‘We should absolutely make the playoffs every single year’: Mammoth balancing excitement with expectations

Utah Mammoth defenseman Ian Cole (28) celebrates with defenseman Sean Durzi (50) after scoring during the third period of an NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 14, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News On this date two years ago, the Arizona Coyotes found out they were moving to Utah . After so many seasons suffering through a rebuild and some of the most extreme arena issues in the modern era of the NHL, it’s serendipitous that the players woke up precisely two years later with the comfort of a clinched playoff spot.

“We went through pretty deep water at some point,” head coach André Tourigny reminisced after practice Friday. “We were pretty deep in the ocean. And I think it’s an outstanding feeling, to be honest.

” He gave full credit to the players, but he also pointed out the team’s staff members, from hockey operations to equipment staff to social media — many of whom weren’t sure, two years ago, that they’d even be hired by the new team. “We’ve been so fortunate to have Ryan and Ashley Smith and SEG and Utah arrive in our life at the perfect timing and treat us like kings since (we’ve been) here,” Tourigny said. “And everywhere we go in the city with the fans and everybody, it’s been so magical.

” But for every soundbite talking about how exciting playoff hockey at the Delta Center will be, there was another stating that this is only the beginning. “It’s a good step,” said star defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, who has two Stanley Cup rings in his collection already. “But it’s just the (first) step in our goal of winning it all.