The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!

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Read past 32 series stories here: https://dobberprospects.com/category/feature/32-in-32-series/

Make sure to check out the Utah Mammoth team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/arizona-coyotes/

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Following their inaugural campaign as the Utah Hockey Club, the newly rebranded Utah Mammoth entered 2025-26 with high ambitions after missing the playoffs by seven points the year before. They opened their regular schedule sitting at the top of the Central Division after 10 games, but struggled to maintain that momentum, recording only 10 wins over their next 30 games.

As the calendar flipped to 2026, the Mammoth found their leaps turning their season around with a 10-win January. After sitting around .500 through the first half, Utah surged up the standings to clinch the first playoff appearance in their two-year history.

They finished with a 43-33-6 record (92 points) before losing in the first round to the eventual Stanley Cup finalists, the Vegas Golden Knights, in six games.

Although their postseason run was short-lived, the Mammoth made significant progress. With a promising young core continuing to mature and key additions made over the summer, the future looks bright. Let’s take a closer look.

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NHL Draft Recap

First Round, 17th overall, Ethan Belchetz, LW (OHL)

Belchetz showed meaningful offensive growth in 2025-26 for a player whose calling card is his size. With the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL, he raised his performance to 34 goals and 59 points in 57 games after recording 38 points in his previous season. The 6-5, 230 lbs left winger combines a heavy shot, excellent puck protection and the ability to create opportunities around the net with a great vision and playmaking ability, even in traffic. His last campaign ended prematurely with a fractured clavicle, but he remained a highly projected prospect and was ranked ninth among North American players by NHL Central Scouting.

The Mammoth moved up to 17th to secure Belchetz, valuing his blend of size, hockey sense, offensive ability and physicality. Improving his acceleration, agility and consistency in using his physical tools will be important as he moves up to the NCAA this season, where his combination of size and offensive skill will have an opportunity to continue developing.

25/26 Stats, Windsor: GP: 57 | G: 34 | A: 25 | P: 59 | PPG: 1.04 |

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Third Round, 96th overall, Adam Valentini, C (NCAA)

Choosing the NCAA path rather than the OHL, Valentini showed he could hold his own against older competition during his freshman year at the University of Michigan, finishing with 11 goals and 27 points in 40 games. The 5-10, 185 lbs left-shot center brings plenty of energy to his game. He uses his low center of gravity and competitiveness to pressure defensemen on the forecheck, battle for pucks and create chances around the crease. His offensive game relies more on anticipation, work ethic and quick decisions than high-end speed or one-on-one ability. However, he shows enough playmaking skill to suggest there is more to his game than his energy role. Valentini also played in all situations for Canada at the U18 World Championship, producing five points in five games while serving as an alternate captain. 

Valentini could provide good value as the 96th overall pick was ranked considerably higher by several scouting services. It will be important for him to improve his skating, defensive consistency and ability to create offense under pressure and another year in the NCAA will give him a chance to round out his game and build on a promising future.

25/26 Stats, Michigan University: GP: 40 | G: 11 | A: 16 | P: 27 | PPG: 0.68 |

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Fourth Round, 115th overall, Carl Axelsson, G (USHL)

After going undrafted in 2025, Axelsson made a strong case for another look with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. He posted a 2.48 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage in 44 games before carrying a .912 save percentage into 16 playoff starts. At 6-4, 183 lbs, Axelsson uses his frame well and plays a relatively calm, economical style, relying on positioning rather than excessive movement. His 54-save performance in the Clark Cup playoffs was another indication that he can handle a heavy workload. There are still details to clean up, particularly his positioning and ability to anticipate developing plays instead of reacting to them. 

Utah selected the late-blooming goaltender 115th overall, giving him time to continue developing at Minnesota-Duluth. The NCAA should provide a useful test of whether his improved reading of the game can translate against older, stronger competition.

25/26 Stats, Muskegon: GP: 44 | GAA: 2.48 | SV%: .916 | SO: 2 | 28-14-1

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Fifth Round, 130th overall, Theodor Knights, D (U20 Nationell)

Knights stands at 6-4 and 207 lbs, giving Utah’s prospect pipeline an interesting blend of size, mobility, and raw physical play. You won’t get much from his 2025-26 stats with MoDo, as he recorded only 2 assists in 24 games. Judging him on offensive output ignores why the Mammoth selected him 130th overall. What stands out first is how this left-shot defenseman uses his size. He disrupts passing lanes and he is not afraid to finish his hits. Knights has smooth enough feet to close gaps quickly before moving the puck forward. The tradeoff right now is polish. He still gets caught out of position when his physical edges take over. Also, his overall decision-making with- and off-puck remains a work in progress.

