Mammoth top prospect suffers concerning leg injury

There hasn’t been another update since regarding the fourth overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, and the Mammoth will now spend the rest of the offseason monitoring the ailment to one of their top prospects.

It’s a disappointing situation considering Desnoyers looks ready to compete for a roster spot in Salt Lake City this fall. He’s put together back-to-back well over point per game campaigns in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Moncton Wildcats, recording 84 points in 56 games in 2024-25 and following it up with 78 points in 45 contests last year.

He was also terrific in the postseason, amassing 57 points in 44 games over three years.

Desnoyers made a significant impact at the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship as well, registering six assists in seven games and helping Canada win a bronze medal.

He will likely be a top-six fixture on the squad in 2027, where he should split 1C duties with Calgary Flames top prospect Cole Reschny.

As for his path to minutes in the National Hockey League, the center position in Utah has certainly been saturated over the summer. General manager Bill Armstrong traded for Vincent Trocheck from the New York Rangers, as well as matching an offer sheet the New Jersey Devils tendered to Barrett Hayton.

Even if Hayton were to move to the wing, Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley and Kevin Stenlund are all above Desnoyers on the depth chart as of now. There is a probably a better path to minutes for the youngster if he shifts to the wing. Even with former New York Islanders captain Anders Lee in the fold, a strong training camp could earn Desnoyers a look in the bottom-six.

If Desnoyers ends up missing significant time with this injury, the Mammoth could send him to the American Hockey League, or even return him to the Wildcats for one more junior season.

With training camp a month-and-a-half away, Utah will be keeping a close eye on the prized forward prospect for the rest of the summer.