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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: Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) brings the puck away from the Knights goal during overtime in Game 7, Round 1 between the Vegas Golden Knights and the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 23: Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) brings the puck away from the Knights goal during overtime in Game 7, Round 1 between the Vegas Golden Knights and the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Why The Grade

Despite missing the first 20 games of 2018-19, Nate Schmidt was just six points shy from equalling the 36 points he tallied in 76 games the year before, while he still managed to achieve a career-high nine goals in a much smaller sample size.

In other words, Schmidt didn’t let a controversial suspension hinder his progress and he finished the regular season with a plus/minus rating of +22, which perfectly illustrates the defenseman’s importance to this team and to this franchise.

Able to contribute offensively in addition to being extremely dependable in the defensive zone, Schmidt is the ultimate professional and performer and, at 28-years-old, he’s currently bang in the middle of his prime which means the best could still be to come from the blueliner.

Paired on a line with Brayden McNabb for 53.37 percent of the year, Schmidt was relied upon to log monster minutes with an average of 21:57 minutes of ice time per night, in addition to an average of 22:38 minutes of ice time per game in the postseason.

Jonathan Marchessault Report Card. dark. Next

He enjoyed the second-best points tally of his NHL career with 30 points, despite missing the first 20 games of the year, and his plus/minus rating of +22 equalled a career-high set in 2016-17. His 112 shots also set a career-high and he ranked high in most possession metrics.

After still producing to a high level offensively in addition to dominating in the defensive zone despite having a quarter of his season wiped out due to suspension, we felt a A- Grade was the right result for Schmidt who has established himself as one of the Golden Knights’ most dependable and elite defensemen.

SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 12: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck against Nate Schmidt #88 of the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 12, 2019 in San Jose, California (Photo by Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 12: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck against Nate Schmidt #88 of the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 12, 2019 in San Jose, California (Photo by Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Numbers

Games: 61

Goals: 9

Assists: 21

Points: 30

Power Play Points: 8

Game-Winning Goals: 1

Shots: 112

Plus / Minus: +2

ATOI: 21:57

PIM: 8

Blocked Shots: 100

Hits: 37

Takeaways: 45

CF%: 50.7

oZS%: 46.4

Games (Playoffs): 7

Assists (Playoffs): 4

Points (Playoffs): 4

Plus / Minus (Playoffs): +2

ATOI (Playoffs): 22:38

Next Report Card: Alex Tuch

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