Nick Schmaltz Bio
Nick Schmaltz (born February 23, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward for the Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League (NHL). A first-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Schmaltz spent time with the Blackhawks and the Arizona Coyotes before joining the Utah Mammoth when the Coyotes suspended operations following the 2023–24 season. Over the course of his career, he has developed into a reliable playmaking center known for his vision and offensive creativity.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Schmaltz rose through the United States Hockey League with the Green Bay Gamblers before playing two seasons of college hockey at the University of North Dakota, where he helped the Fighting Hawks win the 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament. Since turning professional, he has represented the United States at multiple international tournaments, including the IIHF World Championship.
Early Life and Background
Nick Schmaltz was born on February 23, 1996, in Madison, Wisconsin, and grew up in the nearby city of Verona. His father, Mike, owns a series of fitness centers, while his mother, Lisa, works as a radiologist at UW Health University Hospital. Schmaltz grew up alongside an older brother, Jordan, and a younger sister, Kylie, and the three children often played roller hockey together on a makeshift rink set up in their basement.
Outside of his home games, Schmaltz played four seasons of organized youth hockey with the Chicago Mission of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League, where he developed a close friendship with teammate Christian Dvorak. During his time with the Mission, he centered an offensive line featuring Dvorak on the left wing and William Nylander on the right, an early sign of the playmaking instincts that would later define his professional career.
Path to Hockey
Following in the footsteps of his older brother Jordan, Schmaltz joined the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League. He appeared as an affiliate player in the final 11 games of the 2011–12 regular season and contributed one goal and three assists as the Gamblers captured the 2012 Clark Cup. In his first full USHL season, he recorded 18 goals and 52 points in 64 games and was named to the USHL All-Rookie Team at just 16 years old.
The following year, Schmaltz posted 18 goals and 63 points in 55 games and was ranked 19th among North American draft-eligible skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. His play earned him an invitation to represent the United States at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, where he led all American scorers with five goals and nine points. He was later selected 20th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Nick Schmaltz Career
Junior and College Career (2011–2016)
After two seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers, Schmaltz committed to the University of North Dakota, where he played for the Fighting Hawks of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. As a freshman in 2014–15, he was named the NCHC Rookie of the Month for October after leading all freshmen with six points in his first six games, and he was later selected to the NCHC All-Rookie Team after helping North Dakota win the NCHC regular-season championship.
In his sophomore season, Schmaltz centered the so-called CBS line with Drake Caggiula and Brock Boeser, finishing with 11 goals and 46 points in 37 games. North Dakota advanced to the 2016 NCAA Frozen Four, where Schmaltz scored the game-winning goal in the semifinal against Denver with just one minute remaining in regulation. He added an assist in the championship game, a 5–1 victory over Quinnipiac that gave North Dakota its first NCAA title since 2000. After two seasons in college, Schmaltz signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Blackhawks.
Chicago Blackhawks Tenure (2016–2018)
Schmaltz made his NHL debut on October 12, 2016, and scored his first NHL goal three days later against the Nashville Predators. He struggled to produce offensively through the early part of his rookie season and was briefly assigned to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League before being recalled in January 2017. Playing alongside Jonathan Toews and Richard Panik, he finished his rookie year with six goals and 22 assists in 61 games and appeared in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the Blackhawks were swept by the Nashville Predators in the first round.
The following season marked Schmaltz’s true NHL breakthrough. Promoted to the second line alongside Patrick Kane and Ryan Hartman, he became one of Chicago’s most reliable point producers, finishing the 2017–18 campaign with 21 goals and 31 assists for 52 points in 78 games. His chemistry with Kane was particularly evident, as the two combined for numerous assists on each other’s goals throughout the season.
Arizona Coyotes Era (2018–2024)
On November 25, 2018, the Blackhawks traded Schmaltz to the Arizona Coyotes in a deal that sent forwards Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini to Chicago. He produced 14 points in 17 games before a lower-body injury, later revealed to be a knee issue, ended his season in late December. Despite the injury, the Coyotes signed him to a seven-year, $40.95 million contract extension on March 30, 2019, betting on his long-term potential.
