Nick Schmaltz

Nick Schmaltz (born February 23, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL, as well as the Arizona Coyotes until the team suspended operations and all hockey assets were transferred to the expansion Utah Mammoth.

Born in Madison, Wisconsin, and raised in Verona, Schmaltz grew up playing hockey in his basement with his brother Jordan and sister Kylie. He followed his brother into playing junior ice hockey for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League. After two full seasons in Green Bay, Schmaltz was selected in the first round, 20th overall, by the Blackhawks in the 2014 NHL entry draft. He went on to play two seasons of college ice hockey with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. During his second season, North Dakota won the 2016 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. Schmaltz had scored the game-winning goal in the tournament semifinals with only 60 seconds left to play and added an assist in their championship victory.

Schmaltz left North Dakota after winning a championship title to begin his professional hockey career. He spent most of his rookie season with the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks' American Hockey League affiliate, before having a breakout 2017–18 season playing with Ryan Hartman and Patrick Kane. Schmaltz could not continue his offensive output the following season, and he was traded to the Coyotes in November 2018. He missed most of the 2018–19 season with a knee injury but returned the following year to lead the team with 45 points. During the Coyotes' 2021–22 roster overhaul, Schmaltz was part of the core group of players they chose to build around, and that March he set a franchise record with seven points in one game.