Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee were introduced in Utah, and both made it pretty clear why they wanted in: they see a team with real potential, not some long-term rebuild. The Mammoth made the playoffs last season for the first time and pushed Vegas to six games in the opening round. Now, they’re trying to go from “nice story” to a team nobody wants to see in a series.
Trocheck came over from the Rangers in a July 1 trade that sent Sean Durzi, prospect Cole Beaudoin and a 2027 third-round pick to New York. He had 16 goals, 37 assists and 53 points in 67 games last season, and brings a strong all-around game down the middle. For his career, Trocheck has 239 goals, 392 assists and 631 points in 868 regular-season games.
Lee arrives after spending 14 years with the Islanders, including the last eight as captain. Utah signed him to a three-year, $16.2 million deal, adding a proven net-front guy who has made a career out of playing hard, getting to dirty areas and making life miserable around the crease. Lee had 19 goals, 23 assists and 42 points last season, and owns 308 goals, 241 assists and 549 points in 923 career games.
This is clearly about more than just adding names.
Trocheck has 56 playoff games under his belt. Lee has 46. Both have spent years in tough Metropolitan Division battles, and both bring the kind of edge Utah’s front office felt it needed after losing in the first round.
The Mammoth already had young talent. Now they’re adding two veterans who know exactly what playoff hockey is supposed to feel like.
Utah might be a problem sooner than people think.