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Vegas Golden Knights: Labor Day State of the Nation

By Andrew Steele-Davis

SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 23: Cody Eakin #21 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the second period against the San Jose Sharks in Game Seven of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 23, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 23: Cody Eakin #21 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the second period against the San Jose Sharks in Game Seven of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 23, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 6: Jimmy Schuldt #4 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates during his NHL debut in the first period of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on April 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 6: Jimmy Schuldt #4 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates during his NHL debut in the first period of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on April 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Jimmy Schuldt still hasn’t signed

We are on the cusp of training camp opening and young defenseman Jimmy Schuldt still hasn’t signed a new contract. The 24-year-old is currently a restricted free agent and the Vegas Golden Knights have $1,025,001 left in cap space in which to get a deal done and still remain compliant with the salary cap ceiling of $81.5 million for 2019-20.

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Schuldt is currently listed on the team’s 2019 Rookie Camp Roster but, here is the caveat, he can participate without a contract but only on a PTO basis, and our good friend Jesse Granger at The Athletic has reported that the stud blueliner is unlikely to participate without a contract.

Given that the Knights’ Rookie Camp is due to open this Thursday, time is ticking and whether or not a deal gets done before then remains to be seen. However, even if it doesn’t the team still has a whole month before the regular season in which to thrash out a deal with Schuldt, although it is pretty evident that they would no doubt prefer him to play a big role in the preseason schedule.

That last part is important because Schuldt is one of five rookie defensemen expected to slug it out for a roster spot on opening night. President of Hockey Operations George McPhee has already revealed that one prospect will get a chance to shine on the blueline in 2019-20, and Schuldt was expected to be the frontrunner.

However, the longer negotiations drag on the more opportunity the likes of Nic Hague, Zach Whitecloud and Jake Bischoff have to get their noses in-front throughout Rookie Camp and Training Camp and prove why they should be on the opening night roster, so it is in Schuldt’s best interests to sign sooner rather than later if he has aspirations of cracking the NHL this year.

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