Mammoth Rookie Faceoff: Who Impressed and Who Didn’t

There were times when he got a little too fancy with the puck, especially when heading up ice on the man advantage. However, that was minuscule compared to how effective he was. I do believe he’s going to get a spot in the NHL lineup. Yes, two rookie faceoff games aren’t NHL games, but he’s had a great start to camp and should be NHL-ready.

“He was riding and surfing across and making it hard,” Roadrunners head coach Steve Potvin said. “If he couldn’t get a stick on the puck, he was narrowing the space and pushing the play to the perimeter. That’s what you want…That’s what I liked about his game. The things that he does with the puck. He’s obviously gifted with it, and he was making the appropriate plays tonight. I thought he played pretty simple and effective.”

But was also very good. He led the Mammoth in shots in both games and got the second goal in the first game against the Vegas Golden Knights. I’m not sold on him making the NHL roster out of camp. His shooting percentage is fantastic and all but ultimately, he needs to find a way to convert those shots into goals. It will come, but if time in the American Hockey League (AHL) is needed, no one should be freaked out.

Unimpressed: Noel Nordh

Noel Nordh’s first pro season was a solid one. He produced 21 points in 60 games with the Tucson Roadrunners, which was more than established AHLers like Miko Matikka and Julian Lutz. However, I did not like his rookie faceoff showing.

Nordh played all three games and was a part of the power play in the third game. However, Game 3 ended up being his worst. He made multiple bad, lazy passes on the blueline, which forced Brandon Holt to defend against odd-man rushes.

From someone who has played a full season in the AHL as well, you’d expect more. In comparison, his counterpart, Owen Allard, didn’t produce, but he was throwing the body, forechecking hard all tournament long. Nordh did not.

It’s going to be interesting to see what type of role Nordh plays on a Roadrunners team that is more loaded than last season. I like him in the lineup over guys like Matikka, Lutz, and Sam Lipkin. However, what is Nordh going to be? He had 52 points in 47 games in 2024-25 with the Soo Greyhounds. My expectations for him this season are to at least hit the 30-point mark.

Impressed: Gabe Smith

Gabe Smith didn’t produce all tournament long, but did he ever leave an impact. Yes, the hit he had on Trevor Connelly was dirty. Yes, he absolutely deserved to be ejected in that game. However, he was like a wrecking ball throughout the three games.

I love Smith’s game, especially when it comes to fitting in at the pro level next season. He hits well, forechecks hard, and makes smart plays in his own zone. He’s got a little bit of speed to him as well.

I’m not the only one who liked Smith’s play. Potvin immediately jumped to say how excited he is for the forward when I mentioned Smith’s name.

“He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s got a great attitude,” Potvin said. “He’s a player that we’re excited about. He didn’t get the points that he would have liked, or we would have liked, but we’re putting him in a position where he’s logging a lot of ice time. He’s playing on the first power play, and he’s killing penalties. He’s on the first line. He’s taking key draws. He’s doing a lot of work out there. He’s an exciting player for us.”

As Potvin mentioned, Smith played a big role in Game 3. While it ended up being a bad loss, he had major ice time and was a part of all of the special teams. He was an alternate captain during the weekend, rightfully so. He’s a guy who definitely screams leadership.

The one thing I worry about is his production. Can he produce in the AHL like he’s shown in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)? Obviously, he’s not going to be a point-per-game player, but there are those who come from college and juniors and can’t produce at all. What Smith does have is the type of play that will easily allow him to play at the AHL level. If he can keep that, the offense will come eventually.

Unimpressed: Vadim Moroz and Yegor Borikov

The next Russian duo to hit the Mammoth’s system, both Vadim Moroz and Yegor Borikov, played in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) last season. That usually means they’re more ready for the pro level. I’m not as sold on these two as I was, and still am with Simashev and But.

Neither stood out in a particularly bad way. However, they didn’t stand out, and for guys who have played multiple seasons in the KHL, it’s not what you want to see. Both were nearly invisible during the first two games. Moroz had a decent Game 3.

However, it was in Game 3 that I was most disappointed. With a lot of the key contributors gone, you wanted to see these two take charge. Yet Moroz couldn’t put anything on the board, and Borikov didn’t look great. Both were on the wrong side of big checks throughout the tournament.

