# @puckempire on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcvxo8VHCyx
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/69799164-puckempire-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/2869b32538.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-01T13:31:48.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Puck Empire 👑 (@puckempire) — https://gondola.cc/puckempire

## Caption

Been on vacation for a while, so took a hiatus, but the second half of our 2026-27 standings projections are back!

At #16, we have the Utah Mammoth, securing the top Wild Card spot in the West.

I expect Utah to be pretty similar to last season... they're probably one season away from making that big jump in the Central to leapfrog over one of the Big 3.

Schmaltz probably takes a step back considering his season was an outlier, but Logan Cooley at full health (hopefully) would be huge for Utah as I'm incredibly high on him and think he can be a top-10 centre in the league. Plus the addition of Vincent Trocheck, and on a lesser scale, Anders Lee, bring legitimate good play + veteran leadership.

Defensively is where this team lacks more. Sergachev is their top defenseman, and he's probably a low-end 1D or high-end 2D. Still great, but probably ourclassed by his position. MacKenzie Weegar isn't the player he was a couple years ago, probably more ideally a 3D-4D at this point, often makes some defensive mishaps. It's just not really a great puckmoving blueline in my eyes, kind of average. Their offense is definitely the better asset than the defense.

In net, I expect Vejmelka to finally get some relief in net and not have to play as much. I'm anticipating big things from Sebastian Cossa, and think it could be much closer to a 50/50 split than we think.

Overall, no knock on Utah. This is a good team, it's likely a playoff team and could even win a playoff series depending on what happens in-season, but I just think the 2027-28 season, where they'll likely have Tij Iginla & Caleb Desnoyers replacing two of their lesser current forwards, is where Utah will really begin to shine.

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