Nate Schmidt’s Take on Resetting Career with the Florida Panthers

Can Nate Schmidt replicate Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s impact for the Florida Panthers this season?

Both players share similar paths to Florida. They are the same age (33), were once top-four defensemen, and excelled on the power play. Their strong early careers earned them lucrative contracts, but injuries and poor performances led to both being bought out.

Schmidt’s last two seasons in Winnipeg were disappointing, marked by injuries and healthy scratches, although he previously had four NHL seasons with 30+ points and a positive plus/minus.

Enter Bill Zito, who’s known for finding low-cost reclamation projects. Schmidt was signed to a one-year deal worth $800,000, a significant drop from the nearly $6 million he would have earned in Winnipeg.

For Schmidt, joining Florida was an easy choice. Already receiving a payout from the buyout, he saw the opportunity to join a winning team and revitalize his career. He briefly played for Paul Maurice in Winnipeg during the 2021-22 season and appreciated Maurice’s coaching style.

With Ekman-Larsson, Brandon Montour, and Josh Mahura gone, Florida has a power-play void. Schmidt will face competition for a spot behind Aaron Ekblad, Gus Forsling, Dmitry Kulikov, and Niko Mikkola. Uvis Balinskis, Jaycob Megna, Adam Boqvist, and Tobias Bjornfot are all in the mix for the remaining spots.

Schmidt acknowledges the challenge but sees it as a chance to reset his career. He adopted a rookie mentality over the summer, working hard and embracing the fresh start.

His initial impressions of the team have been positive. Like coach Maurice and the players, Schmidt recognizes the seriousness of building on last season’s success, emphasizing the team’s hunger to repeat. Drawing from his time with the Vegas Golden Knights, Schmidt sees a similar winning culture in Florida and is eager to be part of it.