Don't Be Surprised if the Maple Leafs Re-Enter the Picture for Nick Schmaltz

An unexpected storyline to begin the 2025-26 NHL season has been the emergence of Utah Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz as a top offensive threat.

Having been a consistent top-six forward in the past few years, between 58-63 points over the past four seasons, Schmaltz has become one of the league's top producers.

In 11 games to start the season, Schmaltz is second in points among all NHLers with 17 points, with seven goals and 10 assists. Schmaltz is on pace to smash all career highs with a projected 52 goals, 75 assists, & 127 points, that point total more than double his actual best.

Even ending the season as a PPG level player would be a career-best for Schmaltz, and in a contract year is something that could net him a major salary boost than he would've guessed before the start of the season, and one that will be tricky for the Mammoth.

With Nick Schmaltz's surprise dominance this season, this early growth has added to a challenge over his contract situation, with Elliotte Friedman revealing a gap in where the two sides are.

According to Friedman, the Mammoth and Schmaltz are well away in terms of a new contract, with the two sides not close on a new deal, and with Schmaltz's rise something that will only add to the difference in value.

The Mammoth may be hesitant to pay Schmaltz like a 100-point player, at the very least he will get a raise from his current $5.85M, but Schmaltz pushing his point total may lead Utah to a tough situation.

This would be far and away a career year for Schmaltz, and even a slight regression would still give him the potential of breaking his bests, at 29 years of age even more a question of the long-term gains.

With Schmaltz a player who has had what could be his best season by far in a contract year, Utah is choosing to be conservative, and this could benefit a few teams if they part ways.

Nick Schmaltz will likely not be traded by the Utah Mammoth, who sit first in the Western Conference and have a strong roster, but this could make Schmaltz suddenly a major free agency grab.

If the Mammoth were to part with Schmaltz, it would be because his value has exceeded what they feel is his worth relative to his career rather than this season, Utah has $4.5M in cap space, with Schmaltz one of only two major free agents along with Alex Kerfoot.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one team looking for a top forward, especially on the wing, and could be drawn to a dominant top-line option in Schmaltz, but he may be a bit too costly for Toronto.

Schmaltz will command a hefty salary, and even with a rising cap, the Leafs won't have the most room to work with.

If Schmaltz is looking for a payday taking advantage of a career year, he may go to where the money is, and Toronto may not be able to provide that.

One thing is for certain, the Toronto Maple Leafs, along with other teams, will be monitoring Schmaltz's progress, and what Utah determines could have big ramifications for free agency.