The Florida Panthers signed former Washington Capitals defenseman Nate Schmidt to a one-year, $800,000 contract on Tuesday, just two days after the Winnipeg Jets bought out the final year of the 32-year-old’s contract, which carried a $5.95 million cap hit.
While averaging 16:49 per game (fifth among Jets blueliners), including 1:32 on the power play (third) and 45 seconds on the penalty kill (tied for sixth), the 32-year-old posted two goals, 14 points, a +10 rating, .5263 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .5517 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .5376 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 63 regular-season games but also served as a healthy scratch last season. Schmidt notched a goal, -5 rating, and .5111 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in Winnipeg’s five-game first round exit to the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In 661 career regular-season games with Winnipeg, the Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights, and Washington Capitals, Schmidt has posted 47 goals, 220 points, and a +102 rating. He has also tallied seven goals and 28 points in 76 career postseason outings.
The best season of Schmidt’s NHL career came in 2017-18 when he set career-highs in assists (31) and points (36) and posted a +19 rating with Vegas.
In 200 career games with the Capitals, Schmidt recorded eight goals, 43 points, and a +36 rating. The Capitals penciled him to be in their top-four defense corps for the following season as they were set to lose Karl Alzner and Kevin Shattenkirk in free agency before the Golden Knights swiped him in the expansion draft.
The Capitals signed Schmidt as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota in 2013.
The Capitals attempted to make a trade to protect Schmidt in the expansion draft but the cost was goaltender Philipp Grubauer and forward Tom Wilson.
Florida lost defensemen Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the first day of free agency after their 2.41 goals-against per game led the NHL during the regular season, .825 penalty-killing rate tied the Boston Bruins for sixth, and 27.8 shots-against per game average ranked third.
