After Nick Schmaltz’s rookie season, there were still some questions about where his hockey career was headed. Was he more like the timid, indecisive player who struggled through the first half of his first NHL season, ultimately getting demoted to the Rockford IceHogs? Or was he more like the savvy playmaker who thrived once he was recalled from the AHL?
Those questions have been answered. Schmaltz established himself as a reliable top-six forward during his second NHL season, finishing with 21 goals (third on the team), 31 assists (also third) and 52 points (three-way tie for second). Now the question is how high will the ceiling go for the 22-year-old center?