The Vegas Golden Knights have signed goalkeeper Akira Schmid to a two-year, one-way contract worth $875K in each season, according to CapFriendly. The Golden Knights acquired Schmid and Alexander Holtz from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Paul Cotter and a third-round pick in 2025, less than a week ago. Schmid’s qualifying offer with Vegas would have been close to $900K based on his estimated $850K contract from 2021-2024, which the organization declined to issue to him.
Schmid, who had just been on the free agent market for a few days, has officially signed with the Golden Knights, with plans to begin the season with their AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights. Vegas has already covered the void left by Logan Thompson’s trade by signing backup goalkeeper Ilya Samsonov.
Schmid’s past two seasons could not have been more dissimilar, despite playing almost the same number of games. Schmid posted a 9-5-2 record with a.922 save % and 2.13 goals against average, building on the rest of the young roster’s stellar year. Schmid managed to compile a 5-9-1 record with New Jersey in just a year, with a.895 save percentage and 3.15 goals against average.
It will be difficult for Vegas to predict which goaltender they will receive after such a significant discrepancy in play. By starting in Henderson, Schmid will join a rising squad looking to make the Calder Cup playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
