Ranking New Jersey Devils Goalie Prospects After Cole Brady’s Performance
By Nick Villano
4. Akira Schmid
Akira Schmid had a rough season, and the start of this one isn’t going so hot either. He allowed three goals on 26 shots for the Sioux City Mountaineers of the USHL. Some of this should be taken with a grain of salt since lesser leagues usually give up more high-danger chances to quality forwards, but based on the stats Schmid is regressing horribly every season.
Still, Schmid is likely going to sign an entry-level contract next offseason. The Devils will want to get a good look at him themselves. He has a ton of talent, and he’s the only other member of the 2018 class outside of Ty Smith that is still under Devils’ control.
To salvage this class, the Devils will want to get something out of Schmid. Even if he’s a future AHL starter, that’s at least something. The Devils would be happy if they get a long-term AHL starter and a fill-in for the future.
Schmid has shown signs of being a really good goalie, but he’s incredibly inconsistent. He will look like a future NHLer for three games but fall off the map the next week. If he can find some kind of consistency, he has the skill set to be a decent goalie. Since he’s only 20 years old, his NHL future is way too early to tell, but it seems like multiple Devils prospects have jumped him in the rankings.