When I saw Akira Schmid at practice today, he was all smiles. He looked like he didn't have a bad day at the office the day before, laughing and hob-nobbing with his teammates. It's like yesterday didn't exist for the Swiss netminder.
Sometimes, you have those office days you'd simply want to forget. For Schmid, Thursday was one of those days. While the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Boston Bruins, 6-5, the Swiss netminder wasn't so great. He stopped 19 of 24 shots and let in a couple of soft goals.
It doesn't help that the Golden Knights are giving Carter Hart a PTO for their goaltending troubles. With the added pressure on the backup goaltender, fans are wondering whether Schmid can hold onto his backup netminder position. Oh, how they forget his Tuesday performance against the Calgary Flames, where he stopped all 19 shots.
But there's a road map to getting him back on track with the Golden Knights. This map will help him regain his composure and remain in the organization's good graces. After all, job security is everything in today's world, especially when you don't know when your last day will be.
The road map for getting Akira Schmid firmly in the Vegas Golden Knights organization
One thing I noticed with Schmid during Friday's practice was how he effortlessly used his size to take away space in the crease. With each movement, his body swallowed up shots and he forced opposing attackers to work through him. That type of goaltending is what made him prominent as a New Jersey Devils backup, specifically during the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs season.
That was what he did against the Flames on Tuesday, too. He took up space and swallowed up shots without any risky rebounds. That's the type of play that the 25-year-old must continue employing.
Yes, the defensive structure isn't solid around him. That has been the case for Golden Knights goaltending this season, where Adin Hill and Schmid have faced dangerous chances. However, tracking pucks and moving with the play will help him as a goalie.
Schmid's a confident goaltender whenever he plays. He understands what must be done and can steal a game if needed. That's what he did on Tuesday, after all. But using his size to his full advantage will go a long way in preserving his spot with the Golden Knights.
Fans shouldn't expect him to be the starting goaltender anytime soon. Hill is more experienced and seasoned in this role, even bringing a Stanley Cup to the organization. However, Schmid has the perfect opportunity to regain his composure and thrive with the Golden Knights. It'll be like he didn't even think about it.