The Utah Mammoth want to establish themselves as a serious contender for the 2024–25 NHL season and have taken a big step forward by signing a player who was not only a champion with the Florida Panthers but also a former teammate of star Brad Marchand.
Florida has had a strong start to the offseason after securing extensions for Marchand, Sam Bennett, and Aaron Ekblad, key pieces of the roster who were fundamental in winning the 2024–25 NHL season championship against the Edmonton Oilers in the final.
Bill Zito delivered on his promise to sign all his core players before they hit free agency. In just three days, one major move helped lock in all three names. However, with such big decisions come necessary small adjustments to the roster. Utah appears to be taking advantage of that need.
The new player for the Utah Mammoth
According to NHL insider Chris Johnston, the player Utah signed is none other than goaltender Vitek Vanecek, who agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with the Mammoth. The two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers part ways with a familiar face from their roster after making major financial commitments.
Vitek Vanecek of the Florida Panthers
The addition of Vanecek joins that of Nate Schmidt, who signed with the Mammoth on a three-year, $10.5 million contract (with an average annual value of $3.5 million). The deal was finalized in the early hours of July 1, becoming one of the first moves by the Panthers after free agency opened.
see also
NHL News: With Nate Schmidt leaving for Utah, Brad Marchand’s Panthers welcome veteran on bargain deal
Vanecek’s potential impact in Utah
Utah, coming off a titleless season, continues to strengthen its roster with the goal of building a more competitive team for next season. In this context, Vanecek could provide stability in net for the Mammoth. The 29-year-old goaltender had a challenging season with Florida, appearing in 25 games (24 as a starter) and recording only five wins, along with 14 losses and four overtime losses.
