A lot of people look up to Utah Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong — in the metaphorical sense because he’s a prominent figure, and in the physical sense because his last pro hockey weigh-in clocked him at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds.
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But 18-year-old Ethan Belchetz, whom the Mammoth selected in the first round of the NHL draft on Friday, can look Armstrong in the eye.
“I just wanted to get a player that was kind of my size, so when we did the interview process, I looked thin and skinnier,” Armstrong said with a laugh in a press conference at the Mammoth Ice Center Sunday morning at the beginning of Mammoth development camp.
Belchetz matches Armstrong in height — 6-foot-5 — and his Draft Combine weight came in at 230 pounds. Neither guy would say, though, who would win in an arm wrestle between them.
“Someone would be leaving that getting injured,” Armstrong joked.
Belchetz is the type of player Armstrong has targeted for years now in his drafting efforts. Of the 35 players on this year’s development camp roster, 23 are listed at 6-foot-2 or taller.
“That’s the way our game is trending, with the big man around the net,” Armstrong said. “We’ve got some speed and skill. It’s nice to have that true power forward that’s coming into the game that can take that next step to help us win a championship at some point.”
Apart from the top two or three picks, it’s uncommon for players to make the NHL immediately after being drafted, but that doesn’t mean Belchetz won’t push for a roster spot, and the team certainly won’t hold him back if he’s ready.
“I already have that expectation for myself,” he said. “You know, I’m a big guy, I have the size already and I’m going to do everything to take that spot and earn a job for myself.”
In 57 games last season in the Ontario Hockey League, Belchetz scored 34 goals and 59 points. Unlike a lot of guys, though, he doesn’t need to cash in on the power play to be effective — just 10 of his goals and 18 of his points came with the man advantage.
What also stands out are Belchetz’s seven game-winning goals, tying him for ninth in the OHL in that column. That means that when the game is on the line, he steps up and makes a difference.
Belchetz is also capable of policing the ice.
“I think he’s a true power forward, someone that that can do everything in the game, from playing physical to going to the tough areas to taking care of business if someone needs to be protected,” Armstrong said.
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Belchetz not unlike the Mammoth’s current “Sheriff,” Lawson Crouse. They’re similar in size; They both play physical hockey; Their OHL stats aren’t far off from each other in their respective draft years (or their draft-minus-one years). They even grew up about 100 miles from each other.
The associate captain has already reached out to Belchetz, as has captain Clayton Keller.
“Those guys are awesome people,” Belchetz said. “Just a quick little message that they said congratulations and (are) excited to have me here.”
As effective as Crouse is, though, Belchetz has the potential to develop into something even more coveted: A big guy who can score at will.
Dare we say a Tage Thompson?
Armstrong, whose background is in scouting, was responsible for drafting Thompson with the St. Louis Blues in 2016. It took Thompson six seasons to really unlock his game, but he’s now a perennial 40-goal scorer and an Olympic gold medalist.
The Blues traded Thompson in 2018 to get Ryan O’Reilly. It worked out for them, as the Blues won the Stanley Cup in 2019, with O’Reilly capturing the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.
You get the sense, though, that Armstrong is searching for the next Thompson. That’s always been the comparison for the 6-foot-6 Daniil But, who’s trying to find his way in the NHL. If he and Belchetz both become prominent players for the Mammoth, opposing players will be afraid to step on the ice with them.
What does Ethan Belchetz think of Utah?
Belchetz is only a handful of hours into his first-ever trip to Utah, but he said he’s impressed by the mountains and the beauty of Salt Lake City.
He’s also impressed with the newly constructed Mammoth Ice Center in Sandy.
“You step into these facilities and it’s unbelievable,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. The lounge area, the (locker) room and the gym is so special.”
Most of all, though, he’s excited to experience NHL hockey at the Delta Center.
“You watch the games that they play and the the stands look crazy. The fans are awesome,” he said. “You can’t be more excited.”