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Nick Schmaltz Playing Big Role in Utah Mammoth Early Season Success

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The Utah Mammoth have been on a roll to start the 2025-2026 season. Utah’s in its sophomore NHL season and has had an excellent showing in its first nine games. Following an impressive 6-2 win Saturday against the Minnesota Wild, the Mammoth extended their win streak to six games, with four of them coming on home ice. Utah is now 7-2-0 overall, putting them at first place in the Western Conference. Their success has stemmed from goal scoring and solid team defence. Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz has provided plenty of help on offence. His current form has been important for Utah’s start to the young season, and it’ll continue to help. 

Nick Schmaltz Key to Utah’s Strong Start This Season

While it’s still early, Schmaltz is clearly on a mission to be one of the leading point scorers on the Mammoth. That role is usually reserved for Utah captain Clayton Keller, who had a career-high 90 points last year. However, it’s good for the Mammoth to have other forwards stepping up offensively. In the first nine games, Schmaltz has seven goals, eight assists, for 15 total points. Five of those points have come on the power play. His 15 points currently have him sitting at second in the NHL. 

Schmaltz has kicked off this season much differently than he did a year ago. During the 2024–2025 season, the centre had to wait 23 games before scoring his first goal. This was largely because he wasn’t shooting the puck enough. Schmaltz has since adjusted that approach this season.

Through the first nine games, he leads Utah in shots on goal with 34. Furthermore, Schmaltz is finding the danger areas on the ice, making smart plays with the puck, and showing a shoot-first mentality. Those were previously difficult for him to accomplish. Although he might not be a household name in the NHL, Schmaltz is still an integral part of the Mammoth lineup. 

The 29-year-old most notably recorded a hat trick in Utah’s 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. That helped extend his current point streak to six games. So, maybe as Schmaltz goes, so to do the Mammoth.

How Schmaltz Will Continue to Help the Mammoth

The key for Schmaltz will be sustaining this play throughout the season. He has the talent to make a significant impact, but Utah needs him to deliver consistently. If he can maintain his scoring touch on the top line with Keller and Barrett Hayton, Schmaltz will be dependable offensively, and this start is just what he’s needed. Despite his struggles last year, the Mammoth finished strong, finishing just shy of the playoffs.

This is the final year of Schmaltz’s contract and he will certainly be looking for a nice payday come next summer. His recent play could be a part of that, or maybe he’s too underrated around the league. The years Schmaltz spent on the Arizona Coyotes likely didn’t help because the team wasn’t very successful. However, that didn’t stop him from having three consecutive 50+ point seasons in Arizona. There’s a good chance Schmaltz keeps this kind of play going.

What’s Next for Utah 

The Mammoth finish their back-to-back Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets. A win would keep Utah rolling and may give Schmaltz a chance to extend his active point streak. The Mammoth will rely on him to generate offence and set the tone, especially on the road, where consistency hasn’t been easy so far. If he continues to produce alongside Keller and Hayton, Utah could secure another important victory and build more momentum as the year rolls on. They will need it, too, if they want to compete in the Western Conference playoff picture.

Main Photo Credit: Rob Gray – Imagn Images

The post Nick Schmaltz Playing Big Role in Utah Mammoth Early Season Success appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.