Nate Schmidt reveals crunchy details on arbitration process

The only NHLer to have his deal through a ruling made in arbitration this season.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
Nate Schmidt reveals crunchy details on arbitration process
Keystone Press

The Vegas Golden Knights got defenseman Nate Schmidt under a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.25 million with the help of a third party arbitrator .

The 26-year-old player thus became the only player in the National Hockey League to have his deal through a ruling made in arbitration this season and the first to have done so since 2013. 

One of Knights' most promising expansion draft additions sounded off on the whole progress, which he admitted isn't as bad as people think, although he often second-guessed himself. 

"It’s tough sometimes sitting in those meetings. 50% of it was awesome. You are sitting there and they are pumping your tires and talking about how great you are and I was thinking ‘man, I feel like a stud out here.’ Then the next part comes and I’m thinking ‘oh man, what am I doing, I should hang the skates up.’ I had a note pad and truth be told I kept writing down, ‘this is just a business this is not personal they don’t really feel this way.’ I had to repeat that a couple times and I was getting a little frustrated." Schmidt explained on the Vegas Hockey Hotline on KSHP 1400.

Although he was expecting a one-year contract, Schmidt admitted he is more than happy to be in the team for a second year. 

Originally signed by Washington Capitals as an undrafted free agent back in 2013, he played 60 games for the Caps last season, registered three goals and 17 points.