Nick Schmaltz has helped the Mammoth hold down a playoff position. Emilee Chinn / Getty Images
March 11, 2026Updated 1:24 pm EDT
The Utah Mammoth signed center Nick Schmaltz to an eight-year contract extension that carries an $8 million average annual value, the team announced on Wednesday.
Schmaltz is finishing up a seven-year deal he signed with the then-Arizona Coyotes that carried a $5.85 million AAV. The 30-year-old is earning $8.5 million this season before his new contract kicks in for 2026-27. Schmaltz’s $8 million AAV will become the second-highest among Mammoth forwards. Utah signed center Logan Cooley to an eight-year, $80-million extension in October.
Per PuckPedia, Schmaltz’s new contract has a full no-movement clause for 2026-27 and 2027-28, a no-trade clause for the following two seasons and then a 16-team NTC for 2030-31 and 2031-32 and an eight-team NTC for 2032-33 and 2033-34.
“There was never a doubt that Utah is where I want to play the rest of my career, and I’m thrilled to sign an eight-year extension,” Schmaltz said in a team-released statement. “We have a great core of players, and I know we can do some special things together here in Utah. We have a very bright future, and I am thankful to (team owners) Ryan and Ashley Smith for wanting me to be a part of the group that will one day bring a Stanley Cup to Utah and grateful for the incredible fan base who always show up and support the Mammoth.”
The Mammoth hold the first wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference and have now locked up a key contributor to their rise into a playoff team. Schmaltz is second on the team in goals (24), assists (35) and points (59).
Schmaltz has grown into a consistent contributor. He already has a career high in goals this season — his fifth consecutive 20-goal season — and is on pace to top his career-high 63 points from last season. Since joining the Coyotes/Mammoth following a trade from the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018-19, Schmaltz has 137 goals and 391 points, second highest on the team to captain Clayton Keller.
“We are thrilled that Nick chose Utah and wants to remain with the team for the next eight years,” Utah general manager Bill Armstrong said. “Nick is a tremendous player and person who is very deserving of this contract. We expect him to continue producing on the ice and leading our young, skilled forwards for years to come.”
Ryan Smith added, “There’s a lot of momentum building around our team, and extending Nick Schmaltz is an important part of continuing that.”
Mar 11, 2026
Connections: Sports Edition
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today’s puzzle