Roadrunners camp will more than likely be where they stand out more. They’ll be given a bigger role and will likely be in the team’s top nine throughout the season. However, first impressions, they both could’ve been better.

Impressed: Florent Houle

Everyone knew Simashev and But would impress during the tournament, but out of the players who didn’t have a lot of eyes on them going into camp, Florent Houle blew my expectations away.

Drafted in the most recent draft, Houle is like a little wrecking ball. He stood out in all three games. His physical presence was always on display, and he’s someone who always finished his checks. They weren’t soft checks either. These were hard, crushing checks, especially considering his height.

Houle didn’t have a lot of shots on net, but he made a lot of smart passes and moves to get the puck to the net for opportunities. He also played well on the penalty kill.

“He’s one of those guys that really likes to get in there,” Potvin said. “He plays a brand of hockey that I think a lot of people appreciate. There’s a lot of hockey in his shifts. He’s willing to take a check. He’s one of those guys that puts the opposition on their heels, and to see him be able to make these little pocket plays, especially early on in the PK along the wall to get the clear. Those are big plays, big moments. Those are hockey plays that we like seeing our guys execute.”

It’s clear that Houle still needs to work on some parts of his game. He took some bad penalties in the third game and had some bad turnovers as well. However, for a fifth-round pick in the most recent draft, Houle looked really good in his first rookie faceoff.

Impressed: Michael Hrabal

Another player that most assumed was going to do well, Michael Hrabal did well in his two starts. His best game came against the Golden Knights, where he had a 21-save shutout. He also got an assist on But’s goal. During the game, Hrabal made a couple of big saves, including one against Connelly on the breakaway.

Hrabal’s second game wasn’t as impressive as his first. The first goal he gave up wasn’t the best. The goaltender took too long behind his net trying to retrieve the puck, which led to a goal. However, the second and final goal he gave up was totally the fault of a bad line change. Despite giving up the two goals, Hrabal made his best saves against the San Jose Sharks, including a big save on an Ivar Stenberg breakaway.

In total, Hrabal walks away with 40 saves on 42 shots against. Aside from the first period in the game against the Sharks, he looked really confident in the net. He even tried for a goalie goal, which he ultimately fanned on.

“His skating’s improved,” Potvin said. “He looks better in his stance, and he looks pretty solid. He’s given us a chance to win tonight. He made some big saves on the PK, and late in the game when we gave up a breakaway. It looks like he’s had a really good summer. He gave us a chance to win both games.”

Hrabal will need a couple of seasons in the AHL to fully develop, but just like last season, he looks like the real deal. He should be the primary starter for the Roadrunners this season.

Impressed: Artem Duda

Not a lot of players on the blueline really jumped out. It’s clear Gregor Biber, Tomas Lavoie, and Cal Thomas need work in the AHL. Max Pšenička really only played one game. Reko Alanko and Brandon Holt had their moments, but outside of Simashev, there was only one defenseman who really made a difference every time he was on the ice.

That player was Artem Duda. He finished with three points in two games and was a force during five-on-five and on the power play. Duda played well, especially when paired up with Simashev. He, too, was vocal and took shots.

With Duda, you also have to remember this was his first time playing since January, when he sustained a knee injury that forced surgery. The defenseman had to build back muscle in his leg, something he had really never been faced with before.

His confidence stood out too. His goal in the first game against the Golden Knights on the breakaway was a prime example of it. Instead of passing it or waiting for options or even getting fancy with it, Duda simply took a shot and scored. It’s what you want to see, especially after being out for such a long time.

“He looks bigger, he looks stronger, and he was also able to keep up a good gap in the third period,” Potvin said. “He stepped up with a big check, and then followed it up with another one right in the D zone. I thought he played a strong game, and especially not having played in as long as he had, I think he had an excellent game.”

Duda having a good season with the Roadrunners is important. This is the last season of his entry-level deal, and he doesn’t want to get forgotten about, especially with the number of defensemen the Mammoth have in their system. If he can continue his play from the rookie faceoff into camp, preseason, and the regular season, it should be more than an easy enough decision to bring Duda back and make him a part of the team’s future.