Arizona Coyotes All-Star Break Grades – Nick Schmaltz
Nick Schmaltz and the Arizona Coyotes have only been together for about a year and two months, but their growth together has been amazing. Schmaltz has slowly become a big part of this team, but does that mean he is playing at his best?
Nick Schmaltz still has a long way to go, the former Chicago Blackhawk was brought to Arizona in a trade that swapped Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini for Nick Schmaltz. It was supposed to be a change of scenery for all 3 who haven’t necessarily lived up to the hype.
Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini have not really been the best this season. Schmaltz, on the other hand, has stepped into the Coyotes in a big way.
Schmaltz currently leads the team in points, and for a while this season was building his own resume for an all-star game appearance. For a while, this season Schmaltz was linemates with stars like Conor Garland and Christian Dvorak. While he now finds himself alongside some new players the talent is still there.
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Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz are the future of this team and they are playing as so right now. Schmaltz and Keller are on the same line, technically the third line, and have been tearing things up for a while. I do believe Schmaltz needs to step into the top 6 as a center if this team is to win it all.
For Schmaltz play this season I give a B+ grade. He has become something of a playmaker, and is going to be needed the rest of the way if this team is to make the playoffs! Luckily John Chayka already committed long term to Nick Schmaltz so he will be a Coyote for a long time!
All we can do is wait and see if Schmaltz is ready to step up the rest of the way!