Schmaltz vaults into the picture
He was Hawks fan before he became their top prospect
Nick Schmaltz was there— center ice, 100 level — when Marian Hossa took a five- minute boarding major with 63 seconds left in one of the most pivotal games in modern Blackhawks history, Game 5 against the Predators in 2010.
Schmaltz leaped out of his seat when Patrick Kane scored a shorthanded goal with 14 seconds left to send the game to overtime and joined the bedlam when Hossa scored right out of the penalty box to win it in overtime, vaulting the Hawks toward their first Stanley Cup in 49 years.
For obvious reasons, that’s the game that sticks out in Schmaltz’s mind. But he attended about 10 playoff games as a fan, cheering the national anthem, screaming for big hits and singing along to ‘‘ Chelsea Dagger’’ after goals. And he watched countless more games on TV in suburban Madison, Wisconsin.
So to be standing on the blue line Saturday for an open scrimmage at the United Center, a Hawks logo on his chest, 15,000- plus fans cheering while Jim Cornelison belted out the anthem, it was almost surreal.
‘‘ It gave me goose bumps just being out there,’’ Schmaltz said. ‘‘ It was a good experience, and I hope for more to come.’’
So do the Hawks, who privately and publicly have identified Schmaltz as the player to watch among the next generation of players. He is a supremely gifted, mature and versatile forward who helped North Dakota win the NCAA championship last spring, is arguably the most skilled young player in the organization and has a very real chance of making the team out of camp.
And captain Jonathan Toews happens to be looking for a couple of linemates.
‘‘ Just to be in the conversation is pretty amazing,’’ Schmaltz said.
‘‘ Obviously, he’s one of the top centermen in the league. It’d be quite an honor to play with him. But I’ve just got to focus on showing how I can play and doing whatever I can to make the team, no matter who I’m playing with.’’
That’s what general manager Stan Bowman wants to hear. And Schmaltz has two weeks to make his case.
‘‘ The opportunities are there for these guys to step forward and show us which guys can play,’’ Bowman said before camp.
The Hawks haven’t brought in any veterans on tryout contracts, a clear sign to the next wave of players that it’s finally their turn to sink or swim. And with most of the Hawks’ top players still away thanks to the World Cup of Hockey, the competition among the prospects is as competitive as ever.
‘‘ They’ve got a lot of guys gone, so a lot of young guys are going to be able to play a little more than they normally would,’’ Schmaltz said. ‘‘ It’s a great opportunity for all the young guys, so I’m just going to do everything I can to show what I’ve got.’’
What he has is a knack for playmaking. The speedy 20- yearold had 11 goals and 35 assists in 37 games for North Dakota as a sophomore. While Tyler Motte is the finisher, Richard Panik has the head start and Vinnie Hinostroza is the oldest and most developed, the Hawks think Schmaltz has the highest ceiling of the bunch.
The preseason opener Wednesday against the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins will be the next big test. And after all those trips to the United Center as a fan, Schmaltz is hoping to make it his permanent home as a player.
‘‘ Obviously, that’s my ultimate goal,’’ he said. ‘‘ But I can’t control what decisions they make. I’m just going to try to work as hard as I can and put a good impression on everyone. Then I’ll just hope for the best.’’
NOTES:
Injured defenseman Duncan Keith ( knee) skated again Monday, but assistant coach Kevin Dineen said he won’t play in at least the first four preseason games.
Niklas Hjalmarsson, Marcus Kruger, Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov will join camp Friday after Sweden and Russia were eliminated in the semifinals of the World Cup of Hockey.