One of Utah Mammoth’s clearest priorities for 2026-27 is shoring up the blue line. The defense was serviceable last season, but it never really became a strength, and the team has already brought in assistant coach Adam Foote to help push that area forward. Even so, the Mammoth’s depth on defense is going to matter just as much as any coaching tweak.
That’s where Nate Schmidt comes in.
After winning a Stanley Cup with Florida in 2025, Schmidt turned in a solid season for Utah last year and now looks like one of the more important veteran pieces on the roster. With Ian Cole gone, Schmidt is the next experienced defenseman in line to steady things behind the team’s top names.
Schmidt’s 2025-26 numbers backed that up. He scored five goals and added 17 assists, but the standout was his plus-minus rating: a 31 +/-. That mark was second on the team only to John Marino, who emerged as one of the best defensemen in that category last season and was rewarded with a major contract extension.
Utah’s defense picture still leans heavily on its established core. Mackenzie Weegar, Mikhail Sergachev, and Marino are the top options for now, while Dmitri Simashev is expected to play a big role even though he appeared in fewer than 30 games last season. But with Cole gone - the only player to have appeared in all 164 games in Utah’s history so far - Schmidt’s value goes beyond the stat sheet.
The Mammoth want more from some of their younger defensemen, and that makes Schmidt’s presence even more important. They need a player who brings leadership, experience, and the kind of steady play that can cover for someone else’s mistake.
Last season, Schmidt gave them that. Utah is hoping he can do it again in 2026-27.
In Other News...
Arizona Hockey Is Back In The NHL Conversation Again
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For Arizona fans, the path back is still a long one. The Coyotes franchise remains inactive, and any return would still need the kind of arena situation that can support an NHL team, along with the ownership approval that comes with launching a new chapter rather than simply reopening the old one. Still, just having the league talk about Phoenix again is a meaningful shift after a stretch in which the market had largely slipped out of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Roadrunners Double Down On Fan Traditions All Season Long
The Tucson Roadrunners have leaned into the part of minor league hockey that makes the experience feel bigger than the standings, unveiling a 2026-27 theme night schedule built around familiar favorites and a few new wrinkles. Opening Night, Teddy Bear Toss and Star Wars Night are all on the calendar, alongside community celebrations that have become part of the clubs identity and give fans a reason to circle dates long before puck drop.
For a team that has long understood how much atmosphere matters in Tucson, the schedule is as much about connection as it is entertainment. Several community appreciation nights are included as well, and with tickets and season memberships already available, the Roadrunners are once again giving fans a full-season menu of ways to stay engaged from the first home game to the last. [Read more 🡒]