Utah’s push to score more goals in 2026-27 could come down to three names, and all three have a real case to finish on top of the team leaderboard.
The safest bet is Dylan Guenther, and it’s not close. The 23-year-old winger is coming off a 40-goal, 73-point season, adding 33 assists to what was already a massive jump forward.
His rise has been steady and loud: 6 goals and 15 points in 33 games in 2022-23, then 18 goals and 35 points in 45 games in 2023-24, then 27 goals and 60 points in 2024-25, before breaking through with 40 goals in 2025-26. At this point, Utah will be looking for him first whenever it needs a finish.
Still, the race isn’t a one-man show.
Nick Schmaltz enters the season after surprising plenty of people with a 33-goal, 74-point campaign. The 31-year-old has long been a dependable scorer, having consistently averaged 20-plus goals, but now he gets a new look as Utah’s No. 1 center.
He’ll be working on the top line with Clayton Keller and Vincent Trocheck, and that setup gives him a path to another big year. A 40-goal season would be a shock, but a strong 2026-27 from Schmaltz is well within reach.
Then there’s Logan Cooley, whose speed has already stood out in NHL EDGE tracking. The former third overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft is still waiting for that full superstar breakout, but the production is trending in the right direction.
In only 54 games, he scored 24 goals and added 19 assists, a pace that projects to 36 goals over 82 games. Utah would like more playmaking from him, but his ability to create offense with Dylan Guenther has already given the team a dangerous look.
A line featuring Anders Lee, Cooley, and Guenther could bring a different kind of scoring punch.
Cooley is only 22, but the ceiling is obvious. If he puts everything together, Utah has a player who can tilt games and maybe become the best offensive weapon on the roster. The source of the offense may be Guenther first, Schmaltz next, and Cooley right behind - but all three have the talent to lead the Mammoth in goals.
In Other News...
Former Coyotes Goalie Prospect Is Forcing His Way Into Utahs Plans
Michael Hrabal has already given Utah a reason to keep him on the radar. The 6-foot-6 Czech goalie, a former second-round pick, signed his three-year entry-level deal in March after a standout season at UMass, where he drew plenty of attention as one of the most intriguing young netminders in the pipeline. For a club trying to build out its long-term depth in goal, the appeal is obvious.
Hrabal is still viewed as a prospect who is not expected to jump straight into NHL duty, but his college resume made him impossible to ignore. His strong year included Hockey East Player of the Year honors, and he piled up the kind of recognition that tends to keep a goalie in the conversation even after a team adds another prospect to the mix. With Utah also bringing in Sebastian Cossa, the competition in the system is starting to feel real, and Hrabal has done enough to make sure his name stays in it. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs Next Step May Hinge On A Prospect Battle Fans Need To Watch
Utahs first playoff trip in franchise history in 2026 was built in part on the kind of young talent that can change a teams trajectory quickly, with Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley helping drive the push into the postseason. Now the next wave is lining up behind them, and the organization is facing the familiar challenge that comes with success: figuring out which prospects are ready to turn promise into permanent NHL roles.
The camp battle worth watching centers on a crowded mix of hopefuls, with Tij Iginla and Caleb Desnoyers among the names expected to push for roster spots alongside Danil But, Gabe Smith and Joshua Roy. The pecking order will not be settled until the group gets into training camp and proves who can handle the pace and demands of pro hockey, a decision that could shape how high Utahs ceiling rises from here. [Read more 🡒]