Akira Schmid and the Florida Panthers are headed toward an August 1 arbitration date if a new deal doesn’t get done first, according to puckpedia.com.
That leaves the Panthers with a clear window to try to settle things before an arbitrator gets involved. Players file for arbitration to speed up extension talks, and teams often use the time before the deadline to hammer out a contract and avoid the process altogether.
If Florida and Schmid can’t find common ground in the coming weeks, the case will move to arbitration on August 1, per puckpedia.com. Under the NHL’s arbitration rules, a player can be awarded a contract for up to two years, though players who are one year away from unrestricted free agency can only receive a one-year deal.
The hearing itself is built around both sides making their case for the contract value. The team usually comes in lower, the player higher, and the arbitrator tries to land somewhere in the middle based on production, age and term.
This one may not play out like the typical arbitration battle, though. Whether the Panthers settle with Schmid directly or end up in front of an arbitrator, the likely outcome still points to a short-term contract.
That fits the position. Backup goaltenders rarely land long deals, and a netminder with Schmid’s track record almost never gets more than two seasons.
Schmid, 26, has appeared in 82 NHL games and owns a .898 save percentage with a 2.66 goals-against average. During the 2025-26 season, he played a career-high 34 games for the Vegas Golden Knights and posted an .893 save percentage and a 2.59 GAA.
All signs point to his next contract being a one- or two-year agreement with an average annual value under $2 million.
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For a team that leans heavily on pipeline depth, that kind of continuity matters almost as much as any headline move. Savannah has already hosted several Panthers prospects, and the extension ensures that the organization can keep using that affiliate as a place to evaluate young players, build habits, and bridge the gap between development and the NHL chase. [Read more 🡒]