http://hockeyjournal.com/blog/kirks/201 ... n_Schmaltz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;NE Hockey Journal wrote:Although scouts are divided this season on where Schmaltz will land in the draft, there is no denying he’s a skilled rearguard whose excellent hockey sense and vision along with his 6-foot-2 frame make him a coveted commodity for all of the NHL’s 30 clubs.
“He’s very offensively gifted,” said former Sioux City head coach Luke Strand. “He has high-end offensive awareness; he’s got great vision and patience with the puck to let something develop and make the right play.”
As Schmaltz continues his physical maturation, he could turn into a player who will not only lead the rush and quarterback the power play, but whose positional prowess should only get better with a more powerful upper body and increased leg drive.
“Jordan is a tall, slender guy,” Strand said. “As he matures physically, his strength will propel him along. He has a hard shot. I wouldn’t say it’s a laser, but it’s heavy. As he gets stronger, he’ll get more power behind it.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/ca" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... story.htmlWashington Post wrote:ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Blues selected defenseman Jordan Schmaltz with the 25th pick in the first round of the NHL draft on Friday night.
Schmaltz, out of the USHL, is considered to be a project player. The 6-foot-2, 189-pound blue-liner will attend the University of North Dakota next year. He split this past season between the Sioux City Musketeers and Green Bay Gamblers, ranking second among USHL defensemen with 41 points (10 goals, 31 assists) in 55 games.
Schmaltz played 46 of games for Green Bay, leading the team’s defensemen in assists, points and power-play goals (five). He added seven points (two goals, five assists) and had a plus-10 rating in 12 playoff games for the Clark Cup Champions.
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/jordan_schmaltz/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;hockey's future wrote:2009-10: Schmaltz appeared in two USHL games with the Sioux City Musketeers while spending most of the season with the Chicago Mission midget AAA team in Illinois. He played 11 games with the US National Team Development Program U17 team and represented the USA in two tournaments. He was scoreless and plus-one with 4 penalty minutes in his brief time with the Musketeers. Schmaltz was the leading scorer amongst defensemen for Chicago Mission, scoring 10 goals with 21 assists in 39 games. In 11 games with the U17 NDTP squad, he had 2 goals. He had 1 assist in four games as the USA won a gold medal at the U17 World Hockey Challenge. Schmaltz was scoreless in three games for the USA squad that competed in the 2011 U18 Vlad Dzurilla Tournament.
2010-11: Schmaltz played for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL, appearing in 53 games. He led all USHL defensemen in goals, assists, and points and was named to the USHL’s First All-Star Team, as well as the USHL’s All-Rookie Team. He scored 13 goals and added 31 assists and was an even plus-minus with 22 penalty minutes. After finishing sixth in the Western Conference, the Musketeers faced Sioux Falls in the first round of the playoffs. In three playoff games, Schmaltz picked up 1 assist. . Schmaltz played for the U.S. at the 2010 World Junior A Challenge, registering 1 assist in 4 games.
2011-12: Schmaltz opened the season with Sioux City before requesting a trade in early November and finishing the year with Clark Cup champion Green Bay. He was chosen to represent the USA in the 2012 World Junior A Challenge. In nine games with the Musketeers prior to the trade, he scored 3 goals with 3 assists and was minus-four with 9 penalty minutes. Sioux City would finish last in the Western Conference. Schmaltz scored 7 goals with 28 assists and was plus-15 with 20 penalty minutes in 46 games for Green Bay. After finishing first in the Western Conference, the Gamblers defeated Waterloo in an epic five-game series in the Clark Cup finals. In 12 playoff games Schmaltz was plus-10 with 2 goals and 5 assists. He was invited to the NHL Draft Combine and was ranked 34th amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft.
Meh.
Although I advocated that the Blues grab a defenseman, I couldn't believe how quickly they were coming off the board in the first round. Schmaltz was ranked as high as "late first round" which is obviously where he went but definitely a work in progress. He's the famous "we'll see."