​Now that the Utah Mammoth have matched Barrett Hayton’s offer sheet, they suddenly boast as many as eight centers for four spots—a luxury that’s proving to be a welcome headache. Even with that depth, general manager Bill Armstrong was determined to keep Hayton in the fold. Fans may recall last season’s training camp, when injuries forced Nick Schmaltz to shift from the wing to center, temporarily creating a makeshift first line that paid off in surprising ways. Armstrong isn’t eager to relive the same scenario.
If the team had to chase the market, especially around the trade deadline, to find a versatile forward who can contribute from the first line down to the third, the cost would be steep. Armstrong noted that you’d be paying a price of at least a first-round pick, plus competing with eight other teams for that deadline acquisition, which could drive the price even higher. In this particular situation, however, the organization has underscored how valuable Hayton has always been.
Armstrong revealed that roughly half the teams in the league called during the offseason to ask if Hayton might be available. Even though Hayton’s contract status prevents the Mammoth from trading him for the duration of the one-year deal, Armstrong was not willing to part with him for the second-round compensation that an offer sheet could have required. “When you’re inside with our coaches and building the team, Hayton does a lot of things that people can’t see,” Armstrong said. “He’s a valuable piece of our squad, and we believe we can move forward with him and help us win a championship.”
In the meantime, Mammoth fans have spent the past week debating where new pickup Vincent Trocheck will fit in the lineup. Will he take a center role or move to the wing? Will he slot into the top six or more likely settle into a lower-six role? Armstrong answered that question with a clear projection that helps shape the team’s structure. He stressed the importance of having two players on each line who can take draws, and his plan appears to support that philosophy. “I feel like we’ve got some of the best center depth in the National Hockey League,” he stated. “Starting with Nick Schmaltz as the number one center, Logan Cooley at the second line, Hayton at the third line, and Kevin Stenlund on the fourth.”
While the precise line combinations haven’t been finalized in July, the plan seems to place Trocheck on the wing to begin with. Armstrong has repeatedly highlighted the need for two players on every line who can take face-offs, and this approach provides a framework to sustain that balance. The Mammoth finished last season 23rd in the league in face-off percentage, winning just 49.2% of draws, so a strategy that strengthens face-off capacities across lines is a clear objective.
The next big topic in Mammoth land centers on the arrival of young talents Tij Iginla and Caleb Desnoye, and how they might fit into the long-term plan. Their development and integration will be watched closely as the team navigates this depth and the quest for a championship.