Arizona Coyotes lose Nick Schmaltz for the season
By James Reeve
Injury woes continue to mount for the Arizona Coyotes, who today announced that Nick Schmaltz will miss the rest of the season.
The Arizona Coyotes have had a torrid time with injuries this season and Schmaltz will now officially not see the ice until the 2019/20 season with a lower-body injury.
The latest injury is a huge disappointment for the team, with the 22-year-old having looked solid in a Coyotes jersey since arriving from the Chicago Blackhawks.
INJURY UPDATE: #Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz will be sidelined for the remainder of the season because of a lower-body injury.
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) January 8, 2019
Schmaltz arrived in the desert as a part of the trade that saw Brendan Perlini and Dylan Strome sent the other way and has been an important part of Rick Tocchet’s lineup.
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In 17 appearances for the Coyotes, Schmaltz has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) – an improvement over his performances with the Blackhawks, where he had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 23 appearances.
The injury could have an impact on Schmaltz’ next contract with the Coyotes, with the Madison, Wisconsin native set to become a restricted free agent this off-season.
With a small sample size suggesting that Schmaltz can be a big player in the desert, he could look for a decent pay rise with his next contract – but the season-ending injury could see him given a bridge deal.
Signing Schmaltz to a two-year deal to see how he can fit into the team, and whether or not he can stay healthy, might be the way the team goes as a result.
The team has also lost Antti Raanta, Christian Dvorak and Jason Demers for the entire season, with Schmaltz now further adding to the huge frustrations felt by the team and fans.
A healthy Arizona Coyotes team had the potential to make the playoffs this season, but with the number of injuries the team has suffered, it would be a huge surprise if the team made it into the post-season.
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What do you think Coyotes fans? How disappointed are you with this news? How frustrating have the team’s injuries been this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!