Nick Schmaltz and Dylan Guenther led the way with a goal and an assist each as the Utah Mammoth rolled past the Nashville Predators 4–1, clinching their first-ever Stanley Cup Playoffs berth in franchise history during their second NHL season.

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What do you think of this contract for the Mammoth and for Schmaltz?

What do you think of this contract for the Mammoth and for Schmaltz?

How do you see this aging over time?

How do you see this aging over time?

Well, it’s a tidy bit of work by, GM Bill Armstrong.

Well, it’s a tidy bit of work by, GM Bill Armstrong.

I think that, Schmaltz is a good number two center, and he’s being slotted in, especially with the way the, the salary cap is going up.

I think that, Schmaltz is a good number two center, and he’s being slotted in, especially with the way the, the salary cap is going up.

Eight million dollars is probably what a number two center is gonna get paid for, for most teams.

Eight million dollars is probably what a number two center is gonna get paid for, for most teams.

And if you look, they signed Logan Cooley early in the year.

And if you look, they signed Logan Cooley early in the year.

He’s making ten million dollars.

He’s making ten million dollars.

He’s at, Schmaltz is at eight.

He’s at, Schmaltz is at eight.

I mean, that’s, you know, eighteen million dollars for your top two centers with a cap going, you know, could be a hun- over a hundred, maybe a hundred and twenty in a couple years.

I mean, that’s, you know, eighteen million dollars for your top two centers with a cap going, you know, could be a hun- over a hundred, maybe a hundred and twenty in a couple years.

You know, and that’s locked in for long term.

You know, and that’s locked in for long term.

I think that’s, that’s a good piece of business.

I think that’s, that’s a good piece of business.

But I’ll, I’ll just say this, the free agent class on July 1st is completely gone.

But I’ll, I’ll just say this, the free agent class on July 1st is completely gone.

Alex Tuch has to be popping champagne because Schmaltz is gone, Cooley’s gone, McDavid, Connor, all the, all these players, every one of them is off the board, and Alex Tuch is sitting there saying– counting his money in his head because he’s having a good year at the Buffalo Sabres and nobody else is out there, and it just increases my suspicion that he’s gonna go to market on July 1st and will have his choice of a number of teams with a boatload of cap space that can go out there and sign him.

Alex Tuch has to be popping champagne because Schmaltz is gone, Cooley’s gone, McDavid, Connor, all the, all these players, every one of them is off the board, and Alex Tuch is sitting there saying– counting his money in his head because he’s having a good year at the Buffalo Sabres and nobody else is out there, and it just increases my suspicion that he’s gonna go to market on July 1st and will have his choice of a number of teams with a boatload of cap space that can go out there and sign him.

So good piece of work by Utah and good fortune for Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres.

So good piece of work by Utah and good fortune for Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres.

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