SUNRISE — The Florida Panthers signed goaltender Akira Schmid to a two-year contract through the 2027-28 season, General Manager Bill Zito announced Thursday, adding a 6-foot-5 netminder with proven playoff credentials to the roster.
“We are excited to sign Akira for the next two seasons in South Florida,” said Zito, the Panthers’ president of hockey operations and general manager. “He has the size, athleticism and competitive drive that fits the identity of the Florida Panthers, and we’re looking forward to watching him succeed with our group.”
Schmid, 26, appeared in 34 games with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2025-26, producing a 16-10-6 record and two shutouts. The Bern, Switzerland, native has compiled a 32-28-10 record and three shutouts across 82 career NHL games over five seasons split between Vegas (2024-25 to 2025-26) and the New Jersey Devils (2021-22 to 2023-24).
Schmid’s postseason résumé stands out among the league’s younger goaltenders. In 10 career playoff games, he owns a 4-4 record with a .924 save percentage, a 2.26 goals against average and two shutouts — the second-highest save percentage and fourth-lowest goals against average among goaltenders with at least 10 playoff appearances since 2022-23. Both of his playoff shutouts came with the Devils against the New York Rangers, where he became the fifth rookie goalie in NHL history to post a shutout in a Game 7 and the 10th rookie netminder to post multiple shutouts in the same playoff series.
On the international stage, Schmid represented Switzerland at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina and earned a silver medal at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, posting a perfect 3-0-0 record with a .946 save percentage and 0.86 goals against average over three tournament games.
Before turning professional, Schmid played three seasons in the United States Hockey League between the Omaha Lancers (2018-19 to 2019-20) and Sioux City Musketeers (2019-20 to 2020-21), compiling a 43-33-4 record, .918 save percentage and 2.27 goals against average. He was named USHL Goaltender of the Year in 2020-21 after leading the league in goals against average (2.01) and save percentage (.921) with Sioux City. He also led the USHL in save percentage in 2018-19, posting a .926 mark with Omaha. New Jersey originally selected Schmid in the fifth round (136th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft.
The 190-pound goaltender will get his first look in Panthers colors when the club opens preseason play at Amerant Bank Arena on Sept. 20 against the Carolina Hurricanes, followed by a Sept. 26 matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.