'Two Sides Not Even Close': Elliotte Friedman Reveals Utah Mammoth and Top Forward are in Contract Standstill
Nick Schmaltz is off to a hot start this year, but after struggling to get an extension done in the summer, it appears they're no closer now either.
The Utah Mammoth are off to a fantastic start in 2025/26, and with the team recently extending star centre Logan Cooley to go alongside deals to Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther, the future is incredibly bright in Salt Lake City.
However, it's Nick Schmaltz that's been off to the best start for the team early in the new season, with 7 goals and 17 points through 11 games having the veteran tied for second in the NHL in scoring.
Mammoth And Schmaltz Not Close On A Contract Extension
This comes after a summer in which Schmaltz and the front office couldn't come together on an extension, and according to top NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, things remain the same as the season has begun.
On the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman reveals that despite his red-hot start, the Mammoth and the 29-year old pending UFA are still not close in extension talks.
The interesting one there is...Nick Schmaltz, I heard that the two sides weren't even close, he's a UFA after this year.
At 29-years of age and on the back of 61 and 63 points in the past two seasons, Schmaltz appears ready to cash in as a free agent, but clearly, the Mammoth just can't get to a point where a deal can be made yet.
It's unclear if this would make Schmaltz a trade candidate this season, and after a red-hot start that has him well above a point-per-game, whatever happens could have a major impact on Utah and their chances moving forward in 2025/26 and beyond.
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