Jordan Schmaltz has been a member of the St. Louis Blues'; organization since
he was drafted in the first round in 2012. But now, six years later, he remains
 the team';s last unsigned restricted free agent as the 2018-19 season quickly
approaches. Schmaltz remains confident that a deal will get done, but the delay
 has caused some to question: is Jordan Schmaltz still a part of the Blues';
future? Or is he going to be forever labeled as a draft bust?2012 NHL Draft

Playing for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, Jordan Schmaltz earned a
reputation as a top quality defensive prospect. Excelling in the offensive
zone, Schmaltz drew comparisons to the likes of Keith Yandle, who at the time
was one of the premier offensive defenders in the league, playing for the
Arizona Coyotes. Schmaltz was a great puck-handler with considerable poise and
hockey IQ, skills that had earned him a scholarship to play under Dave Hakstol
(now the Philadelphia Flyers'; head coach) at the top flight NCAA program at
the University of North Dakota. Schmaltz was considered a likely first-round
pick.Jordan Schmaltz before his junior year at UND (Eric Classen, UND Sports)

The Blues did indeed draft Schmaltz in the first round, selecting him 25th,
making him the 12th of 13 defenseman taken in that round. The pick received
mostly average reviews, based on the perception that Schmaltz was a "boom or
bust" kind of prospect.  The Blues drafted three other defensemen in that
draft class, two of whom have played more NHL games so far than Schmaltz:
Petteri Lindbohm, whom the Blues recently lost to Switzerland, and Colton
Parayko, a third-round draft steal who has become a centerpiece of the
organization.Schmaltz in College and Minor Hockey

After being drafted, Jordan Schmaltz began his collegiate career at North
Dakota, as he was committed to do. He excelled in his three seasons there,
collecting 64 points in 125 games. Schmaltz spent much of his time at UND
playing alongside his younger brother Nick, who would be drafted by the Blues';
 arch-rival, the Chicago Blackhawks, 20th overall in the 2013 draft. The two
formed a potent duo, appearing in the Frozen Four each of the years they
overlapped.Jordan and Nick Schmaltz, UND Athletics/Peter Bottini

After his junior season, the elder Schmaltz signed an entry-level contract with
 the Blues and began his professional career. In the first year after signing
that contract, Schmaltz played exclusively in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves,
totaling 36 points in 71 games. Blues fans were confident that they are looking
 at a future defensive star. Yet it wouldn';t be until late in the next season,
 Mar. 5, 2017, that Schmaltz would make his NHL debut. In 21 NHL games since
then, he';s tallied three assists. But Schmaltz has continued to play well at
the AHL level. He was named the Blues'; only representative to the AHL All-Star
 game this past season, though he was forced to miss the game
itself.Schmaltz';s Contract Situation

Schmaltz';s entry level contract ended after last season, a season which was
cut short due to injuries. The Blues were very active this summer, making
trades and free agent signings that have brought them all the way up to the
salary cap; and yet, Schmaltz remains unsigned. Though he certainly won';t
demand top dollar, he cannot sign for less than the amount of cap space the
Blues have remaining, as that is below the minimum contract threshold.

Restricted free agent Jordan Schmaltz confident a deal will be done with St.
Louis before camp, looking to break out of his shell this season:
https://t.co/VxDt5dcV7x

- Brad E. Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) August 24, 2018

But Schmaltz himself is certain a deal will get done. The Blues have some tools
 at their disposal to make it happen. For one, if Schmaltz decided to sign a
two-way contract, they could keep him in the AHL and withstand the cap hit.
They could also consider placing one of their other injured defensemen, Carl
Gunnarsson or Jay Bouwmeester, on long term injured reserve, which would give
them added cap flexibility; however, all reports indicate that both players
will be ready in time for the season. Finally, the Blues could consider trading
 a player to clear the room to sign Schmaltz (though, by the same token, it is
certainly possible they could trade Schmaltz himself). Whatever the case, the
Blues will need to sign Schmaltz to give him a chance to prove that he has an
NHL future.A "Make or Break" Year for Schmaltz

If Schmaltz signs a deal to continue on with the Blues, it will be a critical
juncture in his career. He will need to establish himself as a part of the
Blues'; future or, at the very least, prove his NHL mettle to entice another
team to give him more playing time. But this will be difficult.Blues defensemen
 Jordan Schmaltz (Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports)

Schmaltz has a number of defensemen to surpass in order to earn playing time.
Young players like Parayko and Vince Dunn have passed him on the depth chart,
and established players like Bouwmeester, Gunnarsson, Joel Edmundson, and of
course Alex Pietrangelo have entrenched roles as well. That would seem to
squeeze out Schmaltz, even if he could earn a chance over Robert Bortuzzo. The
Blues'; stacked defense is a major obstacle for Schmaltz to even get a chance
to play.

Schmaltz will need to have an incredible camp to catch the eyes of the Blues';
front office and coaching staff. If he does so, he may be given the first shot
at stealing the role of a player who is underperforming or injured. If he can
earn consistent playing time and play well, there may be a chance for him to
prove himself to the Blues. Most likely, though, Schmaltz';s future lies with
another team.

Yes, Gunnarsson, Bortuzzo, and Bouwmeester all have contracts that expire after
 this season, but at that time, Schmaltz will be 26 and well beyond the age
when "prospects" are meant to become players. If he is going to become
entrenched as a Blue, he needs to force the organization';s hand this year,
rather than wait for yet another season to get his shot.

The post Jordan Schmaltz';s Future With the Blues appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

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