The Vegas Golden Knights landed college hockey’s best defenseman, Jimmy Schuldt.
Teams often make offseason preparations in March and April; teams want to gear up for next year even during the heat of the Stanley Cup playoffs. With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, the only way to add a player to your hockey club is claiming a player off waivers or signing a college free agent. The Vegas Golden Knights made the latter choice and decided to go all-in on one of college hockey’s best players.
On Wednesday, the Vegas Golden Knights have reportedly signed free agent defenseman Jimmy Schuldt to a one-year entry-level contract. The contract will automatically burn once he plays a game for Vegas or their AHL: affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. Schuldt will become a restricted free agent this offseason, which means he will be under the Golden Knights control and won’t be allowed to sign on with any other team as long as he receives his qualifying offer from the NHL’s newest franchise.
After doing some research, Schuldt won’t be eligible for the playoff roster per the NHL’s CBA. The Golden Knights needed to increase the depth to their blue line mainly due to the departure of Brad Hunt. Deryk Engelland’s hockey career is also in the realm of uncertainty after this season. However, the real win is adding a high impact player on the back end that already has explosive players such as Nate Schmidt, Shea Theodore, and Colin Miller.
The 23-year old had a fantastic career while attending St. Cloud State University. In his freshmen year in 2015-16, he impressed right out of the gate by scoring ten goals, 16 assists, 26 points and a +31 rating in 41 games played. He took a small step back in his sophomore season in 2016-17 by notching just eight goals, 11 assists, 19 points and a -4 rating in 36 games played.
The Minnetonka, Minnesota native got on the scout’s radar in his junior year where he once again scored ten goals, 28 assists, 38 points and a +19 rating in 40 games. In his senior year with St. Cloud in 2018-19, the top prospect net ten goals, 25 assists, 35 points and a +24 rating in 39 games played. Let’s face facts; this kid is an offensive machine from the blue line.
Here are a few more accolades from the highly sought after free agent:
• Hobey Baker Award Finalist the last two seasons.
• Captained the number one team in the NCAA for the last three seasons.
• First to the NCAA 1st All-Star Team.
• Named the NCAA NCHC Best Defenseman.
• Named the NCAA NCHC Player of the Year.
• Never missed a game in collegiate career, 158 games played.
Here’s a fun fact: Jimmy Schuldt actually attended Golden Knights development camp back in June of 2018. He visited other development camps in the past three years, but the Golden Knights were obviously impressed with his talent level and wanted to give him an invite. Golden Knights brass felt the need to give him a look, and he stood out amongst most of the prospects in camp.
His work in the defensive zone will need some work, although he has the size to turn it around with the coaching of Gerard Gallant. Schuldt has the perfect size of an NHL defender standing in at 6’1 and weighs 205 lbs. No decision has been made to play Schudt the last two games of the year, but it would be nice to give someone a night off and see him showcase some of his skills.
All in all, the Vegas Golden Knights added an NHL caliber player to their roster next year. He may not be able to help them out for the playoffs, but with the offseason looming, building more strength will be a key to Jimmy Schuldt’s development as an NHL professional.