Schmid Deal Sealed
Florida Panthers Finalize Two-Year, $4M Deal with Akira Schmid, Avoiding Arbitration
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Key Points
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Schmid filed for salary arbitration on July 5, but the Panthers avoided the hearing by agreeing to a two-year, $4 million contract (2 x $2M); the arbitration hearing had been scheduled for Aug. 1.
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Schmid is listed at 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, giving Florida a towering presence in net.
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Career NHL numbers through 82 regular-season games: 32-28-10 record with a 2.66 goals-against average, .898 save percentage and three shutouts.
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Playoff track record includes 10 playoff games with a 4-4 record, .924 save percentage and 2.26 GAA, plus two playoff shutouts; two of those shutouts came with the Devils in Round 1 vs the Rangers, making him the fifth rookie goalie to post a Game 7 shutout and the 10th rookie with multiple shutouts in a series.
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Panthers entered the signing with a cap situation of roughly $778,214 over the $104 million cap based on their 23 highest contracts, and can address this through roster moves such as releases, waivers, trades, or long-term injured reserve.
The Florida Panthers have signed goaltender Akira Schmid to a two-year, $4 million contract, avoiding a scheduled arbitration hearing, according to NHL.com. The deal pays Schmid $2 million per season and locks him in through the 2027-28 season.
Schmid, 26, was traded to Florida from the Vegas Golden Knights in late June for a 2028 third-round pick. He is expected to serve as the primary backup behind new starter Jacob Markström, according to Pro Hockey Rumors.
Schmid Brings Size and Playoff Pedigree to Florida
Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 190 pounds, Schmid gives the Panthers a towering presence in net. Over 82 career NHL regular-season games, he holds a 32-28-10 record with a 2.66 goals-against average, a .898 save percentage and three shutouts, per NHL.com.
His playoff numbers are even sharper. In 10 postseason games, Schmid has gone 4-4 with a .924 save percentage and a 2.26 goals-against average, plus two playoff shutouts. Two of those shutouts came with New Jersey in a first-round series against the Rangers. That made him the fifth rookie goalie ever to post a Game 7 shutout.
Panthers Replace Bobrovsky by Rebuilding the Entire Crease
Florida lost longtime starter Sergei Bobrovsky to free agency this offseason. The team responded by signing Jacob Markström as its new No. 1 goalie and then acquiring Schmid to fill the backup role, per Miami Herald.
Panthers President Bill Zito pointed to Schmid's size, athleticism and competitive drive as key reasons for the fit. In 2024-25 with Vegas, Schmid went 16-10-6 in 34 games with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage, adding two shutouts, according to NHL.com.
Arbitration Filing Resolved Before August Hearing
Schmid filed for salary arbitration on July 5. A hearing had been set for August 1. The Panthers and Schmid agreed to the two-year deal before that date, avoiding the process entirely, according to Pro Hockey Rumors.
The signing closes out what Pro Hockey Rumors called the final arbitration case of the summer. Terms of $2 million per year represent a straightforward, team-friendly deal for a young goalie with upside still to realize at the NHL level.
Florida Still Over the Cap But Has Room to Adjust
The Panthers entered the Schmid signing roughly $778,214 over the NHL's $104 million salary cap, based on their 23 highest contracts, per Miami Herald. That figure is a common offseason situation for NHL teams.
Florida has several ways to get compliant before the regular season. The team can make roster cuts, use waivers, complete trades or place a player on long-term injured reserve. No moves need to happen immediately, according to Miami Herald.
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