The New Jersey Devils dealt netminder Akira Schmid and former top prospect Alexander Holtz to the Vegas Golden Knights for forward Paul Cotter and a 2025 third-round pick, the teams announced Saturday.
Schmid gives the Golden Knights goalie depth after the club traded away Logan Thompson earlier Saturday. Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon said shortly after the deal that Schmid projects as the No. 3 and the team will try to acquire a backup.
Schmid struggled in 2023-24, posting an .895 save percentage in 19 NHL games and an .894 mark in 23 AHL appearances. However, in 2022-23, he recorded a .922 save percentage in 18 regular-season NHL games, then a .921 mark in nine postseason contests, helping the Devils upset the New York Rangers in Round 1.
The Swiss netminder is a pending restricted free agent.
The Devils selected Holtz seventh overall in 2020. The Swedish winger established himself as a full-time NHLer for the first time in 2023-24, recording 16 goals and 12 assists in 82 games while averaging just 11:38 per contest. His underlying numbers were poor, though.
Holtz, 22, carries a cap hit of $894K before becoming an RFA in 2025.
Cotter brings far less upside than Holtz but has a more defined player archetype. In 2023-24, he notched seven goals, 18 assists, and 233 hits while playing a bottom-six role. His defensive metrics were strong.
The 24-year-old is under contract for two more seasons with a $775,000 cap hit before becoming an RFA in 2026.
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