Defenseman Jimmy Schuldt, the Vegas Golden Knights’ lone unsigned restricted free agent, is finally under contract.
The Golden Knights announced Thursday that Schuldt has agreed to a one-year deal worth $850,000. The Athletic’s Jesse Granger was the first to report the signing.
Schuldt is coming off an excellent season at St. Cloud State University. The third-year team captain collected 10 goals and 35 points in 39 games for the Huskies in 2018-19, making him a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award for the second time in his collegiate career. He was also a nominee in 2018 after posting 38 points in 40 games.
The 24-year-old defenseman signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Golden Knights as an undrafted free agent in April. Just days later, he played in the Golden Knights’ final game of the regular season against the Los Angeles Kings, assisting on a second-period tally scored by forward Valentin Zykov.
Schuldt will be competing with defensemen Nicolas Hague, Zach Whitecloud and Dylan Coghlan for the final open spot on Vegas’ blue line throughout camp. At 24 years old, he may be the most physically prepared defensive prospect in the Golden Knights’ system, but Hague, Whitecloud and Coghlan have all been impressive in their own right. Earning a full-time role in the NHL won’t exactly be a walk in the park for any of Vegas’ young prospects.