At the end of the day, Utah drafted a project. The raw tools are definitely there, but Knights will need a significant path. If the hockey IQ and defensive reads ever catch up to the physical package, he could become a dependable bottom-pairing blueliner down the line.

25/26 Stats, MoDo U20: GP: 24 | G: 0 | A: 2 | P: 2 | PPG: 0.08 |

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Fifth Round, 147th overall, Florent Houle, RW (QMJHL)

Just like their fourth-round pick, Houle was overlooked in the 2025 Draft, but he also made a loud statement, scoring 41 points in 52 games in 2025-26. The right-shot winger added five goals in seven playoff games, raising his profile. At 6-0, 192 lbs, Houle brings speed, agility, and creativity on the rush, using his changes of direction and puck skills to make things happen. He also competes hard and can contribute off-puck well.

He will have to add strength and improve his ability to deal with pressure along the boards, but he is an interesting late-round gamble whose offensive improvement and puck-carrying skills could allow him to outperform his draft position.

25/26 Stats, Sherbrooke: GP: 52 | G: 19 | A: 22 | P: 41 | PPG: 0.79 |

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Seventh Round, 211th overall, Artyom Prima, LW (USHL)

Prima jumped from the NAHL to the USHL and immediately made his presence felt with his high energy and willingness to attack. The 6-1, 176 lbs winger posted 14 goals and 40 points in 45 games split between Minot and Omaha, including six goals and 14 points in just 17 USHL games. 

The left-shot forward skates well and will battle hard for pucks, while his heavy game gives him some ability to drive plays toward the net. His skating efficiency and offensive execution are still a little rough around the edges, but the late-season jump to the USHL and quick production made him an intriguing developmental bet for Utah with the 211th pick.

25/26 NAHL Stats, Minot: GP: 28 | G: 8 | A: 18 | P: 26 | PPG: 0.93 |

25/26 USHL Stats, Omaha: GP: 17 | G: 6 | A: 8 | P: 14 | PPG: 0.82 |

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Off-Season Moves

Incoming:

Vincent Trocheck – 3 years, $5.625 Million

Joshua Roy – 1 year, $0.85 Million

Anders Lee – 3 years, $5.4 Million

Andrew Peeke – 1 year, $1 Million

Outgoing

Sean Durzi

Cole Beaudoin

Andrew Agozzino

Ian Cole

Alexander Kerfoot

Scott Perunovich

Vitek Vanecek

Matt Villalta

Re-signed

Kailer Yamamoto  – 2 years $3.5 Million

Zac Jones – 2 years, $0.875 Million

Kevin Stenlund – 1 year, $2.75 Million

Barrett Hayton – 1 year, $4.775 Million

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In The System

Risers

Caleb Desnoyers, C

Desnoyers continues to show the makings of a center who can carry significant fantasy value, even without being a pure goal scorer. 

A wrist surgery delayed the beginning of his season last year, but once he returned, his playmaking quickly became a major driver of his offense. He finished with 22 goals and 78 points in 45 games, with 56 assists setting a new career high and his 1.73 points-per-game average well above his previous mark. The production fits naturally with his overall game: he creates offense without sacrificing his two-way responsibilities, using his vision and hockey sense to consistently find teammates in dangerous areas.

That playmaking translated to the international stage as well, with six assists in seven World Junior Championship games. With the injury behind him and a three-year entry level contract signed, the next step is earning an NHL role. If he does, his combination of playmaking and scoring should give him plenty of opportunities.

Tij Iginla, LW

After dealing with a rough stretch of injuries, Iginla finally got healthy and showed what he’s truly capable of. The results speak by themselves. The 6-0, 191 lbs left-winger made a strong comeback with Kelowna, putting up 41 goals and 90 points in just 48 games. His 1.88 points-per-game pace didn’t just turn heads; it led the entire WHL.

What’s impressive is that the offense wasn’t just a flash in the pan. The momentum carried over to Team Canada during the World Junior Championship, where he recorded four goals and eight points in seven games and during the WHL Playoffs with another seven goals in nine games.

Beyond the raw stats, this was a massive bounce-back year for a kid whose development kept getting derailed by physical setbacks. Between his dangerous shot, offensive instincts, and much-improved playmaking, he demonstrated he can project as a future top-six NHL forward. With the Mammoth looking at him for a potential spot by 2026-27, Iginla’s fantasy ceiling looks way higher than it did just twelve months ago.

Dmitri Simashev, D

Simashev made a strong case for a higher spot in Utah’s prospect pipeline after adapting quickly to North American hockey. After beginning the year with the Mammoth, the 6-5 defenseman’s offensive game started progressing in Tucson, where he recorded eight goals and 35 points in 40 AHL games. He ranked among the AHL’s rookie defensemen leaders with his 27 assists and 0.88 points-per-game average. He also added 12 power-play points which reinforced his offensive profile.

