Akira Schmid isn't the only great thing to come out of Switzerland. There's also Swiss chocolate, beautiful mountains (the Alps), and Swiss Airlines. The Vegas Golden Knights got this Bern product and Alexander Holtz from the New Jersey Devils this summer, trading away Paul Cotter and a 2025 third-round NHL Draft pick. Acquiring another goaltender to replace the previous one? That sounds like a bad idea, right?
Logan Thompson was a good goaltender that was paramount to the team's success since 2021. That comes with having a GAA of 2.67 and a save percentage of .912, sprinkled with four shutouts. However, there are plenty of reasons why Kelly McCrimmon traded him to the Washington Capitals during the summer.
He was due a sizable contract after the 2024-25 season. With the Golden Knights looking at other priorities (such as extending Jack Eichel's current deal), would it make sense to give Thompson a five-year, $5 million AAV deal? They traded Eichel to get the game-breaking center for winning the Stanley Cup. What would be the point of giving that up? Plus, the team was more confident in Adin Hill's abilities, making him the official starter.
But the incentive of keeping Schmid goes beyond the former Golden Knights goaltender. There are also some admirable traits that the Swiss netminder has in his game. He could become an ideal fit within Bruce Cassidy's defensive system, especially with the solid forechecking in front of him. Here's a small sample of what the netminder can do for Vegas.
Akira is a beast pic.twitter.com/zWE2Gdtj5I
— 🏆-VGK goalie girl🏒Stanley Cup Champs (@VGKgoaliegirl) September 21, 2024
Will this be what Golden Knights fans see in the future? Will their future netminder consist of having a Swiss Army Knife goaltending? Here's the case for having Schmid as the future goalie for the franchise.
The case for Akira Schmid being the future starting goaltender
First, Akira Schmid has no issues covering the entire net. He uses his large frame to move across each end effortlessly, making him a reliable netminder. That's one major advantage he has over his fellow prospects, including Isaiah Saville and Carl Lindbom. While the two might be quicker, the Swiss goaltender covers more area.
He's also solid at redirecting rebounds away from high-danger spots on the ice. Yes, these come by the bunches when he's in the net. However, that can be remedied with minor league seasoning, where he'll grow with the Henderson Silver Knights. Getting these rebounds away also helps the Vegas Golden Knights recover defensively. They can move to the transition game and go on the offensive attack.
Plus, he'll become a benefactor of being in Bruce Cassidy's defensive system. The Golden Knights pride themselves on taking away good looks and having opponents settle for other shooting spots. That means covering the entire ice and spotting those open gaps and lanes. It helps to have numerous two-way players like William Karlsson and Mark Stone on your team, where they move towards
Combine this with Schmid's big frame and the former Devils prospect will reap the rewards. Simply using his frame to his advantage can cover up countless hidden weaknesses for him. He's not the ideal netminder for the team yet, for he's still raw. However, he can push himself up the rankings with a solid minor league campaign.
What Schmid must work on while in the developmental leagues
The good news for Akira Schmid is he's a position goaltender. He can rely on size alone to carry him through a game. It's only a matter of using that size to become a viable starter for the Vegas Golden Knights. That starts with getting his rebounds together overall, where he's not just poking them away from high-danger spots. He should also swallow shots more often to prevent further rebounds. That way, it takes away future scoring opportunities for the opponent.
That also means closing up his issues on his glove side, which was previously mentioned. There was a game on March 5 where Florida constantly attacked that side, causing him trouble throughout the game. Teams like the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks will attack him on that side, making life a nightmare for the former Devils prospect. If Vegas wants to contend in the Pacific Division, that starts with him sanding down those rough spots.
Don't expect Schmid to immediately start for the Golden Knights, especially with Adin Hill still in the net. This is still Hill's position to lose and it might carry over into next season (and beyond). However, he and Ilya Samsonov will be free agents next summer. If both leave, the starting goaltender position opens up for Vegas.
Thus, the Swiss goaltender has something to work for. He can take the reins if the Stanley Cup hero leaves and become the official starter. Of course, he must get his work cut out in the minor leagues and develop within the Henderson Silver Knights organization. Otherwise, he'll lose out to his fellow prospects, Carl Lindbom or Isaiah Saville.