the whole Peterka era: a flat C.

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The argument in this episode is pretty simple: Logan Cooley already has the tools to be a superstar, but if he’s going to make the jump, he has to shoot more. Austin points to Cooley’s 99th-percentile speed, his 23 points in 29 games before the injury, and the fact that he still only projects to about 1.89 shots per game on an 82-game pace. That’s not enough for a player this explosive.

There’s also the bigger Utah Mammoth angle here. If Cooley stays healthy, locks in a bigger power-play role, and spends real time with Dylan Guenther — maybe with Anders Lee doing the dirty work — Austin thinks the breakout changes the whole trajectory of the team.

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The Athletic said the Utah Mammoth don’t have a real villain yet. I’m sorry, but that is simply not true.

In this episode, I make the case for Utah’s first true hockey villain and run through the receipts: Tom Wilson’s 30 penalty minutes against Utah, Alexei Toropchenko’s knee-on-knee hit on Logan Cooley on November 29th, and the January 9th Jack McBain fight at Delta Center that felt like Utah collecting a debt. I also get into Brett Howden’s four-goal playoff pain for Vegas and why local fans know this team’s history better than the national guys do. Subscribe and listen if you’re ready to argue about who Utah should hate most.

Austin ranks the five can’t-miss Utah Mammoth home games for 2026-27: the Winter Classic, Vegas, Ovechkin, Florida, and Celebrini.

The Utah Mammoth might already be the envy of some NHL fan bases.

On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin uses the Vancouver Canucks as the ultimate contrast point. Reports say Canucks ownership wants to cut payroll by as much as $20 million, even with the NHL salary cap rising to $104 million. This is the same Vancouver team that finished dead last last season with just 58 points — 14 behind the next-worst Chicago Blackhawks — and still didn’t land the Gavin McKenna lottery win.

Meanwhile, Utah is heading into year three with Ryan Smith spending money, the Delta Center renovation on the way, playoff hockey already in the rearview mirror, and a clear mandate to chase something real. Austin also gets into why comparison can actually bring a little joy, why Mammoth fans should still keep the pressure on, and why concerns about moves like the Vincent Trocheck trade, Barrett Hayton’s role, and the backup goalie situation haven’t magically disappeared.

This one is part gratitude, part rant, part reminder: things are pretty good in Utah — but that doesn’t mean the hunger should go away.

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Six centers, four spots. Austin breaks down where Vincent Trocheck, Barrett Hayton, Logan Cooley, Nick Schmaltz, Kevin Stenlund and Jack McBain fit—and who gets pushed to the wing.

John Marino got paid, so the pressure moved. Austin ranks Bill Armstrong, André Tourigny and contract-year Lawson Crouse, then breaks down Utah’s 100-point expectation, the Vincent Trocheck and Sebastian Cossa bets, Crouse’s shrinking runway and the best beer deal inside the Delta Center.

John Marino just cashed in with the Utah Mammoth — and I think Nate Schmidt deserves a little thank-you present for helping make it happen.

On this episode of SLC Puck, I break down Marino’s massive 8-year, $54 million extension and why Utah clearly believes he’s a long-term top-four piece. Marino is coming off a career year: 80 games played, 4 goals, 32 assists, 36 points, and a plus-42 season after averaging more than 20 minutes a night. That’s a huge jump from the 35-game, 14-point season he had the year before.

The biggest reason? That second pair with Nate Schmidt was absolutely lights out. Marino and Schmidt played 991 five-on-five minutes together, posted a 56.3% expected goal share, allowed just 2.19 goals against per 60, and finished plus-29 in actual goal differential as a pair. I get into why Schmidt’s arrival helped unlock Marino’s best season, why this contract makes sense with the cap rising, and why the JJ Moser contract comp is a really interesting wrinkle when you look back at the Mikhail Sergachev trade.

Also: I open the show by showing some love to firefighter and Utah Puck Report host Jay Stevens after the end of that KSL Sports chapter. A true Utah hockey guy.

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The Utah Mammoth got better this offseason. The problem is a bunch of the teams behind them did too — and that’s what makes this playoff chase feel a lot more dangerous.

On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down why Utah’s path back to the postseason may be tougher than fans want to admit. Nashville added names like Ross Colton, Jack Drury, Nils Hoglander and Alexander Kerfoot. St. Louis brought in Mason McTavish, Brandon Carlo and Connor McMichael. San Jose added Michael Kesselring, Jacob Trouba, Mason Marchment and Darnell Nurse, plus drafted Ivar Stenberg with the No. 2 pick. If Utah is aiming for 100 points, that still looks a whole lot like wildcard territory.

Austin also digs into the Mammoth’s brutal late-season schedule, including an April run against Anaheim, Vegas, Winnipeg, Dallas, Dallas and St. Louis. He also compares that stretch to what Nashville and Winnipeg have down the stretch, and explains why those head-to-head games could decide everything.

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Bill Armstrong said it out loud: the Utah Mammoth want 100 points next season. The question is whether this roster can actually do it.