Schmaltz returned healthy in 2019–20 and finished with a team-leading 45 points in 70 games. The 2021–22 season was his most productive NHL campaign to date, as he posted career highs of 23 goals, 36 assists, and 59 points. On March 5, 2022, he became the first player in Coyotes franchise history to record seven points in a single game, tallying two goals and five assists in an 8–5 win over the Ottawa Senators. Two nights later, he added four more points against the Detroit Red Wings, setting another franchise mark with 11 points over a two-game stretch.
Utah Mammoth Era (2024–Present)
Following the 2023–24 season, the Arizona Coyotes franchise was suspended and its hockey assets were transferred to a new expansion club based in Salt Lake City. The new team, the Utah Mammoth, retained Schmaltz as part of its core group of players. In the 2024–25 season, Schmaltz has continued to serve as a top-six forward for Utah, providing scoring depth and playmaking to a young roster adjusting to a new market.
Playing Style and Strengths
Schmaltz is widely regarded as a skilled playmaking forward with excellent vision and a strong hockey IQ. His ability to read the game at high speed allows him to set up linemates in scoring positions, and he has built productive partnerships throughout his career with stars such as Patrick Kane, Clayton Keller, and Christian Dvorak. While not a physical player, his offensive instincts and consistency in the faceoff circle have made him a dependable two-way center.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Schmaltz’s career was his game-winning goal in the 2016 NCAA Frozen Four semifinal, scored with just one minute left in regulation. In the NHL, his franchise-record seven-point performance against the Ottawa Senators in March 2022 stands out as one of the most remarkable individual efforts in Coyotes history. He also represented the United States at the 2017 IIHF World Championship and won bronze with the American junior team at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Nick Schmaltz Career Wins
Across junior, college, and professional hockey, Schmaltz has accumulated a series of notable victories and statistical milestones. From championship runs in the USHL and NCAA to record-setting individual performances in the NHL, his résumé reflects both team success and personal achievement.
NHL Highlights
Since breaking into the NHL in 2016, Schmaltz has recorded a career-high 59 points with the Arizona Coyotes in 2021–22 and posted his first 50-point NHL season with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017–18. His seven-point outing against the Ottawa Senators on March 5, 2022, set a franchise record for points in a single game, and his 11 points over a two-game span remains another Coyotes benchmark. While Schmaltz has yet to appear in a Stanley Cup Final, he has been a consistent point producer and top-six contributor for every team he has represented.
Junior and College Achievements
Schmaltz helped the Green Bay Gamblers capture the 2012 Clark Cup and was twice named to USHL All-Rookie and All-Star honors during his two full seasons with the team. At the University of North Dakota, he was a central figure in the Fighting Hawks’ 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament championship, scoring the semifinal-winning goal and assisting on a goal in the title game. He also earned a bronze medal with the United States at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Nick Schmaltz Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Schmaltz family. Nick’s older brother, Jordan Schmaltz, is also a professional ice hockey player who spent time in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Islanders before moving to play in Europe. The brothers grew up playing roller hockey together in their Verona basement and eventually faced each other in a regular-season NHL game for the first time on October 13, 2018. Their younger sister, Kylie, played volleyball for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Personal Life
Beyond his immediate family, Schmaltz remains closely connected to the hockey community. His cousin, Jake Schmaltz, began playing college hockey for the University of North Dakota in 2021 as a Boston Bruins prospect, continuing the family’s tradition in the sport. Schmaltz continues to make his off-season home in the United States.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 NHL season, Schmaltz has continued to be a key offensive contributor for the Utah Mammoth in the franchise’s early years in Salt Lake City. As one of the team’s veteran leaders, he has been relied upon to mentor younger players while maintaining his production in the top six. His experience from years of NHL hockey has helped stabilize the Mammoth’s forward group during a transitional period for the organization.
Schmaltz’s consistency as a playmaker and his chemistry with linemates such as Clayton Keller have given Utah a reliable offensive foundation. Through the early months of the season, he has been among the team’s leaders in assists and has logged significant ice time in all situations. His presence on the power play has been particularly valuable for a Mammoth team still establishing its identity.
Looking ahead, Schmaltz remains under contract with Utah through the middle of the decade and is expected to remain a central part of the team’s plans as it builds toward long-term competitiveness. His combination of scoring touch, hockey sense, and leadership makes him one of the cornerstones of the Utah Mammoth’s roster heading into the future.