The Vegas Golden Knights stayed active on the trade front during day two of draft weekend, finalizing a deal with the New Jersey Devils. In exchange for forward Paul Cotter and a 2025 third-round pick, Vegas acquired goaltender Akira Schmid and forward Alexander Holtz.
Akira Schmid, 24, a former fifth-round draft pick of the Devils, appeared in 19 NHL games last season, posting a record of 5-9-1 with a 3.15 goals-against average and .895 save percentage. With 43 career NHL games to his name over three seasons in New Jersey, Schmid arrives in Vegas with a career record of 14-18-3. He now competes for the backup goaltender role behind Golden Knights’ starter Adin Hill, following the departure of Logan Thompson to the Washington Capitals. The acquisition of Jacob Markstrom by the Devils strengthened their goaltending depth, facilitating Schmid’s availability for Vegas.
Joining Schmid in the move to Vegas is Alexander Holtz, 22, the seventh overall pick in the 2020 draft. Holtz played all 82 games last season, contributing 16 goals and 28 points while seeing action on New Jersey’s second power-play unit. He is expected to vie for a top-nine forward spot with the Golden Knights in the upcoming season. Holtz enters the final year of his entry-level contract, earning $894,167 next season before becoming a restricted free agent after the 2024-25 season.
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For the Devils, the trade satisfies GM Tom Fitzgerald’s desire for a more aggressive lineup. Paul Cotter, 24, known for his physical play with 233 hits last season, also recorded 25 points in 76 games. Cotter remains under contract through the 2025-26 season with an average annual salary of $775,000.
Both teams are likely to remain active leading up to free agency on Monday, suggesting further moves could be in the works.
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