On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down the real roadmap after Utah finished 43-33-6 with 92 points last year. Even with the NHL moving to an 84-game schedule, Utah’s same 0.561 points percentage would only get them to about 94.2 points. That means the Mammoth still need to find roughly six more points somewhere, and that’s where this gets interesting.

Austin looks at where Utah stole points last season against teams like Colorado, Dallas, Vegas, and Toronto, and where they flat-out gave points away against bad teams. The big offenders? A winless season series against the Chicago Blackhawks, a rough showing against the Calgary Flames, and dropped points against the San Jose Sharks. He also maps out the season month by month, with a brutal October and November, a critical January-February window, and a tough finish in March and April.

There’s also a bigger conversation here about risk: Vinnie Trocheck needing to justify the move, Sebastian Cossa needing to be better than Vitek Vanecek in backup duty, and the young core like Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, Clayton Keller, and Nick Schmaltz needing to stay healthy. If Utah is going to hit 100, they have to stop donating points and start punishing weak teams.

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The Utah Mammoth schedule is out, and yeah... April 3 against the Vegas Golden Knights already feels absolutely feral.

On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down the full 2026-27 Utah Mammoth schedule month by month, from Opening Night against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 1 to the Winter Classic against the Colorado Avalanche on December 31 at Rice-Eccles Stadium. He digs into the brutal early road-heavy stretch, the six-game trip from late October into mid-November, and why simply staying around .500 early would be a huge win.

There are also some massive dates to circle at Delta Center: Toronto on October 13, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 19, Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on January 29, and Florida on February 26. Austin also explains why January could be the Utah Mammoth’s biggest chance to stack points with nine home games and a six-game homestand.

Plus, a little hockey-related facial damage, because apparently that’s how we’re opening the show now.

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Anders Lee is a huge pickup for the Utah Mammoth — literally and stylistically. On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down who Lee is, why Utah gave the former New York Islanders captain a 3-year deal worth $5.4 million AAV, and why his game fits a very specific Mammoth need.

Lee spent 14 NHL seasons with the Islanders, played 923 games, scored 308 goals, and served as captain for the last 8 seasons. He also won the 2024 King Clancy Trophy and helped raise more than $2.5 million for families affected by cancer. But the biggest on-ice number in this episode might be this one: 107 high-danger shots last season, including 86 from right outside the crease and 21 from inside it. Utah needed more net-front offense, more dirty goals, and more power-play jam. That’s why this signing matters.

Austin also gets into the funniest and most fascinating part of Lee’s background: the man was a legit high school quarterback at Edina in Minnesota, with more than 2,000 passing yards and 1,100 rushing yards in his senior year before choosing hockey at Notre Dame. Plus, why it says something real that Lee chose Utah over other suitors — including the Minnesota Wild.

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Logan Cooley’s contract with the Utah Mammoth suddenly looks like an absolute bargain.

On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down why Cooley’s 8-year, $10 million AAV deal looks so good after the Anaheim Ducks were forced to match Philadelphia’s 5-year, $90 million offer sheet for Leo Carlsson. The comparison is wild: Cooley has 69 goals in 211 NHL games, Carlsson has 61 in 201, and their points-per-game rates are nearly identical. But Cooley takes up just 9.62% of Utah’s cap, while Carlsson comes in at 17.31%.

We also get into what this says about Bill Armstrong’s long-term cap planning, why Utah is in a much healthier spot than Anaheim, and how the Mammoth stack up against the Ducks as both teams try to become real Western Conference powers. There’s also some classic SLC Puck nonsense about Orange County, Salt Lake City, Mammoth Ice Center, and what kind of life $10 million actually buys in Utah compared to $18 million in Anaheim.

If you’re a Utah Mammoth fan wondering whether Cooley’s deal was too rich last summer, this episode makes the case that it may already be a win.

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Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee don’t feel like random additions. They feel like a message. The Utah Mammoth are trying to get tougher, nastier, deeper, and a whole lot harder to play against.

On this episode of SLC Puck, I break down what stood out from Friday’s Utah media availability with Trocheck, Lee, and Bill Armstrong. Trocheck revealed he’s been skating with Logan Cooley in Pittsburgh and texting with him over the last two weeks, which tells you this move had been in the works. I also get into Trocheck’s take on all the centers in this lineup, and why his versatility could matter just as much as his edge.

Then there’s Anders Lee: 36 years old, 6-foot-3, 234 pounds, and exactly the kind of net-front pain-in-the-neck Utah needs more of. He signed a three-year deal and is switching from No. 27 to No. 72 with Barrett Hayton keeping 27. If the Mammoth want more greasy goals and more bite in games that matter, Lee should help. These are experienced East Coast guys — Trocheck from the Rangers, Lee from the Islanders — and both sound like they believe Utah gives them a real shot to chase a Stanley Cup.

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Well, egg on my face: the Utah Mammoth matched the New Jersey Devils’ offer sheet for Barrett Hayton after all.

