Utah Mammoth sign trio of veterans with playoff experience on 1st day of NHL free agency

SALT LAKE CITY — The 2025 NHL free agency period opened Tuesday morning, so who did the Utah Mammoth sign?

Overall, the team got a little older, with a trio of incoming veterans expected to bring much-needed playoff experience to a young Utah squad.

Here are the names joining the Mammoth roster this summer.

Vitek Vanecek, Goaltender

Vanecek was one of two reigning Stanley Cup champions signed by the Mammoth on Tuesday, leaving the Florida Panthers on a one-year contract with an average annual value of $1.5 million.

The 29-year-old goaltender provides depth behind starting Utah goalie and fellow Czech citizen Karel Vejmelka. General manager Bill Armstrong named the goaltender position as an area of emphasis heading into free agency, with Connor Ingram's future availability unknown while in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

Vanecek was drafted 39th overall in 2014 by the Washington Capitals and has a 96-56-21 record, 2.83 goals against average, .902 save percentage and 10 shutouts in 188 career NHL appearances with the Florida Panthers, Capitals, New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks over the past five seasons.

Nate Schmidt, Defenseman

Utah's most expensive signing early Tuesday was Schmidt, who won the 2025 Stanley Cup with the Panthers alongside Vanecek. The Mammoth signed the 33-year-old left-handed defenseman to a three-year contract with an AAV of $3.5 million.

"We are excited that Nate and his wife, Allie, have chosen Utah," Mammoth president Chris Armstrong said. "Nate's depth of playoff experience and most recent impact in helping the Florida Panthers to win the 2025 Stanley Cup complements our group of existing veterans extremely well. He will play a big role in helping to move our team forward this coming season."

Schmidt signed with the Washington Capitals in 2013 as an undrafted player out of the University of Minnesota. The Minnesota native joined the expansion Vegas Golden Knights in 2017 and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural season.

He had five goals and 14 assists in 80 regular-season games with the Panthers last season.

Brandon Tanev, Left Winger

Tanev was the other veteran acquisition Tuesday, with the 33-year-old signing a three-year contract with Utah worth an AAV of $2.5 million.

"We are thrilled to welcome Brandon as a great addition to our group," Armstrong said. "Our fans will enjoy both the maximum effort and physical style of play that he brings to our team."

The Toronto native also went undrafted by the NHL and played four years at Providence College before signing with the Winnipeg Jets. He had stints in Pittsburgh and Seattle before returning to Winnipeg to help the Jets make it to the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, where the team lost to Dallas in six games.

Tanev put up 10 goals and 12 assists in 79 regular-season games split between the Kraken and Jets last season.

Scott Perunovich, Defenseman

Minnesota native Perunovich was drafted 45th overall in 2018 by the St. Louis Blues and was traded to the New York Islanders in January after playing in just 97 games for the Blues following his NHL debut in 2021.

He joins the Mammoth on a one-year, two-way contract, worth $775,000. He spent 39 games in the AHL between 2021 and 2023, and could end up splitting time between Utah and AHL affiliate Tucson Roadrunners.

Speaking of the Roadrunners, the Mammoth also announced the re-signing of right winger Kailer Yamamoto to a one-year, two-way contract, worth $775,000. The Spokane, Washington, native played 12 games with Utah and 54 with Tucson, including three Calder Cup Playoff appearances.

So far, the only departing free agent from Utah is 32-year-old center Nick Bjugstad, who signed with St. Louis.

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