Hockey is a tough business. Sometimes a general manager’s decision can go a player’s way and other times… it can impact their entire way of life. Take defenceman Nate Schmidt for example, who was essentially a cap casualty for the Vegas Golden Knights so team could sign free agent giant Alex Pietrangelo. Getting traded from the place he called home for the last three seasons was one thing, but it was how the team handled the situation that is now sticking out like a sore thumb.
Vegas players were rumoured to be upset with management for their handling of free agency so far and after hearing Schmidt’s take on how he was dealt, it’s tough to blame him for feeling a bit rattled. According to the 29-year-old, he did not find out about being traded to the Vancouver Canucks for a third round pick until the deal was done and admitted the whole thing was a “tough pill to swallow.”
Playing in The Show would be a dream come true but a story like this that reminds us fans that at the end of the day, the NHL is still a BUSINESS. At least he was sent to one of the nicer cities the league has to offer?!
Vegas signed Ppietrangelo to the tun of a seven-year, $$61.6 million deal with a full no-movement clause, meaning Schmidt’s $5,950,000 cap hit had to go. On the bright side, he very well could find himself playing alongside rising star defenceman Quinn Hughes on the team’s top pairing. As for the Golden Knights, another player could be on the move when you consider they currently have zero projected cap space (according to Cap Friendly).
Hopefully players will be given a bit more heads up if they’re forced to move before puck drop next season.
(H/T Thomas Drance)