On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin reacts to Utah bringing Hayton back on a one-year, $4.775 million contract, why Bill Armstrong felt a second-round pick wasn’t enough compensation, and what Hayton’s 52.6% faceoff win rate and defensive value say about this decision. Austin also gets into the cap angle, with Utah now sitting around $4.6 million in space instead of having closer to $10 million to work with.

But the most interesting part might be what happens next. If Hayton is back in the top nine, where does that leave Teej Iginla? Austin looks at a projected lineup featuring Vincent Trocheck, Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley, Anders Lee, Dylan Guenther, Lawson Crouse, Kyler Yamamoto, Michael Carcone, Kevin Stenlund, and Jack McBain — and why Iginla and Daniil Boot suddenly have a much tougher path to opening-night ice time.

This one is about more than just Barrett Hayton. It’s about roster pressure, training camp battles, and who gets squeezed as the Mammoth try to build a real contender in Utah.

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Barrett Hayton’s future with the Utah Mammoth is hanging by a thread, and on this episode of SLC Puck, Austin Facer makes the case for Utah to let him walk. With Hayton signing a 1-year, $4.775 million offer sheet from the New Jersey Devils on July 1, the Mammoth are running out of time before the July 9 deadline to decide whether to match.

Austin digs into why this is such a weird, tense spot for Bill Armstrong and the Mammoth. Hayton had 25 points in 37 games last season after posting 46 points in 82 games the year before, and Utah has to decide if that production is worth nearly $5 million when the roster is already shifting into win-now mode. Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee are in, T.J. Iginla is pushing for a spot, and the roster fit for Hayton looks shakier by the day.

There’s also the funniest wrinkle in the whole thing: New Jersey’s offer came in just $667 below the next compensation threshold, meaning Utah would get a 2027 second-round pick instead of a much bigger return if they decline to match. Austin also jumps into PuckPedia GM mode, builds out his preferred opening-night lineup, and explains why moving on from Hayton could leave the Utah Mammoth with over $8 million in flexibility for the season ahead.

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The Utah Mammoth have a decision to make on Barrett Hayton, and somehow it all comes back to an old recliner.

New Jersey signed Hayton to a one-year offer sheet, putting Utah in a tough but fascinating spot: match the deal, keep him at nearly $4.8 million, and lose trade flexibility for a year — or let him go and take the 2027 second-round pick as compensation.

On this episode of SLC Puck, we talk through why the Mammoth may be ready to move on, how Vincent Trocheck, Anders Lee, Kevin Stenlund, Logan Cooley, Nick Schmaltz, Jack McBain, and the rest of the forward group have changed the math, and why Hayton may no longer have a clean fit in Utah’s new lineup.

But this is not just about cap space or line combinations. It is also about the emotional fallout of leaving behind another piece of the old Arizona Coyotes era. Hayton has been part of the furniture. The question is whether he still fits in the new apartment.

The Mammoth are moving into bigger, swankier digs. Does the old recliner come with them?

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The Utah Mammoth didn’t tiptoe into NHL free agency — they cannonballed in. On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin reacts to Utah’s biggest move of the day: acquiring Vincent Trocheck from the New York Rangers in exchange for Sean Durzi, Cole Beaudoin, and a conditional 2027 third-round pick. The big takeaway? This front office is done being patient. This is a win-now swing.

Austin breaks down why Trocheck’s profile matters so much for Utah: a two-time NHL All-Star, a faceoff monster winning nearly 60% of his draws, and the kind of veteran center who can change close games. He also gets into the emotion of moving on from Sean Durzi and 2024 first-rounder Cole Beaudoin, and why this trade says the Utah Mammoth are trying to shorten the road to real contention.

There’s more from a wild July 1 in Utah hockey too: Anders Lee signs a three-year deal after nine 20-goal seasons, Kevin Stenlund returns on a one-year deal, Alex Kerfoot heads to Nashville, Ian Cole lands with the Chicago Blackhawks, and Barrett Hayton gets a one-year $4.775 million offer sheet from the New Jersey Devils. Austin also explains why Utah still needs a dangerous right-shot defenseman to fully unlock this roster.

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The Utah Mammoth didn’t just sit at No. 19 and hope. They moved up to No. 17 to draft Ethan Belchez, the 6-foot-6 Windsor Spitfires winger Austin thinks they clearly did not want to risk losing. This episode of SLC Puck is all about what that move says about Utah’s priorities: size, edge, personality, and a player who could eventually fill a real power-forward role in this organization.

Austin also digs into the other major draft-week dominoes. Utah shipped out J.J. Peterka to Boston for a pair of first-round picks, then used the 23rd overall pick to acquire goaltender Sebastian Cossa from Detroit. He also touches on Adam Valentini at No. 26, Andre Tourigny’s multi-year extension, the Blaine Forsythe extension, and the Adam Foote hire after Foote’s strong run helping Vancouver’s penalty kill.

