Veteran Panthers defenseman should be a Penguins free agent target

Watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs when your team isn't in them gives you the chance to get an unbiased look at players. I've been impressed with this player in what I've watched from the Panthers this season, but last night just brought him to the forefront of my attention.

I'll preface this assertion by saying that it is completely necessary for the Penguins to deal with Ryan Graves this offseason to make room for this addition. We'll address that matter in due time.

Until then, let's talk about Nate Schmidt. The veteran defenseman is currently competing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Florida Panthers on a one-year, $800K deal that will make him a free agent this offseason. He scored two goals last night, so naturally we had to do a deep dive.

Future Penguin? Absolutely. (That call by McDonough is diabolical.)

Schmidt has enjoyed a 12-year NHL career to this point between Washington, Vegas, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and now Florida, and at age 33 he played in 80 games for the Panthers this season - a career high.

Nate Schmidt's Profile

The left-handed shooting, 6'0", 200lb defenseman was undrafted, but got his chance in 2013 with the Capitals. In his third season, he became a regular in their lineup and has since functioned as a solid bottom six defenseman everywhere he's gone.

Twice in his career Schmidt has been traded for a third round draft pick, and his most recent contract was bought out by the Winnipeg Jets before he signed a one year deal with Florida. These deals give a good idea of his perceived value.

At only an $800K cap hit this season, his production and on-ice impact were worth far more than that, and he would be an instant hit on the Penguins defense.

In 741 career games Schmidt has 52 goals and 187 assists (239 points), but the point production is the cherry on top of what he brings to the ice.

Anyone in the Florida Panthers system has to play a physical brand of hockey, and Schmidt is no exception. He set a career high in hits this season, and while he doesn't block a lot of shots comparative to other defenseman, he buys into the philosophy and keeps pucks out of his net.

Schmidt averages around 35 takeaways a year, which is a great number for a defenseman. For reference, Ryan Graves had just 18 takeaways this season.

Takeaways are often paired with giveaways when scouting a player, but considering Florida's playstyle and Schmidt's 88 giveaways this season being a total outlier, I wouldn't be worried about comparing those numbers.

Another aspect to like about Schmidt is his grit. He's gotten into some tilts this season. With the exodus of Marcus Pettersson and unlikely return of Boko Imama, the Penguins are in need of someone willing to defend their aging stars.

Added Bonuses

Schmidt seems to be a late bloomer. He's getting better as he gets older. His best offensive production has come in his 30's, and he's still a workhorse that can log big blue line minutes.

As an added bonus Schmidt can kill penalties and be a power play quarterback. I'd like to see Matt Grzelcyk back next season, and I think the Penguins do too, but Schmidt could be the next version of Gryz if he decides to move on.

Going even further, Schmidt has extensive playoff experience with a bunch of different teams. He had three goals and four assists in the 2018 playoffs when the Vegas Golden Knights fell to the Capitals in the Stanley Cup Final.

He'll get plenty of extra experience this season with the Panthers, who are engaged in a furious battle of Florida with the Lightning. That experience is valuable and can't be underrated when looking at a player's worth.

Getting Him to Pittsburgh

If Schmidt signed for less than a million dollars on a veteran one-year deal this season, who says the Penguins can't get him for the same rate this offseason?

Money doesn't seem to be the most important thing with Schdmit; winning might be, however. If the Panthers don't manage to win the Cup this season, Schdmit will remain without a championship on his tenure despite playing for several contenders in his career.

Are the Penguins a contender? No, and they need several pieces to get there. Schdmit would be a great asset to move towards that end, but the Penguins would need to make a competitive offer to get him to sign.

The Penguins have plenty of cap space to work with this offseason, and Schdmit wouldn't require a lot of funds relative to what else is out there. Send him a 1-year, $1.4M offer and try to outbid a bigger contender that might want his services.

i see Schmidt as a perfect replacement for Ryan Graves, especially if Graves can be completely taken off the roster somehow. Graves is a half-foot taller than Schmidt, but watching the way they both play, Schmidt is a much bigger man than his stature suggests.

While this might not help the Penguins get younger, Pittsburgh has plenty of youth on the rise that they can afford to bring in a guy like Schmidt to get better.

What would you think about Nate Schmidt coming to Pittsburgh on a short-term, veteran deal next season? Let us know on Twitter/X @PensLabyrinthFS!