Nick Schmaltz

Lore & Background

Schmaltz grew up in Verona, Wisconsin, playing hockey in his basement with his brother Jordan and sister Kylie. He played junior hockey for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, where he was named to the USHL All-Rookie Team. He then played two seasons of college hockey at North Dakota, centering the 'CBS line' with Drake Caggiula and Brock Boeser. In the 2016 NCAA Tournament, he scored the game-winning goal in the Frozen Four semifinals with 60 seconds remaining and added an assist in the championship victory.

After leaving North Dakota, Schmaltz signed with the Blackhawks and made his NHL debut in the 2016–17 season. He had a breakout 2017–18 season playing with Ryan Hartman and Patrick Kane, finishing with 21 goals and 52 points. He was traded to the Coyotes in November 2018. After missing most of the 2018–19 season with a knee injury, he returned to lead the team with 45 points the following year. During the Coyotes' 2021–22 roster overhaul, Schmaltz was part of the core group they chose to build around, and that March he set a franchise record with seven points in one game.

Reader's Guide

Schmaltz's tenure with the Arizona Coyotes was marked by his role as a core player during a period of organizational transition. After being acquired in a trade from Chicago in November 2018, he overcame a significant knee injury that cost him most of the 2018–19 season to lead the team in scoring the following year with 45 points. His most notable achievement came in March 2022, when he set a Coyotes franchise record by recording seven points in a single game. This performance underscored his offensive capabilities and justified the team's decision to build around him during the 2021–22 roster overhaul. Schmaltz's time with the Coyotes ended when the team suspended operations and all hockey assets were transferred to the expansion Utah Mammoth. His legacy with the franchise includes being a key offensive contributor and the holder of a significant single-game scoring record.

Did You Know?

• Schmaltz scored the game-winning goal in the 2016 NCAA Frozen Four semifinals with only 60 seconds left in regulation.
• He set a Coyotes franchise record with seven points in one game in March 2022.
• Schmaltz centered the 'CBS line' at North Dakota with Drake Caggiula and Brock Boeser.
• His father Mike owns fitness centers and his mother Lisa is a radiologist.