Former Winnipeg Jet, Nate Schmidt, is thriving in Utah this year, and that's fresh off a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, but it wasn't always so easy. It's nearly impossible to catch Nate Schmidt with anything short of a grin on his face. The perpetually optimistic 34-year-old <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/winnipeg-jets/scott-arniel-takes-a-shot-at-his-team-after-jets-second-period-collapse-vs-the-mammoth' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>returned to Winnipeg on Sunday</a> for the first time since capturing the Stanley Cup with the Panthers, but this time as a member of the red-hot Utah Mammoth. Schmidt spent three seasons donning the Jets gear before getting bought out of the last year on his contract in 2024. He wasn't hurt by it, knowing that his $5.95-million cap hit wasn't an accurate reflection of what he was producing on the ice. You never know how things are going to work. You get bought out, you move on. You never know. - Nate Schmidt With no safety net, Schmidt received a phone call with an offer from Paul Maurice and the Florida Panthers, with a one-year prove-it contract. He did more than simply demonstrate it. Schmidt excelled in a depth role, producing 19 points in 80 regular-season games and 12 additional points in 23 playoff games as Florida won a second consecutive Stanley Cup. <h3>Nate Schmidt was the man behind the Dairy Queen Blizzard viral moments during the Panthers' Stanley Cup run</h3> His defining optimism also led him to organize post-game Dairy Queen trips, and he even drank a Blizzard off of the Stanley Cup on his celebratory day in St. Cloud. Cap issues ended his Florida tenure, but a fresh chance materialized in Utah. The Mammoth yearned for veteran savviness on their young blue line, and the partnership has worked magnificently. (Leaving Florida) was bittersweet. But it's so fun now to be on a team with so much enthusiasm and youth. - Nate Schmidt <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/mikemcintyrewpg/status/1982655938206286227'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Utah's 8-2-0 to begin the year and Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Jets has Schmidt grinning once again. <a href='https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/2025/10/26/former-jet-schmidt-having-fun-in-utah-after-cup-win-with-florida' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>He keeps tabs on Winnipeg and received a call from coach Scott Arniel after his Cup victory</a>. Schmidt even joked with his good friend Nino Niederreiter before yesterday's game. He was great for us here and great for me when I first came in (as an associate coach) and coached him. - Nate Schmidt There's never a dull day with Schmidt, just another chapter in a life full of joy, power, and the occasional Blizzard.