With the dog days of summer slowly trickling to a close, there’s a sense that the trade market will heat up as we get closer to the start of the 2025-26 NHL season.

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, he mentioned on the 32 Thoughts Podcast that he expects more movement as the summer progresses.

"It's summer. Like, you know, people are trying to relax a little bit. And I'm assuming that things are going to heat up later in the summer at some point in all these particular situations.”

For the Utah Mammoth, they've been one of the busiest teams this offseason, and they could still be looking to make another move. If that’s the case, the one player who could be on the way out is Lawson Crouse.

Unfortunately, he had a rough season last year, and it could lead them to move on in order to improve their roster. Crouse brings value — he’s a physical presence and plays hard — but on this Utah team, he’s slowly sliding further down the lineup, which isn’t going to help his game.

That’s why the Mammoth could consider parting with him in a hockey-style trade, potentially a one-for-one deal with a contending team for someone who can better fill a third-line role. There are going to be plenty of names on the trade block over the next few weeks, so general manager Bill Armstrong will need to stay patient. But if he sees a deal he likes for Crouse, he won’t hesitate to pull the trigger.

From The Archive: Mission Possible The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

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