Utah Mammoth’s 2025-26 Report Cards: Ben McCartney – The Hockey Writers – Utah Mammoth

The Utah Mammoth’s 2025-26 season is officially over. The team finished with a 43-33-6 record, good enough to clinch the first wild card spot in the Western Conference. Despite a strong series, the Mammoth lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 1 in six games. Meanwhile, their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, finished with a 34-28-10 record, placing seventh in the Pacific Division, outside of a playoff spot.

With the season in the books, it’s time to look at the 49 players under an NHL contract and grade their 2025-26 season. Over the course of this summer, we’ll take a look at their season, their future, and give them an overall grade. We’re going alphabetically by first name. Next up is Ben McCartney.

Player Info

Age: 24

2025-26 AHL Stats: 21 goals, 30 assists, 51 points in 59 games

Originally Acquired: Seventh-round pick (204th overall) in 2020 by the Arizona Coyotes

Contract Status: In the first year of a two-year deal with a $812,500 annual average value (AAV). Restricted free agent (RFA) in 2027

Season Overview

Despite sticking around the Mammoth in training camp for a good period of time, right before the season started, McCartney was sent down to the AHL to join the Roadrunners. After a promising end to his 2024-25 season, which earned him a two-year extension in the offseason, McCartney was determined to continue developing and improving as an overall player. With that, no one expected the breakout season he was about to have.

McCartney’s production took off from the very start. In the first game of the season, he scored his first goal of the year and had two points against the Ontario Reign. The forward had a point in each of the first five games of the season, racking up seven points in that span.

If anyone thought the early explosive offense was a fluke, McCartney proved them wrong again with eight points in 11 games in November. In December, he broke the Roadrunners’ franchise record for the most amount of points scored in a single game with five. His two goals and three assists in the game against the Bakersfield Condors also tied him for second place for most points in a single game during the 2025-26 AHL season.

Also in December, McCartney had 13 points in 10 games. To kick off the new year, the forward produced four points in a game against the Calgary Wranglers. Across January, McCartney once again produced 13 points, this time in 13 games.

Ben McCartney OH MY GOODNESS pic.twitter.com/yiQYaXgdDP

— Tucson Roadrunners (@RoadrunnersAHL) January 3, 2026

In February, McCartney’s offensive output was rewarded by the Mammoth. During the Olympic break, he was called up to practice with the team with the four Olympians in Italy. While McCartney got sent back down to the Roadrunners shortly after the end of the tournament, it was a sign of the Mammoth noticing his impressive season. He served as one of the team’s black aces during their playoff run against the Golden Knights.

The final couple of weeks in the season weren’t as good for McCartney as the prior weeks had been. Despite putting up three points in his first four games back with the Roadrunners, the forward only produced two more points in the final eight games of the season.

However, that does not detract from McCartney’s impressive season. He ended up third on the team in points despite playing fewer games than the two players ahead of him. He set career bests in every single offensive category, along with shots (134) and points per game (.86). McCartney also put his name in the Roadrunners’ history book, moving into third place all-time in points (161), assists (92), games played (274), and power play goals (22). The forward also moved up to fourth place all-time in goals (69).

It wasn’t just his offensive game that flourished. McCartney was also a threat physically, fighting five times throughout the season. His 75 penalty minutes were the second most in his AHL career. He also moved into second place all-time in Roadrunners franchise history for penalty minutes (355).

The Future

After five full seasons in the AHL, it’s time for McCartney to return to the NHL. He’s ready, and he might be exactly what the Mammoth need in their bottom six.

McCartney is a Swiss Army Knife. He does so many things effectively. He can pass, steal pucks, score, hit, and defend well. He can play top-line minutes and on the power play. McCartney is a hard worker, and his gradual improvement from his very first pro season has shown that.

The Roadrunners’ alternate captain did a great job at adjusting on the fly as well. Across the season, McCartney played with Cameron Hebig, Sammy Walker, Andrew Agozzino, Austin Poganski, Ty Tullio, Ryan McGregor, Kevin Rooney, and Julian Lutz. He played on the top three lines throughout the season. 

McCartney only has two games of NHL experience. However, that came all the way back in the 2021-22 season, his first full pro season. With general manager Bill Armstrong recently saying he thinks the Mammoth’s bottom six needs more character, McCartney is the perfect player to insert into that group. He’s physical, hardworking, and produces at a consistent rate. Those are three traits the Mammoth desperately need in their bottom six.

Going into next season, there’s a lot of uncertainty about where McCartney will be. Best scenario, he wins a spot on the NHL roster out of training camp. Worst-case scenario, he ends up back on the Roadrunners, where he’ll be back in the top six on a what is shaping up to be a stacked team. However, the Mammoth should really consider rewarding McCartney, especially in a contract year, with a chance. Who knows? He could really run with it.

Overall Grade

McCartney is a true case where a player has worked his way from the very bottom to being a guy who could play in the NHL. A former seventh-round pick, the forward has done everything he can to better his game to the point where he can play at the highest level possible. It’s culminated into a fantastic season where if the Mammoth don’t keep him in the NHL next season, he very well might be a great waiver claim for another team next season.

Overall, McCartney is getting an A-minus for his season. Outside of the final couple of weeks in the season, the forward was a threat every time he was on the ice, becoming one of the top players on the Roadrunners in every role he was given. McCartney was a real threat all season to be one of the Mammoth’s first call-ups if injuries popped up, and he will be one of the candidates to be a part of the team’s bottom six next year.

If he can bring that same level of play to training camp come September, it will be hard for the Mammoth to deny him the chance to return to the NHL. It’s an opportunity that’s well deserved, especially with McCartney’s constant devotion to the Roadrunners and the Mammoth organization, always taking time for the fans, and serving as an alternate captain. He was a diamond-in-the-rough pick in 2020, and he’s proved it with his consistent improvement in every season he’s played at the pro level.