Significant Turn of Events for Mammoth & Nick Schmaltz

With five straight 20-goal seasons, Utah Mammoth top line center Nick Schmaltz is expected to be one of the top available unrestricted free agents this summer—IF he makes it there.

According to insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, not only do the Mammoth not intend to trade their star pivot today, it doesn't sound like he'll make it to July 1 either:

I am not expecting the Mammoth to trade Nick Schmaltz. I’ve heard there’s been positive movement in contract negotiations, and chances are dropping he reaches free agency.

It wasn't that long ago that Schmaltz professed his love for being with the Mammoth and hoping he gets to stay:

Nick Schmaltz on how he’s enjoyed Utah & his future:

“It’s been fun. I’ve enjoyed every second of it here. The organization has been awesome. The team is continuing to get better.”

“We’re building something special here so I’m hopeful to be part of the future.” pic.twitter.com/GLlFaiJW8b
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 20, 2026

“It’s been fun. I’ve enjoyed every second of it here. The organization has been awesome. The team is continuing to get better.”

Utah won again Thursday night, shutting out the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0, and are in the top Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, six points clear for a playoff spot.

Schmaltz is sitting on a career-best season, with 24 goals and 58 points in 62 games, with a rousing plus/minus rating of +22.

With all of the big extensions that have been executed in the past couple of months, Schmaltz and Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres were set to be the top two names on the free agent market come July. That would significantly boost their abilities to write their own ticket and land a huge contract. But it sounds like Tuch may have that all to himself.