There’s also some development camp flavor from Mammoth Ice Center, where Austin got a look at Tij Iginla, Caleb Desnoyers, and Michael Hrabal walking around the facility. The big takeaway: Utah’s prospect pool is getting bigger, meaner, and more interesting fast. If Belchez is the headline, the larger story is that this front office is making its type very obvious.

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Sebastian Cossa finally has his NHL shot, and the Utah Mammoth are betting he can solve a real problem. On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin Facer breaks down Utah signing Cossa to a 2-year, $4 million deal and why this move matters way more than people think.

The big question is simple: can Sebastian Cossa be a competent backup to Karel Vejmelka? Austin looks at the numbers from Vitek Vanecek’s rough season in Utah — 22 appearances, 19 starts, a 5-13-3 record, a goals-against average just under 3.00, and an .883 save percentage — and lays out the bar Cossa has to clear. If Utah can get Cossa into the 25-30 start range and ease Vejmelka down from the 64 appearances that led the NHL last season, that changes everything for the Mammoth heading into an 84-game season.

Austin also connects the dots from the JJ Peterka trade to this move. Utah moved Peterka’s $7.7 million cap hit, turned the 23rd overall pick from Boston into Cossa, and still held onto a 2028 first-rounder. There’s also more cap flexibility in play with Barrett Hayton headed to arbitration, which means this may be only one of several roster dominoes still to fall. Plus: a quick look at Cossa’s path from the Edmonton Oil Kings to the Grand Rapids Griffins, and why Dylan Guenther helped sell Utah as the right place for him.

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Andre Tourigny is back, but this sure feels like a prove-it year. On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down the Utah Mammoth reportedly extending their head coach by just one season — and why that matters way beyond the headline. A one-year extension after a 92-point playoff season says a lot, and Austin lays out exactly what Tourigny needs to do to earn something longer-term in Utah.

This episode digs into Tourigny’s full track record, from a 57-point season with Arizona in 2021-22 to 70 points, then 77, then 89 in Utah’s first season, and now 92 points with a playoff berth. Austin gives Bear his flowers, but also argues the next step has to be real: push toward 100 points, finish top three in the Central Division, and fix special teams after a power play that finished around 19th in the NHL and disappeared at key moments in the postseason.

Austin also hits the Michael Kesselring trade fallout after Buffalo flipped Kesselring and the 27th pick to San Jose to move up to 20th in the NHL Draft. That shifts the JJ Peterka trade conversation even more toward Peterka vs. Josh Doan moving forward. There’s also some San Jose Sharks anxiety, Macklin Celebrini respect, Mammoth Ice Center rookie camp chatter for June 29-July 1, and a very real question hanging over all of this: if Tourigny doesn’t make the next leap, could Utah eventually look at a bigger swing behind the bench?

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The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions, and this episode of SLC Puck is all about what Utah Mammoth fans should learn from it. Austin reacts to Carolina closing it out in Vegas, breaks down how Rod Brind’Amour’s team attacked all night, and explains why the Hurricanes’ depth, culture, and bold goalie switch to Brandon Bussi are exactly the kind of details that separate contenders from almosts.

We also go back to Utah’s two games against Carolina this season, including that brutal January 29 collapse in Raleigh when the Mammoth blew a 4-2 lead in the final two minutes and lost 5-4 after goals from Andrei Svechnikov, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Jordan Staal. Austin also looks back at the April 11 loss, a 4-1 result that snapped Utah’s five-game winning streak after the Mammoth had just clinched their first playoff berth. It’s a real look at the level Carolina played at all year — and what Utah still needs, especially behind Karel Vejmelka.

Plus: a full Carcone Cup recap from Mammoth Ice Center. Austin coached teams in all three divisions, won the 12U title with Hayton Hustle, watched Michael Carcone spend the entire weekend signing autographs and helping coaches, and even caught Ryan Smith, Danny Ainge, AJ Dybantsa, and Carcone emerging from the Mammoth side of the building together. Utah hockey people, this one’s for you.

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Dylan Larkin to the Utah Mammoth? Austin’s not buying it. On this episode of SLC Puck, he breaks down why the Red Wings captain-to-Utah rumor feels more like easy speculation than a real fit — even with reports that Larkin wants out of Detroit and has given Steve Yzerman a list of preferred destinations that includes the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights.

Austin’s main argument: the price, the age, and the timeline don’t add up for Utah. If Detroit is looking for a massive return, why would the Mammoth blow up a gradual build for a 29-year-old center entering the back half of his career? He also gets into why Utah keeps getting tossed into every rumor cycle: flashy new market, aggressive ownership, strong facilities, playoff team, and plenty of trade assets. That makes the Mammoth an easy team for insiders to mention — whether the fit is real or not.

There’s more in here too: Austin reacts live as Carolina beats Vegas 4-2 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, talks about Utah picking 19th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft on June 26 in Buffalo, and weighs a second Detroit rumor involving goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa. Cossa, the 6’6 former 15th overall pick, might be interesting pipeline depth alongside Michael Hrabal in Tucson — but Austin says he’s not the answer as Utah’s NHL backup and definitely not worth shipping out proven NHL players like Sean Durzi or Barrett Hayton.

