Scouting Report: Nick Schmaltz, C, Green Bay (USHL)

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 19th

Bio

Stats

Overview

Nick Schmaltz spent the last two seasons tearing up the USHL, recording 52 points as a rookie and a team-leading 63 points in his draft year. He is a pass-first playmaker who uses his strong skating, great vision and pinpoint passing to create opportunities.

Schmaltz's defensive game shows promise, but will need some work. He is strong on the puck and controls the game well in the cycle, which will be key to his success at the pro level if he can translate those abilities.

Schmaltz is the younger brother of Jordan Schmaltz, a 2012 first-round selection by the St. Louis Blues. The brothers will be teammates next season as Nick is committed to the University of North Dakota, where Jordan will be entering his junior year.

Pro Comparison

• Mike Ribeiro

Scouts are saying

TSN director of scouting Craig Button:

Nick has excellent hockey sense and an ease to his game that very few possess. He has excellent puck skills and can make plays that create scoring opportunities. He knows where to be on the ice to make a difference.

ESPN insider Corey Pronman:

Nick's puck skills and pure creativity allow him to make a lot of defenders miss, and create scoring chances at times when it doesn't look like there is an opportunity. Schmaltz has pretty good possession skills as well. "He can own the puck during a game," said one NHL scout. ... he needs to bulk up, and play less bashfully in battles. High risk, high reward is the school of thought among NHL scouts with Schmaltz.

Highlights