The Florida Panthers have acquired restricted free agent goaltender Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights, the team announced Monday.
In exchange, the Panthers sent a 2028 third-round NHL Entry Draft selection to Vegas.
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Schmid, 26, appeared in a career-high 34 games for the Golden Knights during the 2025-26 season, posting an .
893 save percentage and a 2.59 goals-against average.
Over two seasons with Vegas, he played in 39 total games and recorded two shutouts.
The Swiss netminder started the season as a key part of Vegas's rotation but saw his role diminish after the arrival of Carter Hart in December.
Following the Olympics in February, where he served as Switzerland's backup and made 34 saves in a 5-1 loss to Canada, Schmid lost all five of his subsequent starts.
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His final game of the season came on March 21.
The acquisition addresses an urgent need for Florida, which currently has no NHL goaltenders under contract.
Incumbents Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov are both set to become unrestricted free agents on Wednesday.
In 82 career NHL games with the New Jersey Devils and Vegas, Schmid holds a lifetime . 898 save percentage and a 2.66 goals-against average.
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During the 2023 postseason with New Jersey, he posted a 4-4 record with a . 921 save percentage and two shutouts.