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Kevin Stenlund unfollowed the Utah Mammoth on Instagram, and yeah… that feels like something. On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin digs into the NHL Follow Tracker post that caught Stenland unfollowing Utah, why that matters for a 29-year-old unrestricted free agent, and what it might be signaling about the Mammoth’s plans down the middle.

Austin breaks down Stenland’s role in Utah: 80 games played, 4 goals, 14 assists, 18 points, a minus-9, and heavy usage on the penalty kill and in overtime faceoffs. He also compares it to Stenland’s stronger 2024-25 season with 14 goals and 28 points, and asks the big question: do the Mammoth believe those utility-center minutes are replaceable now? If Stenland is really on the way out, that could open the door for Jack McBain, or for prospects like Tij Iginla, Cole Beaudoin, Caleb Desnoyers, and Gabe Smith to make real noise in training camp. Austin also touches on the lingering Robert Thomas idea and what this says about Bill Armstrong’s offseason priorities.

There’s also a quick Stanley Cup Final check-in, with Vegas vs. Carolina delivering a wild 5-4 double-overtime Game 3 after the Golden Knights blew a 4-0 lead, plus some thoughts on how that emotional swing compares to what Utah went through in its playoff series with Vegas. But the heart of this episode is simple: Kevin Stenlund hit unfollow, and for Utah Mammoth fans, that sure looks like a warning shot.

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Dylan Larkin is on the market, and that immediately raises the biggest Utah Mammoth question of the offseason: do they have the assets to trade for him… and should they even want to? On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin digs into the Detroit Red Wings captain’s situation after reports that Larkin wants out, and why the fit in Utah is a lot more complicated than just "big name available, go get him."Austin breaks down Larkin’s profile in detail: 29 years old, 808 career games with Detroit, 643 points, and a team-friendly $8.7 million cap hit through 2031. He also reacts to Cole Bagley’s proposed trade package of Barrett Hayton, Sean Durzi, Caleb Desnoyers, Utah’s 2026 first-round pick (19th overall), and a conditional 2028 second-rounder. The big takeaway? That price feels too rich for Dylan Larkin, especially if Caleb Desnoyers is part of the deal.There’s also a bigger strategic question here for the Mammoth. If Utah is going to cash in major assets, should that swing be saved for Robert Thomas instead? Austin explains why Thomas may be the better fit, why Desnoyers and Tij Iginla should be close to untouchable, and why names like Daniil But, Dmitri Simashev, or Maveric Lamoureux make more sense in a Larkin conversation. Plus: a little birthday talk, some men’s league soreness, and live reactions to the Stanley Cup Final while Brandon McNabb takes an 88-mile-per-hour slap shot to the face in Carolina vs. Vegas.SLC Puck is powered by BigTuskEnergy.comCONNECT WITH SLC PUCK!🤝 Patreon ➡️ https://www.patreon.com/slcpuck🛍️ Merch ➡️ https://www.bigtuskenergy.com🤑 SLC Picks (DFS) ➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck🎥 TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck

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Jack McBain is our SLC Pucker of the Year, and honestly, there was no other choice. This episode is SLC Puck’s annual Utah Mammoth end-of-season awards show, where we hand out eight honors to the players who defined the 2025-26 season. McBain gets the big one after leading the team with 84 penalty minutes, setting the tone physically, and delivering one of the best fights of the year against Alexei Toropchenko after the hit that injured Logan Cooley.

We also hand out Electric Factory to Dylan Guenther after his 40-goal, 73-point season, including the kind of late-game moments that make the building shake. Lawson Crouse takes Bounce Back Player of the Year after jumping from 18 points to 44 and swinging from minus-4 to plus-20. Nate Schmidt is our Newcomer of the Year after arriving from the Florida Panthers and posting a ridiculous plus-31 while bringing instant stability and veteran edge.

From there, we get into Karel Vejmelka as Mr. Reliable after 64 appearances and 38 wins, Logan Cooley as Mr. Rent Free after putting up 24 goals in just 54 games and constantly becoming The Topic, and Clayton Keller as our Most Valuable Mammoth after leading Utah in scoring again while carrying the emotional weight of the season. Sammy is back, Disneyland gets mentioned, Tusky almost steals an award, and yes, Michael Carcone gets love as the team’s full-time chaos merchant.

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The team that knocked out the Utah Mammoth is now playing for the Stanley Cup, and that’s exactly why this episode matters. On SLC Puck, Austin digs into what the Mammoth can actually learn from the Vegas Golden Knights — a team that keeps making ruthless, win-now moves and keeps getting rewarded for it.

