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The Utah Mammoth made news on Wednesday regarding a Nick Schmaltz extension, giving fans something to cheer about.
The Utah Mammoth have been in the thick of NHL rumors this season. One of the biggest has been a Nick Schmaltz extension.
Schmaltz was one of the names purportedly on the block at the deadline this season. However, the Mammoth decided to pull the plug on a deal, instead opting to find a way to re-sign the veteran center.
According to insider Elliotte Friedman, current chatter suggested the Mammoth had made significant headway on a Schmaltz extension.
“He’s getting closer to re-signing… I don’t know that they wanted to go eight years, so I’m not sure what the term is going to end up [being] here… seemed to be headed in the right direction.”
Friedman then reported on Wednesday morning that the Mammoth had agreed on a Schmaltz extension totaling eight years with an AAV of $8 million.
Mammoth confirm much-rumoured Nick Schmaltz extension at 8 x $8M
Longer term than I expected, but Utah compromises on term, as player compromises on dollars. In the end, both get what they want — as Schmaltz stays put
That number has raised some eyebrows as the thought was that the Mammoth weren’t willing to go down that route on a Schmaltz extension. Yet, committing that sort of money to Schmaltz signals that Utah views him as a crucial part of their team.
The former first-round pick from the 2014 NHL Draft has 24 goals and 35 points in 65 games this season. He’s well on track to surpass his career-high point totals from last year, when he notched 20 goals and 63 points.
Schmaltz Extension Signals Mammoth’s Direction
A huge rumor throughout the NHL trade deadline discussion was a trade involving St. Louis Blues star Robert Thomas. That potential deal fell apart amid the purported stratospheric asking price for Thomas.
As such, a Schmaltz extension became likelier. That’s why talk picked up around that possibility. Now that the deal has come through, it’s evident what direction the Mammoth are heading in. The club seems committed to keeping its core together.
Of course, there will always be room for additions. But as it stands, whatever additions the club makes will come as a complement to the Schmaltz extension. The propensity of adding another big-ticket forward may have decreased significantly.
But fans shouldn’t rule out the possibility of another major move. Of course, such a move will come in the offseason.
Schmaltz Valuable to Mammoth
There’s no question that Schmaltz has been a valuable piece for the Mammoth. This year, the veteran center has entrenched himself on the top line. He has played with captain Clayton Keller and rising star Dylan Guenther.
That combination has been a fantastic top line, giving the Mammoth plenty of top-heavy firepower. That’s why news of the Schmaltz extension makes total sense. The team has locked up pretty much all of its core. Captain Clayton Keller, rising stars Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley are all under contract.
Plus, the blue line looks solid with the addition of veteran MacKenzie Weegar. The Mammoth have the depth and high-end talent to compete with the best of them. It will be interesting to see how Utah stacks up in the playoffs.
But one has to think that getting the Schmaltz extension out of the way will be a major piece in the Mammoth’s overall puzzle.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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