Nick Schmaltz called it a "shock" to be traded from the Blackhawks to the Coyotes on Sunday night.
But it helps that he's going to a team where he has so many friends.
The Hawks and Coyotes have teamed up on several trades in the last year. This deal reunites Schmaltz with former Hawks Vinnie Hinostroza, Richard Panik, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Jordan Oesterle.
"It was a shock," Schmaltz said Monday. "But at the same time I know a lot of players on the Coyotes and the guys I've played with on previous teams, so I'm really excited. It's a young group, a lot of skill up front, and I'm really excited to get started and get going here in the next couple days."
Schmaltz, who has two goals and nine assists this season, admitted his offensive output hasn't been strong enough but said he's looking forward to starting over with the Coyotes.
"Obviously, production is not where I want it to be," Schmaltz said. "A lot of the games I've been generating a lot of offense and creating a lot of chances. Getting some pretty good looks with my shot. Hopefully things start clicking here, and maybe this fresh start will help give me an energy boost. Pucks will start falling in for me. Stick with it, work hard every day and I think things will turn around."
Coyotes general manager John Chayka said that Schmaltz can be a "core piece" for the organization and that he has been trying to trade for him for some time.
"When I asked about Nick in the past, which I've done, he's been an untouchable," Chayka said. "I don't know whether it's a slow start or what occurred, but at some point he became available. And when a player like that becomes available, you've got to give to get and we certainly did that."
The Coyotes sent forwards Dylan Strome, 21, and Brendan Perlini, 22, to the Hawks for Schmaltz.
Asked if he felt the Hawks had given up on him too soon, Schmaltz instead kept his eyes on the future.
"Obviously, I wasn't expecting it," he said. "But it was pretty exciting that Arizona was trying to get me for the last year."
