The Utah Mammoth have made their intention pretty clear: get tougher to play against without dulling the offense. That balance is why Vincent Trocheck is now part of the picture, and it’s also why Daniil But stands out as a prospect worth watching.
But brings a different kind of appeal to Utah’s forward group. He was taken 12th overall in the 2023 NHL draft by the Arizona Coyotes, and the 21-year-old has already flashed enough production to keep him on the radar. In 29 NHL games, all of them in 2025-26, he has three goals and four assists.
His AHL numbers from last season are the more eye-catching part of the resume: 19 goals and 20 assists in 41 games. That kind of scoring touch is part of what makes him interesting, even with the Mammoth already carrying plenty of wing depth. Utah kept Kailer Yamamoto and moved Trocheck to wing, so the top nine isn’t exactly begging for another body.
Still, But offers something the roster can use. At 6-foot-5 and 203 pounds, he’s one of the biggest wingers on the team, and that size gives him a chance to be more than just another depth scorer. He could become a disruptive presence on the defensive side as well.
There are signs he’s starting to settle in. In a recent 3-0 shutout over the Vegas Golden Knights in a rookie showcase, But scored on the power play and looked like the best player on the ice. That matters because his brief NHL stint in Salt Lake didn’t go smoothly, and he never looked fully comfortable there.
Among Utah’s top prospects, But may be the one closest to being ready for the NHL. The Mammoth don’t need him to force his way into the lineup right now, but his size and two-way potential give him a real chance to become a safety net if injuries hit. If he keeps building momentum in preseason, rookie showcase action, and beyond, he could end up playing a bigger role than expected in 2026-27.