Arizona Coyotes’ Nick Schmaltz leaves game vs. Dallas Stars with upper-body injury

The Arizona Coyotes announced that center Nick Schmaltz has left Wednesday’s game with an upper-body injury.

Schmaltz took a puck to the left side of his face midway through the second period of the game against the Dallas Stars, and went to the dressing room shortly after, not returning for the third. It’s unclear at the moment as to whether or not it’s a severe injury or if it’s just a precaution for the forward, as he has been in some trade rumours as the deadline approaches on Friday.

Schmaltz left with 9:22 of ice time and an assist on the Coyotes second goal to give them a 2-0 lead in the first period. The Coyotes then proceeded to blow that lead, with the game tied at 2-2 when Schmaltz exited the game.

Schmaltz has emerged as an elite offensive threat for the Coyotes, part of what’s allowed them to look at moving him and a contract that at one point was thought to be one that would require assets to move out. He has 18 goals, 24 assists, and 42 points in 45 games this season after scoring at a similar pace through 63 games last season with 59 points.

Schmaltz was a 20th overall selection of the 2014 NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, and was dealt to the Coyotes in 2018 for Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini. He’s in the fourth year of a seven-year deal with a $5.85 cap hit, one he signed with the Coyotes only a few months after he was traded there.

This could be a big blow to the Coyotes, but more to their potential trade options as opposed to their success this year. They have been selling at this year’s trade deadline, having already moved Shayne Gostisbehere and Jakob Chychrun earlier on Wednesday. They had the fifth worst record in the NHL at 21-30-9 going into the game against the Stars, and have their sights set on getting the first overall pick and drafting Connor Bedard.