The Vegas Golden Knights have seen their goaltending fall off the proverbial cliff in 2025-26. Carter Hart and Adin Hill have both been inconsistent and injured. Carl Lindbom hasn't shown that he's ready for the NHL level, leaving us with... Akira Schmid. Yes, the Akira Schmid that's heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
The netminder enters Tuesday with a GAA of 2.55 and a save percentage of .894, making him the most productive netminder for Vegas this season. Add in two shutouts and the Golden Knights have seen what the Swiss goalie can do before he enjoys some gnochhi and cannolis.
But let's be 100% honest for a second. It's unlikely that the Swiss will get Olympic gold, let alone a medal. There's simply too much competition in front of Switzerland to even consider it. They might make the Cinderella dark horse run and put on a show. But the talent doesn't look like it's there, especially when compared to the United States, Sweden, and Canada.
Still, there's hope for the Golden Knights netminder. He can put on a show and deliver a performance that's as sweet as chocolate. Let's look at how Schmid can steal the spotlight and become the unsung hero for an underdog Swiss team at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
How Akira Schmid can become the center of attention for Team Switzerland
One thing that stands out with Akira Schmid is his size. He stands at 6'5", making life much easier for covering the net. Golden Knights fans have seen that this season, watching him get shutouts against teams like the Detroit Red Wings.
Speaking of Detroit, let's look at how he did that. It was a dose of covering the net and ensuring there wasn't any space for the Red Wings to slip anything past him. When his back was against the wall, he was ready to pounce.
If you want a perfect example of this, take a look to his New Jersey Devils days, where he made an incredible stop. He uses his glove to fend off a Jason Robertson shot and keep the momentum in New Jersey's favor.
This save from Akira Schmid is simply glovely. 👏 pic.twitter.com/lOeoHAwzrJ
— NHL (@NHL) December 14, 2022
If Team Switzerland can get saves like this, they can shock some people. The Swiss aren't exactly built to have the most sound defense, leaving them suspect to the aforementioned powerhouses. Still, that hasn't stopped Schmid from performing above expectations, as he's shown with two shutouts.
Switzerland can expect Schmid to cover plenty of net while he's in the Olympics. The Golden Knights know what he's capable of as a netminder, seeing how he covers that net well. That could make him the focal point for the Swiss, even if they don't have a snowball's chance in hell.