The last arbitration case of the offseason has been settled. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Florida Panthers have signed netminder Akira Schmid to a two-year, $4MM ($2MM AAV) contract. The two sides were scheduled for an arbitration hearing on August 1st.
Schmid, 26, is a key part of Florida’s revamped goaltending room heading into the 2026-27 season. After utilizing a combination of Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov throughout the 2025-26 season, to disappointing results, the Panthers will now use Jacob Markstrom and Schmid as their new goaltending tandem.
Unless something significantly changes, Schmid is expected to begin the season as Markstrom’s backup. Last season, his second with the Vegas Golden Knights, Schmid finished with a 16-10-6 record in 34 games with an .893 SV% and 2.59 GAA. It was the most appearances Schmid has ever had throughout his NHL career.
The Golden Knights had to wait multiple weeks for Carter Hart to debut with the organization, and Adin Hill dealt with a long-term groin injury throughout much of the campaign.
Before his time in Sin City, Schmid was with the New Jersey Devils, though he never played with Markstrom. He served as New Jersey’s third-string netminder for the most part, finishing his tenure with the club with a 14-18-3 record in 43 games with a .899 SV% and 2.90 GAA.
Still, although he’s projected to be Florida’s backup netminder, a lot could change quickly. Markstrom is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, and he isn’t getting any younger. If Markstrom falters out of the gates, as he did last season with the Devils, Florida may opt to give Schmid an extended opportunity as the team’s starter.