The Utah Mammoth have made a significant splash in the free agency market by signing veteran defenseman Nate Schmidt to a three-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $3.5 million. The announcement was made on July 1, 2025, marking a key addition to the team's roster as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Chris Armstrong, President of Hockey Operations for the Utah Mammoth, expressed his excitement about the signing, stating, "We are excited that Nate and his wife, Allie, have chosen Utah". He further emphasized Schmidt's value to the team, noting his "depth of playoff experience and most recent impact in helping the Florida Panthers to win the 2025 Stanley Cup complements our group of existing veterans extremely well". Armstrong believes Schmidt "will play a big role in helping to move our team forward this coming season".
General Manager Bill Armstrong echoed this sentiment, describing Schmidt as "an efficient defenseman" and expressing his pleasure in welcoming him to the organization. He also highlighted Schmidt's work ethic and potential as a role model for younger players, adding, "He's a warrior who played a key role in Florida's Stanley Cup run and we are thrilled to have him join our team".
Schmidt, 33, is coming off a successful season with the Florida Panthers, where he played a crucial role in their Stanley Cup victory. During the 2024-25 regular season, he recorded 5 goals and 14 assists for 19 points in 80 games, along with 30 penalty minutes. Among Panthers defensemen, he ranked third in goals, fourth in points, and tied for third in blocked shots with 71. His contributions extended into the playoffs, where he added 3 goals and 9 assists for 12 points in 23 appearances, also accumulating 4 penalty minutes. Notably, his nine assists tied for the most among all Florida defensemen during the postseason.
Throughout his NHL career, the 6-foot, 197-pound defenseman has played 741 games with the Panthers, Winnipeg Jets, Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights, and Washington Capitals, amassing 52 goals, 187 assists, and 239 points, along with 152 penalty minutes. He set career highs in assists (31) and points (36) in 76 games with Vegas in 2017-18 and added a career-best nine goals in 61 games with the Golden Knights the following season. Schmidt has also participated in 99 career playoff games, contributing 10 goals, 30 assists, and 40 points.
Before his NHL career, Schmidt played 65 games in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Hershey Bears, recording 6 goals, 20 assists, and 26 points. He also played 13 Calder Cup Playoff games, where he had 4 goals and 7 assists.
Schmidt's hockey journey also includes accolades from his college career, where he was named to the WCHA First All-Star Team and NCAA West Second All-American Team in 2012-13. Additionally, he played in the USHL with the Fargo Force in 2009-10, earning selection to the league's All-Rookie Team. Internationally, Schmidt represented the United States at the 2022 IIHF World Championship, leading American defensemen in goals (2) and tying for the lead in points (6) over 10 tournament games.
The signing of Nate Schmidt is expected to bring experience, leadership, and defensive prowess to the Utah Mammoth, as they aim to build a competitive team.
