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Should the Utah Mammoth Give Nick Schmaltz a Contract Extension
Main Photo: Peter Creveling-Imagn Images

Should the Utah Mammoth Give Nick Schmaltz a Contract Extension

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Joseph Calabrese  |  Last updated Jan 27, 2026 1:08 PM ET

After a 2-0 shutout defeat on Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Utah Mammoth failed to extend their win streak to five games. Utah still continues to be one of the hottest teams in the NHL. With a 27-21-4 record and 58 points, the Mammoth currently hold the first Stanley Cup Playoff Wild Card spot in the Western Conference; three points ahead of the Seattle Kraken, San Jose Sharks, and Los Angeles Kings. While Clayton Keller leads the team in points, Nick Schmaltz has gone under the radar as a top player for Utah. Since the new year began, Utah has gone 9-3 and earned points in ten of the games. 

Schmaltz’s current play could earn himself a big offer when his current contract expires this summer. 

Is a Nick Schmaltz Extension the Right Move for the Utah Mammoth?

Because Schmaltz is having a great season for the Mammoth, questions about Utah’s plans for him have risen. There were rumours that Utah was shopping the 29-year-old forward last off-season, but the team ultimately decided to keep him. Now, general manager Bill Armstrong confirmed to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, that the Mammoth and Schmaltz are holding off on contract talks to focus on the season.

In the final season of a seven-year, $40.95 million deal, Utah will need to decide prior to the trade deadline if Schmaltz is in the team’s future plans. Mammoth Insider Cole Bagley of KSL Sports believes that Utah will make re-signing Schmaltz one of their priorities.

Schmaltz has taken on a larger role as Utah’s number one centre with the absence of Logan Cooley, who’s still out of action due to a lower-body injury. In the 23 games since Cooley went on injured reserve, Schmaltz has really stepped up for the Mammoth. He’s recorded 22 points over that stretch.

Cooley did return to the ice in a non-contact jersey, but he isn’t expected to return to the lineup until early February. Schmaltz will be asked to keep his current form going. 

What Schmaltz’s New Contract Might Look Like

There’s no doubt that Schmaltz will be looking for a long-term contract as an unrestricted free agent starting July 1. However, predicting the amount of money is a bit more complex. In 52 games this season, the former first-round pick back in 2014 has recorded 46 points (18 goals, 28 assists), which is second on the Mammoth. 

At this current pace, he should be able to surpass his career-high of 63 points that was set last year. A strong finish to the season would only increase his price tag. 

In addition, the salary cap significantly rising over the next few years changes the amount of money players are looking for. The current cap hit on Schmaltz’s expiring contract is $5.85 million, so his new deal could come in at $7-9 million, or perhaps more. Many of the top pending free agents have already re-signed, so that makes Schmaltz one of the best players available. 

Should the Mammoth Extend Him

Whether Utah re-signs Schmaltz falls in the hands of Armstrong. According to PuckPedia, the Mammoth will have nearly $26M in cap space at the end of this season. Besides Schmaltz, Utah has other pending UFAs that need new deals. 

Something else Armstrong must consider is Schmaltz’s age. He must decide if he’s willing to pay a soon-to-be 30-year-old a contract that could be five to seven years. There’s always a risk to giving a player entering their 30s a long contract, so the Mammoth need to be very sure they want to keep Schmaltz. Also, it is worth noting that Schmaltz has a 10-team no trade clause. 

If negotiations don’t go well, then Utah must move him. However, if the Mammoth are still fighting for a playoff position by the deadline, it wouldn’t make sense for Schmaltz to be dealt. If Utah clinches, that would mark the first playoff appearance in franchise history. 

Up Next

The Mammoth continue their road trip and remaining in Florida to take on the Florida Panthers. The Panthers come in having won six of their last eight games. The back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions are looking to continue their win streak and get back in a playoff spot. Florida sits just outside the Eastern Conference wild card with a 28-20-3 record (59 points). They’re getting healthy again, so it’ll be a good test for the Mammoth.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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