“My cousin, Craig Rivet, inspired me to play hockey, as well as my parents,” said new Utah Mammoth defenseman MacKenzie Weegar in a past interview. “That’s why I wear [No.] 52. Craig wore that number when he was playing in the NHL, so I thought I should keep the 52 legacy in the family.”
From the moment Weegar started playing hockey, he always seemed to beat the odds and wear his family’s number, 52, admirably. In the defenseman’s younger years, he helped his hometown team, the Nepean Raiders, win the CCHL’s (Central Canada Hockey League) Bogart Cup in the 2011-12 season, scoring 12 goals, 37 assists, for 50 points that year.
Even though Weegar had success wherever he went, surprisingly, he the Florida Panthers drafted him in the very final round of the 2013 NHL draft with pick No. 206.
That step back didn’t stop Weegar. Out of five other players picked by the Panthers that year, Weegar and his former teammate Aleksander Barkov are the only players still thriving in the league.
After six years in Florida, the Panthers shipped off Weegar to the Calgary Flames in the trade that returned Florida Matthew Tkachuk.
After a few spectacular years in Calgary, at the 2026 deadline, the Flames traded Weegar to the young and hungry Mammoth team. As Weegar now settles in to Utah, fans are asking: What does Weegar bring to this Mammoth squad?
MacKenzie Weegar Is a Shot Blocker
The defenseman’s immaculate skill of shot-blocking ranks among the best in the league. This year, Weegar ranks second in the entire NHL when it comes to blocked shots (151 in total) and is only one away from tying with first-place Jake McCabe. This marks the third consecutive season, since the 2023-2024 year, in which he ranked top 10 in blocked shots in the league.
The Mammoth needed someone with a knack for staying in front of shots. In recent games, many of their opponents’ goals have come from unlucky rebounds or long-distance snipes.
Other Defensive Components
Besides being a shot blocker, Weegar possesses other skills to his defensive game. In 2024, Weegar ranked eighth in defensive puck takeaways. While his numbers in takeaways are not as high this year, it shows he possesses the defensive intelligence to know when to steal the puck away. Another defensive quality Weegar bears is his physicality.
Last season, the defenseman placed in the top 20 in NHL hits (223 hits to be exact)–showing he’s a savant when it comes to pancaking other players into the ice.
Long-Range Sniper
Many in the NHL know of Weegar’s defensive prowess, but his offensive capability isn’t highlighted enough. He’s not a high goal scorer, averaging 6.2 a season. However, in 2023-24, Weegar blew Flames fans’ expectations out of the water by scoring 20 goals – becoming the fourth-highest scorer on the Flames that year.
Weegar was in fourth place in goals scored by an NHL defenseman that year as well. The defenseman also made 17 even-strength goals, passing Flames great Al Maclnnis’s record.
Sharing The Puck
The most impressive part of Weegar’s offensive game is his ability to share the puck. His 39 assists led the Flames last season. Elite vision and high hockey IQ allow him to find his teammates on the open ice, which is what makes this stat possible for him to achieve.
Weegar showed this vision on Feb. 4, 2026, when he earned the first star of the game because of his two timely assists that helped the Flames barely squeak out a win against the Oilers. The first assisting teammate was Jonathan Huberdeau. He managed to find Huberdeau wide open at the right circle, leading to a sniper goal.
The second assist came when he saw teammate Matvei Gridin sneak behind the defense. Weegar deliver him a perfect pass for a one-on-one goal against the goalkeeper. Without Weegar’s assistive contributions, the Flames would not have beaten the Oilers that day.
The defenseman already showed this skill with the Mammoth – aiding in a pivotal Alexander Kerfoot goal to help the Mammoth beat the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 7.
A Natural Leader
For Weegar, Calgary wasn’t just a place for work; it was home. Many fans felt that one day he would bear the captain’s letter “C” on his chest. Teammates like Huberdeau built long-lasting relationships with the man and even became emotional once learning of his departure. Weegar always stood up for his teammates in interviews and always boasted about the Flames’ culture.
His no-quit attitude helped turn him into a leader and a fan favorite, famously saying, “It’s easy to ask for a trade. I grew up not to be a quitter. I want to stay here. I want to win a cup here. I love this city.”
The impact he had in Calgary was more than just his skill on the ice; it was a deep love for the town. Weegar became a huge help to the Flames in them earning their new stadium in Calgary, in the hopes of attracting new free agents to the destination.
Weegar visited hospitals and schools and gave back to the community through charity work. When he waived his no-trade clause, making his trade to Utah official, kids from the community dropped off goodbye letters at his door. Fans rushed to him for pictures and wished him good luck, and most of all, they will remember him forever.
Future Team Player
Weegar’s character and on-ice contributions are priceless, making the deal the Mammoth got for him a steal. Weegar is a culture man and will definitely be a big help to the young Mammoth players, such as Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley, who are finding their hockey identities.
With his perseverance, a love for fishing, and an affinity for giving back to the community, Weegar should fit in just fine with the Mammoth. He’s already expressed how excited he is to play in front of the loud Mammoth fanbase and loves what he hears about Salt Lake City. Weegar’s presence marks a new age of Utah hockey, hopefully leading to a lot of playoff success.
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