1 player Mammoth must trade before the 2026 NHL trade deadline

The The Utah Mammoth are fighting for a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Mammoth started red this yearlooks like a potential top team in the West. They’ve cooled off since then, but Utah is playing good hockey at the right time. With NHL Trade Deadline on the horizon, they could try to add to their roster for the first time.

Utah is tied with the Edmonton Oilers for the top Wild Card spot in the conference. Both teams are also four points ahead of the San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings for those spots. The Wild Card race in the West could certainly come down to the wire.

Mammoth is trying to make some moves this season. In recent days they have been linked with the likes of Vincent Trocheck. however, Trocheck has an east coast bias that makes this unlikely. Other potential candidates include Robert Thomas, Ryan O’Reilly and Mika Zibanejad.

Utah has the strength to make a huge move. However, they also have some players on their roster that they could stand for as well. With that in mind, here is one player the Mammoth should trade until the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

Mammoth’s Barrett Hayton doesn’t work in Utah

Hayton was drafted by the now-defunct Arizona Coyotes with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. At the time, the Yotes hoped he could be their next franchise center. And he has shown some promise to be an effective player.

He did show some potential last season, when the Coyotes’ hockey operations were moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. In his debut campaign for his new city, he scored 20 goals and 46 points. Both of those totals were career highs. It seemed like the Ontario native had turned the corner.

Unfortunately, things have not been kind to Hayton this season. The former fifth overall pick has just eight goals and 22 points in 56 games. His usage is down a bit, but he only averaged less minutes per game more last season than he did this year. Overall, he wasn’t as effective in 2025-26 as he was in 2024-25.

Mammoth is set to sign Hayton to a contract extension this summer. He is restricted free agent of his summerand will be an unrestricted free agent in 2027 if he signs a bridge deal this year. What Highton could command on a new contract could depend on several factors. However, the main question is whether Utah saw enough to extend his contract.

As a result, Hayton could be a trade candidate. Utah could include him in a deal that would give Mammoth an impact player this season. In return, the other team gets a player who can immediately contribute at the NHL level. And at 25, he could still have some growth in his game.

Utah could be active as the 2026 NHL trade deadline approaches. They have a chance to separate themselves from the other teams in their vicinity in the playoff race. If they need to include someone in this job who can compete right away, Hayton makes the most sense. They shouldn’t hesitate to include him in a deal if the right one comes along at the 2026 NHL trade deadline.