The Chicago Blackhawks thought highly enough of Schmaltz to select him in the first round (No. 20) in the 2014 NHL Draft. And that was before he helped the University of North Dakota win the 2016 NCAA championship, scoring the winning goal against the University of Denver with 57 seconds left to put his team in the championship game.

A versatile forward who sees the ice well, Schmaltz is known as a creative playmaker. He had 11 goals and 46 points in 37 games as a sophomore while centering North Dakota's top line in 2015-16.

Schmaltz led the team with 35 assists, which ranked him fifth in the NCAA and were the most by a North Dakota player since future NHL forward T.J. Oshie had 35 in 2006-07. He was third nationally with a plus-44 rating and was first with 28 even-strength assists. His 0.95 assists-per-game ratio was fourth best in the NCAA.

As a freshman in 2014-15, Schmaltz played with his older brother Jordan, a 2012 first-round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues. Nick Schmaltz was named to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference All-Rookie Team after scoring 26 points in 38 games. He led North Dakota freshmen in scoring and was fourth on the team, right behind Jordan (28 points).

Schmaltz played a prominent role for the United States at the 2016 World Junior Championship, scoring two goals and eight points in seven games as the Americans won a bronze medal. He led the U.S. with eight points (five goals) and won silver at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in 2013.

Before his college days, Schmaltz played for Green Bay of the United States Hockey League for two-plus seasons. At 17 he was the youngest player named to the USHL All-Rookie team in 2012-13 after scoring 18 goals and 52 points in 64 games.

Schmaltz signed an entry-level contract with Blackhawks on June 19, 2016.