Coyotes’ Nick Schmaltz out six to eight weeks with upper-body injury

What a blow for the Arizona Coyotes.

Forward Nick Schmaltz, will be out for six to eight weeks with an upper-body injury, according to Craig Morgan of PHNX Sports.

The Coyotes are set to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night.

Schmaltz left the team’s opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, playing in just 2:26 of ice time. Schmaltz finished second behind Clayton Keller for the team lead with 59 points last year, the best total of his career.

Schmaltz, who had 52 points as a second-year NHLer in 2017-18 with Chicago, has evolved into one of Arizona’s best players throughout his tenure. Schmaltz, a key piece of Arizona’s top line when healthy, has dealt with upper-body injuries on four separate occasions. This is a tough loss for the Coyotes early in the season, who would have otherwise relied on him to cause damage on a team that needs as much help as it can get.

Defenseman Conor Timmins is also out day-to-day after suffering an upper-body injury on Saturday. Injuries have played a massive factor in Timmins’ career, with the 24-year-old missing all of 2018-19 and failing to play even half a season ever since Timmins was set for a full-time return to the lineup this season after playing just six games with the Coyotes last year.

The Coyotes are one of the favorites to select Connor Bedard with the first overall pick at the 2023 NHL Draft. Losing two key pieces of the lineup definitely helps that, but the health of everyone involved is paramount.

The Coyotes have allowed six goals in both of their losses this season. They’ll face Montreal (Thursday) and Ottawa (Saturday) to close out the short Canadian road trip this week. The Coyotes will eventually return home on Oct. 28 to play the Winnipeg Jets at the new Mullett Arena, the 5,000-seat building at Arizona State University in Tempe.