- Bill Armstrong says NHL players are now adding Utah to their trade lists
- John Marino’s eight-year, $54M extension is the latest core piece to re-up
- Read below for what’s fueling the Mammoth’s rise as a destination
Utah is turning into a place NHL players actually want to be.
Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong made that pitch this week after locking defenseman John Marino into a long-term deal, and he backed it with a detail that would have sounded far-fetched a year ago. Players are starting to write Utah into their trade lists instead of out of them.
Armstrong was asked what the run of re-signings says about the franchise, per NHL.com’s Nicholas Cotsonika.
“Our players that are here are re-upping their contracts because it’s a great place to play,” Armstrong said. “I think guys have changed their trade language to add us in, a place that’s desirable to play.”
We had the Marino news on Tuesday:
Marino signed an eight-year, $54 million extension that carries a $6.75 million cap hit starting in 2027-28. He could have reached unrestricted free agency next summer. He picked Salt Lake City instead.
The turnaround has been fast. In just their second NHL season, the Mammoth rolled out a new name and logo, opened a new practice facility, and reached the playoffs for the first time.
They pushed it further than anyone expected too. Utah grabbed a 2-1 series lead on Vegas in the first round before dropping the next three games. The Golden Knights went all the way to the Cup Final before losing to Carolina.
The young core is locked up. Dylan Guenther, 23, and Logan Cooley, 22, are both signed through 2030-31. Captain Clayton Keller has two years left on his deal.
Marino likes what he sees around him. “The future’s really exciting,” he said. “Those guys are only going to get better with age as well, so there’s so much to look forward to.”
Check out what Guenther and Cooley can do on the same shift:
Owners Ryan and Ashley Smith have poured money into Delta Center, and the fan base has shown up loud for it. A few years ago Utah did not have an NHL team. Now its general manager says players are asking to come.