Vegas swept the Colorado Avalanche to reach the Stanley Cup Final after eliminating Utah, and Austin makes the case that the Mammoth may be closer than people think. He breaks down Vegas’ depth and why it worked: Mitch Marner leading the way with 21 points, Jack Eichel sitting at 18, and both Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden scoring 10 goals in the playoffs. There’s also a look at how close Utah really was in that first-round series, with Game 4 going to double overtime and Game 5 going to overtime before the Golden Knights took control.

Austin also talks through what a more aggressive Utah timeline could look like, from adding another true top-pair defenseman to getting heavier in the top six, with names like Sean Durzi, Mikhail Sergachev, Barrett Hayton, and Tij Iginla all part of the conversation. Then the show pivots to a wild stat off the ice: Salt Lake City jumped from No. 44 to No. 12 in Sports Business Journal’s best sports cities rankings, with the Mammoth, the 2034 Olympics, and Utah’s MLB push all helping reshape the city’s sports identity.

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This is a free preview of SLC Puck+ — the members-only bonus show for the SLC Puck sickos.

Right now, we have 25 paid members helping build this thing.

The next goal is simple:

50 paid members before next season.

That’s not some random vanity number. That’s the next step in turning SLC Puck from a fun local hockey podcast into a real Utah hockey media operation.

The main SLC Puck show covers the Utah Mammoth: games, roster moves, prospects, reactions, watch parties, interviews, and everything happening around hockey in Utah.

SLC Puck+ is where we let it rip.

It’s the bonus show where we get into the weirdest corners of the hockey world: league-wide chaos, hockey internet nonsense, unhinged fan behavior, strange player lore, media drama, goalie crimes, youth hockey madness, and whatever else makes this sport the greatest content machine on earth.

This free preview is a perfect example.

A viral U12 hockey clip involving the Vaughn Panthers, angry parents, glass-banging, alleged locker room drama, and one red-hat guy with the energy of a man defending Helm’s Deep.

Most people saw bad behavior.

I saw reasonable doubt.

Maybe the parents were out of line. Maybe the ref missed something. Maybe the Zamboni left the ice too wet. Maybe this is simply a proud youth hockey program defending decades of sacred glass-banging tradition.

The point is: we do not have all the facts, your honor.

If this clip makes you laugh, you’ll like SLC Puck+.

And if you already watch SLC Puck, coming over to Patreon is the best way to help us grow the show, improve the production, build more live events, make more weird hockey content, and keep pushing toward something bigger.

We’re at 25 paid members.

Help us get to 50.

Join SLC Puck+ here:

www.patreon.com/slcpuck

Utah Mammoth fans have a real question to wrestle with this summer: do you want a team full of lovable guys, or a team built to win ugly? On this Memorial Day edition of SLC Puck, Austin reacts to the Vegas Golden Knights going up 3-0 on Colorado and uses that as the jumping-off point for a bigger Utah hockey debate. If Vegas is rolling with Carter Hart in net, Mark Stone back in the lineup, and the Avalanche suddenly on the brink, what does that say about what it actually takes to contend?

Austin gets into the contrast between the Mammoth and Vegas: Utah has a roster fans genuinely like, from Lawson Crouse’s dog Butter Pig to JJ Peterka apparently moonlighting as a house DJ under Turks.DJ, to Dylan Guenther spending part of his summer at Disneyland. Meanwhile, Vegas keeps making ruthless moves, from the Marc-Andre Fleury trade to firing Bruce Cassidy late and bringing in John Tortorella. It turns into a blunt fan-first conversation about whether Mammoth fans would accept more edge, more nastiness, and maybe even more baggage if it meant a real shot at a Stanley Cup.

There’s also some jersey chaos in here, because of course there is. Austin talks about Utah’s 2026-27 Winter Classic at Rice-Eccles Stadium against Colorado, plus the leaked reporting around a new light blue “Hometown Remix” alternate jersey that could feature the tusk-heavy U logo. So yes, this episode has Carter Hart, Vegas villainy, Mammoth identity, and future sweater damage to your credit card.

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Tij Iginla’s junior hockey career could be headed for a storybook ending.

The Utah Mammoth’s top prospect and first-ever draft pick is set to lead the Kelowna Rockets into the Memorial Cup, one of the biggest stages in Canadian junior hockey. Kelowna didn’t win the WHL title, but as the host team, the Rockets get one more shot — and Iginla gets a massive opportunity to put a stamp on his junior career before taking the next step toward the NHL.

On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down why Mammoth fans should be locked in on the Memorial Cup, how Iginla’s development has taken off like a rocket, why his return from hip surgery makes this moment even more impressive, and what this tournament could mean for his path to Utah.

Plus, Austin looks at the Memorial Cup field, the Utah prospects involved, the massive stage waiting in Kelowna, and why this week could become a major chapter in the future of the Utah Mammoth.

