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The 4 pending Mammoth free agents who hope to re-sign Utah
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- The 4 pending Mammoth free agents who hope to re-sign Utah
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The Utah Mammoth enter the 2026 offseason following their first-ever playoff appearance, which ended in a six-game first-round loss to the Vegas Golden Knights . Utah's exit may have come sooner than hoped, but the team showed progress after holding a 2-1 series lead at one point, hinting at growth for a roster built around a younger core.
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One of the bigger storylines from locker clean-out day centered on four pending free agents , Alexander Kerfoot , Kevin Stenlund , Kailer Yamamoto , and Barrett Hayton , all of whom expressed interest in re-signing before free agency opens July 1.
Among the group, Yamamoto stands out the most statistically. After managing 20 goals and 36 assists for 56 points with a +17 rating in 54 AHL games, he carried that momentum into the NHL, finishing with 23 points (13 goals, 10 assists) in 59 regular-season games. He made an even bigger impact in the playoffs, contributing five points in six games while playing on a second line with Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther .
Kerfoot, meanwhile, dealt with injuries throughout the season. Limited to 34 games, he recorded seven goals and six assists for 13 points. His role shifted toward defense and penalty killing, though Stenlund overtook him in shorthanded responsibilities.
Stenlund remains one of the Mammoth's most reliable defensive forwards. While his offense cooled to 18 points (4 goals, 14 assists) in 80 games and a 6.1% shooting percentage, he continued to play a crucial role, averaging more than 14 minutes per night and leading the league in shorthanded ice time as a trusted penalty killer and faceoff specialist.
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Hayton's situation differs as a restricted free agent. The 25-year-old is due a $2.65 million qualifying offer after tallying 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 67 games. This follows a stronger previous season in which he scored 20 goals while centering top-line talent like Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz .
With emerging prospects such as Tij Iginla and Daniil But pushing for roster spots, Utah faces roster decisions balancing youth development and veteran retention. The willingness of these four players to return gives management flexibility as the Mammoth maps out the next phase of the franchise.
Related: What has Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny 'mad' after being knocked out by Golden Knights
