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Vegas Golden Knights Report Card: Nate Schmidt

By Andrew Steele-Davis

SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 23: Nate Schmidt #88 of the Vegas Golden Knights warms up prior to Game Seven of the Western Conference First Round against the San Jose Sharks during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 23, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 23: Nate Schmidt #88 of the Vegas Golden Knights warms up prior to Game Seven of the Western Conference First Round against the San Jose Sharks during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 23, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 23: Nate Schmidt #88 of the Vegas Golden Knights warms up prior to Game Seven of the Western Conference First Round against the San Jose Sharks during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 23, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 23: Nate Schmidt #88 of the Vegas Golden Knights warms up prior to Game Seven of the Western Conference First Round against the San Jose Sharks during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 23, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Nate Schmidt missed the first 20 games of 2018-19 due to suspension but rebounded strongly to enjoy another fruitful year with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Nate Schmidt: Grade A-

We continue with our 2018-19 Vegas Golden Knights Report Cards today as we turn the magnifying glass on Nate Schmidt who once again underlined his importance to the team.

His Season

After enjoying a career-year with the Golden Knights in 2017-18 with 36 points (five goals, 31 assists) and three goals and four assists for seven points in 20 playoff games, Nate Schmidt was rightly considered one of the franchise’s most pivotal blueliners heading into 2018-19.

However, both Schmidt and the Knights were dealt an almighty hammer blow before the puck even dropped, with the NHL handing the 28-year-old a 20-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.

But, given his importance to the team and his body of work the year before, Schmidt was handed a six-year, $35.7 million contract extension before going to spend the first quarter of the 2018-19 season in Austria with the Vienna Capitals for some overseas training.

Keeping in game shape, Schmidt returned to Vegas in November and slotted back in seamlessly, logging monster minutes from the very get-go and making a huge impact at both ends of the ice. The defenseman netted the game-winning goal with less than two minutes to play against former club the Washington Capitals on Dec. 4, which was the first of a career-high nine goals.

Schmidt finished the regular season with 21 assists and 30 points, in addition to eight power play points and a plus/minus rating of +22. He also achieved a career-high in shots with 112. The blueliner was his normal reliable self in the defensive zone too, blocking 100 shots, dishing out 37 hits and having 45 takeaways while eating an average of 21:57 minutes of ice time per night.

In addition to the above, the left shot tallied four points (four assists) in seven postseason games against the San Jose Sharks, posting a plus/minus rating of +2 and was given added responsibility with an average of 22:38 minutes of ice time per game.

And Schmidt’s year, which began in turbulent fashion, ended on a personal high after he received 18 votes for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player who “exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”

LAS VEGAS, NV – APRIL 01: Nate Schmidt #88 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after defeating the Edmonton Oilers at T-Mobile Arena on April 1, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – APRIL 01: Nate Schmidt #88 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after defeating the Edmonton Oilers at T-Mobile Arena on April 1, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Despite missing a chunk of the season, Schmidt’s importance to this franchise was again clear for all to see and it was highlighted by the fact that the Golden Knights went 15-3-4 when Schmidt recorded a point during the regular season, while they were 3-0 in the playoffs when the defenseman was on the scoresheet.

He also racked up a milestone with his 100th NHL point against the Boston Bruins on Feb. 20, and under contract through 2024-25, Schmidt will be instrumental in any championship success this franchise may enjoy and, as he told nhl.com/goldenknights, the blueliner wants to evolve into a real glue guy and locker room leader for the Vegas Golden Knights.

"“The guys that I looked up to when I first came into the league, were the guys that did the right things in the right way in the way they carry themselves. It is being professional and a lot of ways it is how you carry yourself and how you prepare. Other guys see that. As a young player, I remember watching other guys and looking around and saying that’s how you do it, that’s how it is done. That is a type of leadership. Leadership is not something that is just given, it is earned from your teammates. Your teammates are the ones that look up to you or look to you in a situation. It is growing as a group, as a player and as a person.”"

Those quotes are encouraging because, with Deryk Engelland potentially entering his last year as a professional hockey player, leadership will be needed on the Vegas blueline going forward and Schmidt ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to being a leader on and off the ice.

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