'We're there, we're looking': Are Utah Mammoth prospects proving themselves in preseason?

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Following another underwhelming preseason outing on Monday in a 6-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, Utah Mammoth head coach Andre Tourigny was asked what he expects from veteran and younger players during the ramp-up to NHL play.

"You want your veterans to get the rhythm and just crank it up a little bit more every day to arrive at the right speed when the season starts," Tourigny said. "And for the young guys, they need to show us that they want a job, that they want to steal the job from someone. We're there, we're looking, and it's up to them to do that."

So, what have the younger players been showing so far in preseason? And are any worthy of an NHL roster spot? We'll break it down by the players who have contributed a goal or assist so far in the opening three games.

Daniil But, Left winger

But is the only prospect with a goal so far in preseason for the Mammoth, scoring the opener for Utah in a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the second of Sunday's split-squad scrimmages.

It was the closest result and best outing for the Mammoth so far in the preseason, sandwiched between 5-1 and 6-1 losses. But's measurables jump off the page at 6-foot-6, 216 pounds, but the 20-year-old admitted he is still getting accustomed to the NHL game.

"I played with great teammates and it's a big experience to play here," But said. "It's only the first match and I have a lot of things to be better at. I just did what I do the best, I think, and just shoot the puck and score."

Utah can use players who can shoot the puck and score, as evidenced by nearly getting shut out by the Ducks last night in Anaheim, despite Dylan Guenther — who did end up scoring the lone goal — and Clayton Keller making their preseason debuts.

But has a long way to go to refine his all-around game to the NHL level, but no other prospect has shown the actual production and game-changing ability so far quite like the young Russian.

Dmitri Simashev, Defenseman

If But has the raw, big-play potential, his long-time youth teammate and fellow Russian, Simashev, might represent the more stable, NHL-ready game that But is working to develop.

Simashev is only 11 days older than But, but has been described as an "NHL skater" already, with a more polished and mature game on the blue line. He assisted on the other goal in Utah's 3-2 loss to Colorado, scored by Sammy Walker, which briefly tied the game before Brock Nelson won it for the Avs 30 seconds later.

Fellow Russian and Mammoth blue-liner Mikahil Sergachev has taken Simashev under his wing, with the younger defenseman even living in the elder's house and caring for Sergachev's 16 chickens.

"I think he's tired about my questions every day," Simashev said. "He's one of the best defensemen in the NHL. I have questions about his experience, how it is playing in the NHL and what you need to do to be the young guy but compete with the NHL guys."

While But's goal was a welcome highlight for a Utah team struggling to score, the other end of the ice has been just as lacking, which is where Simashev could come in. The team's current injuries mostly lie along the forward line, but conceding 14 goals in the opening three preseason games is an obvious area for improvement.

Simashev had the second-most time on the ice among defensemen behind Sean Durzi in the 3-2 loss in Colorado and also earned a blocked shot.

Maveric Lamoureux, Defenseman

Lamoureux has already earned NHL minutes during his career, with 15 games under his belt last fall in Utah before spending the rest of the season with the Tucson Roadrunners.

The 6-foot-7 blue-liner added 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason, thanks to a 5,000-calorie diet, and was paired with Simashev during rookie camp in what was seen as a future NHL pairing for the Mammoth.

After some struggles at the rookie showcase in Colorado, however, where Utah also lost both games, Lamoureux was the only first-round draft pick placed in "Group B" on the first day of full training camp.

Tourigny assured the media there was nothing to it, though, saying he was simply mixing up the groups to allow chances to play with different players.

"We'll rotate a lot of lot of guys like that," Tourigny said of the Group A and Group B rosters. "We want a lot of guys to have a chance to touch the two groups."

Lamoureux has made both trips so far during the preseason schedule, with an assist on Michael Carcone's goal in the opening game in Colorado, and playing the third-most minutes among defensemen in Monday's game in Anaheim.

Miko Matikka, Right winger

Matikka is the lone non-first-rounder to contribute a point so far in preseason, with the former 67th overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft earning a secondary assist on the Walker goal that Simashev also earned an assist on against the Avalanche.

The Helsinki, Finland native spent just under 12 minutes on the ice in his lone appearance so far, but put up the assist, two shots and a hit in the 3-2 loss. He split last season between the Roadrunners and the ECHL's Allen Americans, which are no longer affiliated with the Mammoth.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder can play on either wing and could be in place to benefit from a bevy of injuries along the Utah forward line should any extend into long-term absences.

Three other prospects to watch that have not yet contributed a point include Tij Iginla, Cole Beaudoin and Artem Duda. All three played at least 14 minutes on Monday against the Ducks, with Duda leading the way at 19:24 — second-most among defensemen behind Sergachev. Iginla and Beaudoin combined for five shots but could not find the back of the net.

The Mammoth return to Sandy for a training day on Wednesday before hitting the road again for their fourth of seven preseason games in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights on Thursday at 8 p.m. MDT.

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