The Utah Mammoth have the draft capital, young talent and goaltending assets to emerge as a serious contender for Connor Hellebuyck
There is a point in every rebuild when potential stops being enough.
For the Utah Mammoth, that moment may have arrived.
The Mammoth have quietly assembled the kind of organizational capital that can make them dangerous in a blockbuster trade: promising young players, valuable draft selections and, perhaps most importantly, enough flexibility to make a team like the Winnipeg Jets listen when the phone rings.
If Utah is serious about pursuing Connor Hellebuyck, the conversation should begin with Sebastian Cossa, not Karel Vejmelka.
Here’s why.
The Mammoth want to make sure that the Jets know they are serious and are willing to play ball. Cossa has a better upside of becoming a long-term answer between the pipes, while Vejmelka, at times, has left more questions than answers.
Cossa, a longtime goaltending prospect for the Detroit Red Wings before he was acquired in a trade for the 23rd overall pick (JP Hurlbert) in this year’s draft, would represent the sort of goaltending prospect who could make a Hellebuyck trade considerably more palatable for Winnipeg.
Vejmelka is an established NHL goaltender and carries a $4.7 million annual cap hit through the 2029-30 season. He would provide Winnipeg with immediate stability as well if Utah were able to convince him to waive his 10-team no-trade clause.
But Cossa is the magic eraser. And Utah has plenty of Splenda at their disposal. The Mammoth possess an enviable collection of draft capital over the next several years, including a first-round pick in 2027 and two first-round selections in 2028.
The Mammoth also have young players who could become part of the equation.
Tij Iginla, Caleb Desnoyers, and Max Psenicka are among the names that could generate interest if Utah decides the price for Hellebuyck is worth paying.
That is ultimately where this potential trade becomes fascinating.
Utah does not necessarily have to beat every other Hellebuyck suitor by offering the single best player. It can overwhelm Winnipeg with options.
Cossa could provide the upside in net. Vejmelka could provide immediate NHL work. Draft picks could give the Jets a chance to replenish their organization for years to come. And Utah still has young talent that could be packaged into the deal.
Utah has already demonstrated a willingness to spend significant assets in pursuit of established NHL talent, including dealing away some of its promising young pieces in the trade for New York Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck. The Mammoth now have to determine how aggressively they want to continue down that road.
Hellebuyck would represent an entirely different level of acquisition. If they acquire Hellebuyck, it wouldn’t be crazy to immediately consider them Stanley Cup favorites.
If Winnipeg is genuinely prepared to move Hellebuyck, Utah has enough assets to construct a serious offer without being forced into a single avenue. That makes the Mammoth a far more intriguing trade candidate than some other teams.
And while Vejmelka may be the more obvious NHL-ready solution, Cossa could ultimately be the more compelling asset for Winnipeg.
If Utah is prepared to pay that price, the Mammoth could go all the way.
