Overview
- Late Monday the Florida Panthers obtained the signing rights to 26‑year‑old goalie Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2028 third‑round draft pick.
- Schmid is a pending restricted free agent who is arbitration eligible and will reach unrestricted free agency after next season, so the Panthers now have the first chance to agree to his next contract.
- The Swiss netminder played 34 games for Vegas in 2025–26 and has an 82‑game NHL track record with roughly a .898 save percentage and a 2.66 goals‑against average overall.
- Florida’s front office framed the move as adding a composed, NHL‑tested option while addressing goaltending uncertainty after an injury‑affected season and reported contract stalemate with Sergei Bobrovsky.
- Acquiring signing rights costs Florida a modest future asset and gives the team leverage this summer; the next developments to watch are Schmid’s contract talks and how the Panthers pair him with their existing goaltending plans.