Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup, but that didn’t guarantee everyone’s future. Some players left for better opportunities elsewhere—including Nate Schmidt, who departed after just one season with the cats to sign with the Utah Mammoth, where he’ll now earn a higher salary.
But for Schmidt, it’s not just about the money. He recently spoke highly of his new team and how they’re preparing for what’s ahead, saying, “This team plays hard and they have more than just a couple of skilled guys. It’s becoming a more complete team and the defensemen are a lot more veteran now.” It was a subtle warning to the rest of the league about what Utah could become.
“It kind of, in a lot of ways, mimics Florida and how they went through the draft, had a bunch of guys grow up together, and then start to make noise later as they got on in their careers,” Schmidt said. “And that’s how I see this team. That’s something that kind of excited me. You see that type of trajectory again and see how it worked.”
Schmidt sees Utah as a promising next step in his career
He’s signed a $10.5 million deal with the Mammoth for the next three seasons, but emphasized that what drew him in was the mindset of the team—a mindset he’s ready to fully embrace.
Nate Schmidt #88 of the Florida Panthers reacts prior to Game Four of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amerant Bank Arena on April 28, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.
“On the teams that I’ve been on, that’s the type of mentality they have. In my case, I just tasted this thing and I can’t wait for another chance at it again. That’s what you’re going to get out of me and that’s what I’m most excited to bring to this group.”
Schmidt sees flashes of Florida in Utah
He believes the Mammoth have the right pieces in place: “We have a ton of skilled forwards that can make a ton of skilled plays, and now is the next part of that development as a team.” Schmidt also recalled how things started in Florida, and how adopting a humble, team-first approach helped spark his resurgence.
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“I went into Florida and said I would play wherever, however and whenever, and had that kind of mentality,” Schmidt said. “I think it was really a stroke of lightning for me, because I went in there not expecting anything. That’s kind of the way I’m going to try and do this next move—come into Utah and not expect anything.”
