The New Jersey Devils have assigned goaltender Akira Schmid to the AHL’s Utica Comets, the team announced on Thursday.
The 23-year-old has a 5-7-1 record in 15 appearances with the Devils this season, posting a 3.26 goals-against-average (GAA) and an .893 save percentage (SV%). Despite his struggles in the first half of the season, the move caught some off guard, considering Schmid’s numbers are somewhat better than fellow goalie Vitek Vanecek, whose .885 SV% has been a source of frustration for Devils fans.
However, because Schmid is able to be sent down to the AHL without having to go through waivers, the move makes sense, considering Vanecek and his $3.4 million cap hit could be claimed by any one of the league’s 31 teams.
Drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the Swiss netminder had a breakout 2022-23 campaign, posting a 9-5-2 record with a .922 SV%, highlighted by a .921 SV% performance in eight playoff appearances, posting a 4-4-0 record and helping the Devils get to the second round.
In 39 games across three NHL seasons, Schmid has a 14-16-3 record with a 2.92 GAA and an .898 SV%. He had spent parts of the last two seasons with the AHL’s Comets, posting a 33-15-9 record in 61 appearances, posting a 2.61 GAA and a .909 SV%.
The Devils are 18-13-2 with 38 points, good for sixth in the Eastern Conference’s Metropolitan Division. They’re 6-3-1 in their last 10 and have won two straight, defeating the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 last Saturday and the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday night. Their next game is Friday night when they travel to the Canadian capital to face the Ottawa Senators.
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