Utah Mammoth sign prospect Gabe Smith to entry-level contract

On Friday, the Utah Mammoth announced that they have signed forward Gabe Smith to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The terms of the deal have to be disclosed.

General manager Bill Armstrong says Smith brings a lot of intangibles to the Mammoth, along with a high ceiling.

“Gabe has had a strong season and brings a great amount of toughness, size, and offensive upside to the organization,” Armstrong said in a release. “He has earned this deal and we look forward to his continued development.”

Smith was taken by Utah in the fourth round, 103rd overall, in the 2024 NHL Draft. He has made himself a sought-after prospect during his tenure with the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. He’s been slowly developing as a scoring threat but has certainly relied on his toughness and grit to be a valuable player at the junior level. At 6-foot-5 and weighing over 200 pounds, the St. Andrews, New Brunswick native is a tough guy to move in front of the net and is a rough unit on the forecheck.

After being drafted by the Mammoth, Smith’s game has flourished in Moncton, setting career highs in goals (20), assists (19), and points (39) this past season. He added another 22 points in 19 playoff games, helping the Wildcats win the franchise’s first Gilles-Courteau Trophy since 2010 and third all-time.

Smith has been a prominent player for the Wildcats in the team’s first Memorial Cup appearance in 15 years. In three games, he has scored two goals and four points, pushing Moncton to the semifinals. They will face the London Knights on Friday with a chance to play in the championship game against the Medicine Hat Tigers on Sunday.

In his three seasons in the QMJHL, the 18-year-old has appeared in 172 games, scoring 33 goals and 49 assists for 82 points, including another 23 points in 35 playoff games.