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Join the SLC Puck+ tier on Patreon for bonus episodes! ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuckIt’s a very special Mother’s Day edition of SLC Puck — just one week late, because every day should be Mother’s Day if you’re brave enough.Austin is joined by his mom for an annual SLC Puck tradition to talk about the Utah Mammoth season, the family’s growing hockey obsession, and how SLC Puck has turned into a weird, wonderful little family business in the basement.On this episode, Austin and his mom talk about:how the Utah Mammoth took over the familyBig Tusk Energy hats and the chaos of launching merchwhy the Mammoth name ended up being perfectwatch parties, 3D-printed mammoths, hype chains, and family creativitySammy becoming one of Utah’s biggest Mammoth fansKevin growing up around hockeyplayoff memories from the Delta Centerwhy Game 6 felt so emotionally flatthe future of Delta Center seating and affordabilitywhat the Mammoth can learn from Vegas’ in-arena storytellingand why Clayton Keller’s Mother’s Day tribute hit so hardThis episode is about hockey, family, community, and the little basement podcast that somehow became part of the Utah Mammoth fan experience.CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK!🤝 Patreon ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuck🛍️ Merch ➡️ www.bigtuskenergy.com🤑SLC Picks (DFS)➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck🎥TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck

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Join the SLC Puck+ tier on Patreon for bonus episodes! ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuckWinter Classic tickets are live, and Utah’s sports future is getting bigger. Austin breaks down ticket prices for Mammoth vs. Avalanche at Rice-Eccles Stadium and the new Intermountain Health Sports Performance Center coming next to the Mammoth practice facility.CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK!🤝 Patreon ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuck🛍️ Merch ➡️ www.bigtuskenergy.com🤑SLC Picks (DFS)➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck🎥TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck

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Join the SLC Puck+ tier on Patreon for bonus episodes! ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuckRyan Smith just revealed the next major phase of renovations coming to the Delta Center — and the future home of the Utah Mammoth and Utah Jazz is about to look very different.On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin reacts to Smith’s new renovation video and breaks down what the next phases could mean for hockey, basketball, sightlines, fan experience, and the future of live sports in Utah.The plans include major changes to the upper bowl, new terrace-style seating, gondola-style views, a dramatic new south-end fan section, and the eventual elimination of single-goal-view hockey seats.Austin breaks down:* the next phase of Delta Center renovations* what changes are coming in 2026 and 2027* why hockey sightlines are driving the redesign* the new terrace-style upper bowl* the possible “gondola” seating experience* why the south-end section could become Utah’s version of “The Wall”* how this could change home-ice advantage for the Mammoth* what this means for Jazz and Mammoth fans* and why the Delta Center could become one of the most unique arenas in North American sportsThe Mammoth may be in the offseason, but the future of hockey in Utah is already being built.CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK!🤝 Patreon ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuck🛍️ Merch ➡️ www.bigtuskenergy.com🤑SLC Picks (DFS)➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck🎥TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck

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The Utah Mammoth’s 2025-26 season is officially in the books.

After making the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in franchise history, improving their record, raising their goal differential, and giving Utah fans their first real taste of NHL postseason hockey, it’s easy to call the season a success.

But after blowing a 2-1 series lead to the Vegas Golden Knights, struggling badly on the power play, and falling flat in Game 6, it’s fair to ask a tougher question:

Was this season a success… or a disappointment?

On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down both sides of the argument:

* how the Mammoth improved from last season

* why Bill Armstrong nailed expectations again

* Utah’s jump in wins, standings, and goal differential

* Dylan Guenther’s 40-goal season

* the five-on-five growth that made Utah dangerous

* the power play problem that never got solved

* why the Vegas series still feels like a missed opportunity

* Karel Vejmelka’s heavy workload

* and what the Mammoth must fix before next season

The season was successful.

The ending was disappointing.

And now the standard has changed.

Join the SLC Puck+ tier on Patreon for bonus episodes! ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuckThe Utah Mammoth’s first Stanley Cup Playoff run is over.After falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games, Utah’s 2025-26 season ends with disappointment, frustration, and a lot of questions about what went wrong.On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin and Sammy react a couple days after the Game 6 loss and break down the end of Utah’s first playoff series, including:* why Game 6 felt emotionally flat* how the series changed after Game 3* Utah’s brutal power play problems* Vegas’ control of the matchup at 5-on-5* Karel Vejmelka vs. Carter Hart* the injuries and fatigue that may have caught up to the Mammoth* what the player exit interviews are already telling us* and why Dylan Guenther’s mindset should define the future of this franchiseThe Mammoth are out, but this season still mattered.Utah made the playoffs.Utah experienced real postseason hockey.And now the standard changes.The future is bright — but the work starts now.CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK!🤝 Patreon ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuck🛍️ Merch ➡️ www.bigtuskenergy.com🤑SLC Picks (DFS)➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck🎥TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck

