Defenceman Matthew Schaefer #48 of the Erie Otters during the morning skate prior to the CHL USA Prospects Challenge at Canada Life Place on November 26, 2024 in London, Ontario. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Mammoth hit the jackpot last week as they won the 2025 NHL Draft lottery and moved up 10 spots to the No. 4 overall pick. After experiencing some insane luck without the usual pain associated with selecting that high, here are some potential draft scenarios for the Utah Mammoth.
Time for GMBA to cook ⏰👨🍳 pic.twitter.com/mpV59ZjOHy
— Utah Mammoth (@utahhockeyclub) May 6, 2025
Before jumping into possible scenarios for the Mammoth, it’s important to recognize what their mindset and approach will be going into the draft.
As pointed out by General Manager Bill Armstrong immediately following the lottery, this was a huge break for the club.
“To pick at four…couple seconds ago we were ten back, so it still hasn’t sunk in,” Armstrong said following the lottery.
“What a great opportunity for us to move up that far in the draft…this is an exciting moment for us. It’s a game changer for us.”
To jump that many spots after narrowly missing the playoffs while stepping into year five of the rebuild was nearly impossible.
But now, Utah has a chance to add another Logan Cooley or Dylan Guenther type of player who could help them continue to push towards a championship.
While there likely isn’t a Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby or Connor Bedard in this draft, there’s still a plethora of talent available that could propel the organization toward a Stanley Cup and even lengthen their window of contention.
So, what type of skater will they target?
As Armstrong stated, Utah will always select the best player available regardless of position.
The process is all about undergoing extensive research, identifying what’s available and then trusting your scouting team to make the right selection.
Bill Armstrong says he prefers to take the best player available in the draft.
“Picking at four will give us an opportunity to get a real good player that will have some impact in the coming years in this franchise.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) May 6, 2025
With that being said, the top of the draft is overflowing with talented centers and wingers.
What does Utah need? Depth at center and goal scoring.
While there isn’t necessarily a generational talent in the 2025 NHL draft, there’s still plenty of highly skilled skaters and Utah will have an opportunity to secure one of the top prospects.
Based on the varying talent, here are three potential scenarios that could unfold for the Utah Mammoth.
When taking a look at most mock drafts and the general consensus, it seems as though Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa will likely go No. 1 and No. 2.
Schaefer has been the common favorite to go first overall for some time and Misa packs arguably the greatest punch offensively with a league-high (OHL) 132 points this past season in the juniors.
Assuming that’s the case, Chicago would likely lean into a winger like Porter Martone to pair with Connor Bedard, leaving Utah with the opportunity to take one of the top centers.
Guys like James Hagens, Anton Frondell, or Caleb Desnoyers would be the most likely selections at No. 4 with players like Jake O’Brien, Brady Martin and Roger McQueen as potential dark horse picks.
Been watching a lot of James Hagens film recently.
He’s a talented center who thrives as a playmaker and generally makes everyone around him better.
Seems to be a pass first guy & has great vision.
Would y’all like to see him in a #TusksUp sweater?pic.twitter.com/XXY2ZKIXjM
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) May 8, 2025
As previously mentioned, the Mammoth’s front office is more concerned about taking the best overall player available at No. 4 and Porter Martone could be that guy.
Again, assuming that Schaefer and Misa are No. 1 and No. 2, Chicago could easily pass on Martone at No. 3.
If that’s the case, Martone is absolutely worth considering despite being a wing rather than a center.
With his 6’3″, 207-pound size and individual offensive firepower, Martone could be the best player available once the Mammoth are on the clock.
Another potential #TusksUp draft prospect is RW Porter Martone.
He is a one-man wrecking ball in the offensive zone with evasive puck handling skills, elite playmaking abilities, and versatile scoring.pic.twitter.com/N34VEYtDBS
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) May 8, 2025
While Schaefer has been the consensus No. 1 pick, there’s no reason to believe that he couldn’t fall in this year’s draft to the benefit of the Mammoth.
Matthew Schaefer can absolutely fly. 💨 #NHLDraft
(🎥: @OHLHockey) https://t.co/vUPyurZhDc pic.twitter.com/Ne8KdGxsVo
— NHL (@NHL) May 5, 2025
After experiencing a broken collarbone at the 2025 World Junior Championships, Schaefer only appeared in 17 games in the OHL last season.
That is a legitimate concern and potentially a huge risk at the No. 1 or No. 2 pick when there’s other players available with similar potential.
Do the Islanders take on that risk with such a valuable and unexpected No. 1 overall selection?
Would the Sharks and Blackhawks prefer to bolster their young forwards with even more talent at center or wing?
Time will tell.
But don’t be surprised if Schaefer begins to drop on draft night, and he if makes his way to No. 4, Utah would likely make him a Mammoth.
The NHL Draft is generally unpredictable.
Whether it’s players dropping, rising, or picks being moved, it’s generally fair to expect the unexpected.
As for Utah, while nothing is out of the question, it seems unlikely that they’ll look to trade the No. 4 overall selection.
Now, will they entertain those types of conversations? Absolutely.
“I think people will try to and get into that pick. They’ll want to acquire it…Obviously we’ll always talk about it. We’ll never shut that door,” Armstrong said.
However, despite the willingness to listen to trade offers, it would likely take a Mikhail Sergachev type of deal for the Mammoth to even consider moving off of the pick.
A clear and obvious upgrade for a young veteran that can help them win sooner rather than developing another prospect.
With that in mind, Utah will likely prioritize keeping the pick as it could be a while before they select inside the top four again.
Following the conclusion of the Utah Mammoth’s inaugural season, the next notable event will be the NHL Draft on June 27 and 28.
After recently drawing the fourth overall draft pick in the 2025 NHL draft, each of Utah’s upcoming draft selections will be dressed in the new Utah Mammoth home sweater.
Full story: Utah Hockey Club Draws No. 4 Overall Pick In 2025 NHL Draft Lottery
