Ryan S. Clarkjul 1, 2025, 03:02 PM ET
Closeryan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN.
Nate Schmidt, who won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, has a three-year contract with the Utah Mammoth, worth $3.5 million a year.
Last June, the Winnipeg Jets acquired Schmidt while signing a six-year contract worth $5.95 million a year when they signed it in 2018 with the Vegas Golden Knights.
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Winnipeg’s acquisition of Schmidt meant that Florida was a pending unlimited free agent with the intention of giving the Panthers another top six options, with the aim of Florida signing a one-year contract worth $800,000.
That return on investment made Schmidt reach the 80-game mark for the first time in his career. He scored five goals and scored 19 points, averaging 16:31 in ice time, with the Panthers third in the Atlantic division.
His regular season contributions gave the Panthers a daily defensive option, but it was in the postseason that Schmidt enjoyed some of the most powerful performances of his career.
The 33-year-old, turning 34 later this month, scored three goals and 12 points in 23 games, with the Panthers winning back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, ending this year’s series in six games.
The Florida CAP situation presented the possibility that they might not be able to afford Schmidt. That turned into reality on Monday when the club signed both Aaron Eckbrad and Brad Merchand to long-term deals.
Schmidt opened the door to sign a deal with the Mammoth. The Mammoths will see them join what appears to be the crowded top six, including Ian Cole, Sean Durji, Oli Matta, John Marino, Mikhail Sergachev and Jiu-Jitsu Varimaki.
Later on Tuesday, the Mammoth also signed goaltender Vitek Vanecek, who is away from the Panthers. The veteran secured a one-year contract worth $1.5 million within a month of raising the Stanley Cup.