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Join the SLC Puck+ tier on Patreon for bonus episodes! ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuckThe Utah Mammoth are officially on the brink.After a heartbreaking 5-4 double overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5, the Mammoth now trail the series 3-2 and return to Salt Lake City facing elimination.On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down:* what went wrong in Game 5* the brutal late goal from Pavel Dorofeyev* Utah’s costly power play issues* the shorthanded overtime winner by Brett Howden* why Karel Vejmelka needs to simplify his puck handling* what Utah must clean up in Game 6* and what the Mammoth’s mindset should be with their season on the lineThis is the biggest game in Utah Mammoth history.Win, and the series goes back to Vegas for Game 7.Lose, and the first playoff run in franchise history comes to an end.The Mammoth are against the ropes.Now we find out what they’re made of.CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK!🤝 Patreon ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuck🛍️ Merch ➡️ www.bigtuskenergy.com🤑SLC Picks (DFS)➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck🎥TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck

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Join the SLC Puck+ tier on Patreon for bonus episodes! ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuckThe Utah Mammoth nearly pulled off an unbelievable comeback in Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights, storming back from a 3-0 deficit to take the lead before ultimately falling 5-4 in overtime.On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down one of the most exciting games in Utah hockey history:* what sparked the comeback* who showed up in a huge way* what mistakes still cost Utah* and what the Mammoth have to do now that the series heads back to Vegas for Game 5From Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther continuing to rise to the moment, to the chaos of overtime, to the emotional swing of a game that felt won, lost, saved, and lost again — there’s a lot to get into.Utah still has life.Now it’s about the response.CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK!🤝 Patreon ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuck🛍️ Merch ➡️ www.bigtuskenergy.com🤑SLC Picks (DFS)➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck🎥TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck

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Join the SLC Puck+ tier on Patreon for bonus episodes! ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuckThe Utah Mammoth are set to make history again.On Friday night, Utah will host the first home playoff game in franchise history as the Mammoth take on the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series. The series is tied 1-1, the Delta Center is going to be rocking, and this has all the makings of one of the biggest nights in Utah hockey history. On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin and Sammy get ready for Game 3, talk through the feel of the series so far, what Utah has to do to control the pace, why Vegas is still dangerous, and what kind of atmosphere to expect when playoff hockey finally arrives in Salt Lake City. They also get into the jersey exchange, the watch parties, and the growing rivalry between the Mammoth and Golden Knights.CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK!🤝 Patreon ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuck🛍️ Merch ➡️ www.bigtuskenergy.com🤑SLC Picks (DFS)➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck🎥TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck

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Join the SLC Puck+ tier on Patreon for bonus episodes! ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuckThe Utah Mammoth dropped Game 1 of their first-ever Stanley Cup Playoff series, falling 4-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights in Las Vegas. But this one wasn’t all bad.On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down the Mammoth’s playoff debut, the intensity of the series, the guys who showed up, the guys who didn’t, and what Utah has to clean up before Game 2.In this episode:* why Logan Cooley looked like a future superstar* what went wrong for Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, and Lawson Kraus* why Sean Durzi’s headbutt added even more fuel to this series* how Vegas took advantage of Utah’s mistakes* and what the Mammoth need to do to even the series before heading homePlus, thoughts from the watch party, the atmosphere in Vegas, and why this already feels like the start of a real rivalry.Game 1 is over.Now it’s about the response.CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK!🤝 Patreon ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuck🛍️ Merch ➡️ www.bigtuskenergy.com🤑SLC Picks (DFS)➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck🎥TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck

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Game 82 is in the books, and now it’s official: the Utah Mammoth will face the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin and Sammy break down the end of the regular season, what Utah showed in Games 81 and 82, the final playoff picture in the Western Conference, and what the Mammoth will need to do if they want to knock off one of the hottest teams in hockey.

In this episode:

* Utah’s win over Winnipeg and loss to St. Louis

* why the final week still mattered

* the playoff energy building at the Delta Center

* why Vegas may be a tougher draw now than it looked a week ago

* what Utah has to lean on to win the series

* and thoughts on the Mammoth’s end-of-season team awards

Playoff hockey is here. Utah vs. Vegas. Let’s go.

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Join the SLC Puck+ tier on Patreon for bonus episodes! ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuckGRAB SOME ICE GIVEAWAY: https://www.slcpuck.com/p/giveaway-grab-some-iceThe Utah Mammoth have already punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs — but after back-to-back losses to Carolina and Calgary, a bigger question is starting to take shape:Are they mentally ready for what comes next?On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down Utah’s recent losses, why the effort and mindset against Calgary were concerning, and why the Mammoth still have important work to do before the postseason begins. Plus, a look at the race for the Pacific Division, why Vegas suddenly looks terrifying, and an emotional goodbye to the Utah Grizzlies after their final game in West Valley.In this episode: • Why Utah’s loss to Calgary felt different • What Andre Tourigny had to say about the team’s mindset • Why locking up Wild Card 1 still matters • Why Vegas might not be the ideal first-round draw anymore • A farewell to the Utah Grizzlies and what their departure means for Utah hockeyCONNECT WITH SLC PUCK!🤝 Patreon ➡️ www.patreon.com/slcpuck🛍️ Merch ➡️ www.bigtuskenergy.com🤑SLC Picks (DFS)➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck🎥TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck

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