Late yesterday afternoon, news broke that Utah Mammoth goalie Connor Ingram was cleared by the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and is free to return to the NHL. This is excellent news for him and the organization.
But it also creates some internal competition for the backup goalie position. Back on July 1, the Mammoth signed Vitek Vanecek to a one-year contract, which made a lot of sense. He had just come off a season in which he and the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup, and with uncertainty around Ingram’s future, the Mammoth needed to find a backup for starter Karel Vejmelka.
They did that with the addition of Vanecek. However, now with Ingram back, there will be more competition during training camp and the pre-season. What once seemed like a lock for Vanecek now looks like a spot he could lose if he doesn’t outperform Ingram.
This could also carry into the season. The Mammoth could elect to keep three goalies on their roster and give both a longer window to secure the backup role. If that happens, a decision would likely come before American Thanksgiving in November, which could result in either Vanecek or Ingram being placed on waivers, sent down to the AHL, or even traded to another organization. This is going to be a situation that draws plenty of attention from the organization, the fan base, and even other teams in need of another NHL-level goalie.
Regardless, on a more important note, it’s great to see Ingram returning to the NHL and getting the help he needed after the passing of his mother.
