\u2014 Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n He\u2019s not a dominant physical player but he doesn\u2019t necessarily need to be.<\/p>\n Rather, he often positions himself to either absorb contact and push through or completely avoid it altogether.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s super smart,\u201d Head coach Andre Tourigny said of Schmaltz. \u201cHe\u2019s always been really smart, and he\u2019s really engaged right now. Since the start of the season he has been engaged, he has that intensity away from the puck, and his skill speaks for itself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s what he does away from the puck for me that separates him\u2026Offensively, the way he drives to the net, screens the goalie, and recovers loose pucks. He\u2019s really good at loose puck recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n But Schmaltz\u2019s impact goes beyond just the offensive zone as he boasts a complete 200-foot-game and is always engaged defensively.<\/p>\n According to NHL Network Analyst Mike Kelly, Schmaltz leads all forwards in the NHL with 80 stick checks.<\/p>\n Against the Philadelphia Flyers on January 21, No. 8 registered his most important stick check of the season as he stripped Garnet Hathaway in front of an empty net with a chance to ice the game.<\/p>\n Instead, Schmaltz exhausted himself to get back and stole the puck to keep Utah alive.<\/p>\n While Keller\u2019s goals were absolutely mesmerizing, this was the play of the game.<\/p>\n 99% of the time that\u2019s an empty netter but Schmaltz didn\u2019t give up. He refused to quit and won possession back.<\/p>\n Utah needs to bring 8 back this summer.pic.twitter.com\/ErpxX2yyCk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cYou see Keller have two huge goals, but guys are saying the play of the game was that Schmaltz strip\u2026that\u2019s the fight we had to show. Never give up. If we could sum it up into one play, it\u2019s that play right there,\u201d defenseman Sean Durzi explained.<\/p>\n \u201cNine other guys on the ice gave up on the play\u2026just watch the video. It\u2019s a pretty good play.\u201d<\/p>\n Durzi explains the importance of Schmaltz\u2019s game saving defensive play against Philly:<\/p>\n \u201cYou see Keller have two huge goals but guys are saying the play of the game was that Schmaltz strip\u2026that\u2019s the fight we had to show.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNine other guys on the ice gave up on the play.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/VxduVKfxrf<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n So, while it\u2019s easy to overlook that specific sequence and focus more on the two mesmerizing goals by Clayton Keller that eventually won the game, those don\u2019t happen without Schmaltz\u2019s relentless effort.<\/p>\n \u201cWe talked about it in the room after, none of this happens if Nick Schmaltz doesn\u2019t backcheck and give everything he\u2019s got to strip them before they score on the empty net,\u201d Clayton Keller said following the victory over Philadelphia.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the difference sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n The Schmaltz-Keller connection needs to be prioritized<\/p>\n While the seven-game home stand was full of highlight plays and wild stats, one of the most impressive accomplishments was during the victory over the St. Louis when Schmaltz and Keller factored on the same goal for the 198th time for the highest total by a pair of U.S.-born teammates in the history of the NHL.<\/p>\n That speaks volumes to not only their individual talent, but their ability to play as one mind on the ice.<\/p>\n Schmaltz and Keller have factored on the same goal for the 198th time for the highest total by a pair of U.S.-born teammates in @NHL<\/a> history \ud83e\udd2f pic.twitter.com\/EzvM7gwV03<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe talk for years about Kells and Schmaltz,\u201d Tourigny said. \u201cYou cannot explain that. It just clicks between two players.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a discussion with Kells, and he was talking about how it\u2019s tough to duplicate that. It\u2019s not about how good he is, it\u2019s about how good of a fit they are and they think alike.\u201d<\/p>\n Like Keller explained to Tourigny, that kind of connection is difficult to replicate.<\/p>\n It takes years of hard work on the same line and very few players are even given the opportunity to develop with one particular linemate as rosters are ever changing.<\/p>\n So, that connection needs to be heavily valued and considered in terms of bringing Schmaltz back.<\/p>\n Not just from a production standpoint as the two have shared points on 26 goals this season but from the perspective of keeping Keller happy as well.<\/p>\n With two more seasons left on the captain\u2019s contract, it would only benefit the Mammoth to keep his favorite teammate around.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know where each other are at all times on the ice,\u201d Schmaltz explained. \u201cIt\u2019s been a heck of a ride playing with him and hopefully we\u2019ve got many more great memories ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n What would it take to keep Schmaltz around, and does he want to come back?<\/p>\n According to PuckPedia, the Utah Mammoth will have roughly $26M in cap space at the end of the 2025-26 season as players such as Schmaltz, Alexander Kerfoot, Ian Cole, Barrett Hayton, Kevin Stenlund, Vitek Vanecek, Nick DeSimone, Kailer Yamamoto and Michael Carcone all come off the books.<\/p>\n So, there\u2019s certainly plenty of cash to prioritize Schmaltz, but what would it realistically take to get a deal done with the rising cap and his performance this season?<\/p>\n Depends on what they want to do.<\/p>\n As a soon to be 30-year-old, a contract would likely be in the ballpark of four to six years.<\/p>\n In terms of cash, after making $5.85M AAV over the last seven seasons, Schmaltz will undoubtedly be up for a sizable pay raise that will probably be in the $7M AAV to $10M AAV range.<\/p>\n Is he worth it?<\/p>\n As of right now, he seems to be and if the Mammoth aren\u2019t willing to pay him, somebody else will.<\/p>\n But does he even want to play in Utah after this season?<\/p>\n According to Schmaltz, he sees a bright future in Salt Lake City and it\u2019s something he\u2019d like to continue to be a part of.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been fun,\u201d Schmaltz told KSL Sports. \u201cI\u2019ve enjoyed every second of it here. The organization has been awesome. The team is continuing to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re building something special here so I\u2019m hopeful to be part of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Overall, Schmaltz is proving that he\u2019s a player the Mammoth should bring back this offseason.<\/p>\n In addition to his 200-foot-game and consistent point production, No. 8 is a player that would be incredibly difficult to replace as he impacts the game in all three zones and has developed an undeniable chemistry with Keller.<\/p>\n For those reasons, Schmaltz should be one of their top priorities, if not the top priority heading into 2026-27.<\/p>\n What\u2019s next for the Utah Mammoth?<\/p>\n The Utah Mammoth will begin a four-game road trip against the Nashville Predators on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. MT.<\/p>\n The game will be available on Mammoth+.<\/p>\n All Mammoth games will also be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM\/1280 AM).<\/p>\n Cole Bagley is the Utah Mammoth insider for KSL Sports.\u00a0Keep up with him on X here<\/a>.\u00a0You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
\nTake us with you, wherever you go.<\/p>\n
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