Utah Mammoth General Manager Bill Armstrong Says Rental Players Don't Make Sense at Trade Deadline

The Mammoth have climbed into playoff position with an 11-4-1 run heading into the final stretch before the March 6 trade deadline. Utah general manager Bill Armstrong remains open to roster improvements but has no interest in acquiring players who will leave as free agents this summer.Armstrong told NHL.com that rental acquisitions do not fit where the Mammoths currently stand in their development. The organization built depth during the offseason and prefers to explore trades that provide long-term value rather than short-term fixes.

Bill Armstrong Expects Activity to Pick Up Near Deadline

When asked, the veteran executive also explained why the trade market has been quieter than expected across the league. Tight playoff races in both conferences have teams waiting to evaluate their standing before committing to buyer or seller roles.The Mammoth general manager pointed to the congested standings as the primary reason for limited movement during the Olympic break. Teams need more information before making roster decisions."Because it's so tight, I think teams, if they drop four games in a row, don't get to the record that they want; they've set kind of an agenda," Armstrong said. "And they're going to wait as long as they can to make that decision," Armstrong noted that many expected a flurry of deals once the roster freeze lifted this week.

Instead, the market remained largely frozen as teams assessed their playoff chances over the next several games. "I do believe it has to do with teams waiting to see how they do in the next five or so games before choosing to adjust," he said.Utah addressed its biggest needs before the season began. The organization acquired forward JJ Peterka from the Sabres on June 26 and signed the 23-year-old to a five-year, $38.5 million contract.

Peterka ranks third on the team with 20 goals.The Mammoth also received a boost this week when Logan Cooley returned from a lower-body injury that sidelined him for 28 games. The 21-year-old center recorded an assist in his first game back and immediately slotted into the second-line role."We wake up every morning looking to make our team better," Armstrong said. "If there's a hockey trade to be made to make us better, we'll definitely look at it."

Utah holds the first wild card spot in the Western Conference with a 30-24-4 record and 64 points. The Mammoth have four games remaining before the deadline and benefit from a favorable schedule with 13 of their final 24 games at Delta Center. The organization missed the playoffs by 7 points last season, its first year after relocating from Arizona. Armstrong made clear that the expectations have changed entering this spring. "This year, the goal is the playoffs," Armstrong said. "And right now, we have a chance. Now it's time for us to get the job done." It will be interesting to see what moves the GM makes in the upcoming week.