Mikhail Sergachev exits Mammoth win over Devils with upper‑body injury

Utah Mammoth defenceman Mikhail Sergachev left Tuesday’s 5–3 road win over the New Jersey Devils with an upper-body injury, raising early-season concerns for the NHL’s newest market.

The Mammoth announced during the game that Sergachev would not return after leaving in the first period. The injury occurred when a clearing attempt by fellow Utah defenceman MacKenzie Weegar struck Sergachev in the side of the head, sending him to the ice before he skated directly to the dressing room.

Key defender injured after strong start

Sergachev, 28, has been Utah’s top option on the blue line to start the season, logging just under 23 minutes per night and posting a goal and two assists over the club’s first three games. Any extended absence would be a significant blow for a team leaning heavily on his minutes in all situations.

Last season, Sergachev produced 10 goals and 49 assists for 59 points in 78 games before adding five assists in Utah’s first-round playoff loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, which ended in six games. His blend of offence, size and workload has made him one of the centrepieces of the Mammoth’s transition from expansion-era building to playoff expectations.

From Montreal pick to Utah cornerstone

This is Sergachev’s third season with Utah. He arrived ahead of the 2024–25 campaign, the franchise’s first after relocating from Arizona and rebranding as the Mammoth, in a major trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In that deal, Utah acquired Sergachev in exchange for forward Conor Geekie, defenceman J.J. Moser and two draft picks.

Originally drafted ninth overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2016, Sergachev appeared in only four games for Montreal before being dealt to Tampa Bay in June 2017 in the trade that sent forward Jonathan Drouin to the Canadiens. He went on to play seven seasons with the Lightning, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 and setting a career high with 64 points in 79 games in 2022–23.

The Mammoth continue their five-game road trip with stops against the Boston Bruins on Thursday and the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. The team has not yet provided an update on the severity of Sergachev’s injury or a potential timeline for his return, leaving his status a key storyline as Utah navigates its early schedule.