Simashev also earned AHL All-Rookie Team honors and was selected to the All-Star Classic, confirming his progress. The NHL numbers were far less impressive, with one assist in 28 games, but his overall development is encouraging. With Utah losing two defensemen from last year’s roster, Simashev should have a clearer opportunity to establish himself in the regular lineup.

Daniil But, LW

The upside of But has always been obvious: a 6-6 winger with a big shot, soft hands, and the ability to create offense. In 2025-26, those tools finally started translating to North American hockey. He scored 19 goals and 39 points in 41 games with Tucson, then earned multiple NHL call-ups and finished with three goals and seven points in 29 NHL games. His NHL production was modest, but getting his first taste of a full-time schedule at that level was an important step. 

More encouraging was how quickly he became one of Tucson’s go-to offensive players, including six power-play goals. His skating, particularly his acceleration, remains the biggest question, but there is more substance behind the upside now. If But can carry his AHL scoring touch into a larger NHL role, his combination of size and shooting ability could make him an intriguing option.

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Fallers

Joshua Roy, RW

Roy did not have a poor AHL season, but his development toward the NHL has become harder to project. He posted a career-best 23 goals and 45 points in 57 games with the Laval Rocket in 2025-26. However, his 0.79 points-per-game rate was only a modest improvement from the previous year. More concerning was his lack of progress at the NHL level. After appearing in 23 games for Montreal in 2023-24, he played just 12 games the following season and only three in 2025-26, failing to record a point. 

The Montreal Canadiens eventually moved him to the Utah Mammoth in June, giving the 22-year-old a fresh opportunity to bounce back. Roy still has good hands and offensive instincts, but his AHL production has not translated into a consistent NHL role. For fantasy purposes, that gap is becoming difficult to overlook, making his path to meaningful NHL production much less certain than it once appeared.

Vojtěch Hradec, C

Hradec could not build on the momentum he generated the previous year. After a promising 2024-25 campaign and an impressive showing at the 2025 World Juniors Championship, where he recorded eight points in seven games for Czechia, his offensive production took a step back with Mladá Boleslav. Hradec finished 2025-26 with four goals and eight points in 43 Extraliga games, down from 15 points in 48 games the year before. 

His scoring rate dropped from 0.31 to 0.19 points per game, making the decline more than just a matter of opportunity. The 6-4, 201 lbs left-shot center still brings size, a strong net-front presence, and a defensive foundation, but those traits will need to be complemented by more offense as he moves through his development. For fantasy purposes, Hradec remains a long-term project, with his NHL upside now tied closely to whether he can rediscover the momentum he showed in 2024-25.

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Likely to See NHL Action

Daniil But

Joshua Roy

Dimitri Simashev

Tij Iginla

Sebastian Cossa

Michael Hrabal

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Top 20 Prospects

This section is intended to paint a picture of the Utah Mammoth prospects whose current trajectory projects them to make the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.

1. Tij Iginla
2. Caleb Desnoyers
3. Sebastian Cossa
4. Dmitri Simashev
5. Daniil But
6. Maveric Lamoureux
7. Michael Hrabal
8. Joshua Roy
9. Will Skahan
10. Ethan Belchetz
11. Artyom Duda
12. Noel Nordh
13. Max Psenicka
14. Vadim Moroz
15. Adam Valentini
16. Veeti Väisänen
17. Carl Axelsson
18. Tomas Lavoie
19. Vojtech Hradec
20. Yegor Borikov

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Make sure to check out the Utah Mammoth team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/arizona-coyotes/

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Final thoughts

Utah has built one of the most enviable pipelines in the NHL by pairing elite goaltending prospects like Sebastian Cossa (acquired from Detroit for a supplemental 2026 first-round pick they had in bank) and Michael Hrabal with high-ceiling forwards like Caleb Desnoyers and Tij Iginla. When you mix this raw talent with an established core featuring Guenther, Cooley, Sergachev and so on, the foundation appears to be in place for a bright future.

The most encouraging part may be the variety within the prospect pool. Utah has added high-end skill, size, goaltending and defensive depth, giving the organization multiple avenues to strengthen its NHL roster over the next few years. Not every prospect will follow the same development path, but the depth of talent with legitimate NHL potential gives the Mammoth options as their young core continues to mature.

After reaching the playoffs last season, the Mammoth appear to have moved beyond simply establishing themselves. The next step will be turning this combination of young NHL talent and developing prospects into a sustained championship window.

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Thank you for reading!

Pat Bast

Follow me for AHL updates all season long: @PBastien1980