MAMMOTH MOVES Utah Mammoth DEBATE Retaining Nick DeSimone or Ian Cole in Crowded Defense Core

The Utah Mammoth's defense is facing a pivotal offseason decision as two key free agents—Nick DeSimone and Ian Cole—head into unrestricted free agency. While DeSimone, a 31-year-old right-shot defenseman, has emerged as a reliable, low-cost contributor with 40 games and 10 points this season, the team must weigh whether to retain him or let him test the market for a longer-term deal. Meanwhile, 37-year-old Ian Cole, despite his age and declining role, delivered strong production (23 points, +16) at 37 and averaged over 18 minutes per game—raising questions about whether he should be retained as a veteran insurance policy on a one-year deal. Hosts Tom Callahan and Robin Leagno debate the wisdom of keeping both, with Callahan suggesting a creative compromise: bringing back Cole on a short-term, reduced contract while using the savings to raise DeSimone’s salary, keeping both on a net-zero cap move. They also explore the possibility of trading one of the top five defensemen—Sergeyev, Weger, Derzy, Marino, or Schmidt—for a center like Robert Thomas or Auston Matthews, leveraging their depth to address a critical need at forward. The episode underscores a strategic shift: Utah may not need to overpay for veterans when they have young, high-upside prospects like Dmitry Simashev and Maverick Lamoureux ready to step in.