“You just want to step in and not screw it up.” And it has been just like that—one perfect night for Nate Schmidt and the Florida Panthers. Well, who would’ve thought that Schmidt from the Las Vegas Golden Knights would just light up the rink like a Fourth of July barbeque in the middle of the Panthers’ power play in the NHL? Talk about exclusive shots and goals, and he delivered two! 6-2, a dominant win for Florida, but the real kicker was? Yep, the Panthers’ defenseman who just began to rewrite his own story in the swamps of Sunrise. Unlock chapter one, but with shock and awe!

Because Schmidt has found his secure place, perhaps amidst the warmth of the Red and Blue’s locker room. “It was the one thing I heard about this team, you know, and how they treat each other and how they take the everyday look at it is something that I’ve coveted, you know, since I’ve, you know, haven’t seen something like this since my years in Vegas, right? Like the type of gel within a team,” Schmidt said in a post-match interview. It looks like the real game changer for him isn’t on the ice but inside the dressing room! Well, maybe it’s something profound he discovered in the league—where talent is expected, but chemistry is a bonus—Schmidt found the Panthers’ chemistry better, flowing like an unspoken playbook.

But Schmidt’s journey in the NHL has been nothing short of a hockey odyssey. Well, coming to Florida before being bought out by the Winnipeg Jets in July 2024, Schmidt signed a one-year contract with the Panthers, meanwhile bringing a wealth of experience to their blue line! And when you talk about experience, it was very well seen in the last game. First-round playoff series of the Eastern Conference, and the Panthers’ defenseman made no time to create an immediate impact. His two goals—one a part of the power play and another at even strength—were in the Panthers’ commanding win over the Tampa Bay Lightning!

“You know, you never know you’d be able to help a team like this,” Schmidt stated while talking about how nervous he was during his initial days. “But I find that this team, with the personalities that they have and the game style, that the standard that we have, it doesn’t even have to come from the staff. It comes from the bench. It comes from the guys on the team,” he further stated. And just like that, all credit was delivered to the locker room, and why wouldn’t it be? After all, teamwork is the strength of all the ultimate wins. Perhaps this is what has added to his strength that allowed him to hit the puck twice and contribute to his team’s overall success, right?

And now the young star’s performance not only bolsters the Panthers’ defense but also adds depth to their offensive capabilities while the team aims for another deep playoff run. And let’s admit that Schmidt’s contributions so far have been pivotal. Given his ability to seamlessly integrate into the Panthers’ system and, in fact, deliver under pressure, it underscores the importance of the veteran’s presence in high-stakes games, alongside his teammates.

But what is the Panthers’ locker room talking about NHL’s brave defenseman?

Well, how could the locker room even be quiet, that too after one of their players’ showing exceptional prowess on ice? Of course, there are players and mentors walking into the dressing room and blending into the background. And one of them was none other than the fellow defenseman Dmitry Kulikov when he said, “He’s fit in really well. He’s an easygoing guy. Talks too much a little bit sometimes (laughs), but I like that. Sometimes you’re a little bit tired in the morning, and you come into the locker room, and all you need is to hear those guys to bring a smile to your face.” Now that’s the energy, and then there’s the right one – Nate Schmidt!

And then when someone like Sam Bennett chimes in, it’s never casual praise but, rather, earned respect! How? Well, it’s Bennett, after all, who is known for his fire-setting abilities on ice. “He’s been great for us all year. He’s got such an upbeat, positive attitude all the time and is one of the louder guys in the locker room. You need guys like that,” the Panthers’ forward. Now this one feels like a pure moment of something incredible done, right?

Lastly, when the coach himself comes in, you know it’s no longer informal but official. “He falls into that category of a veteran player that appreciates and enjoys the playoffs,” said head coach Paul Maurice. And that’s not even just a comment but a clear stamp. After all, it’s a nod that comes from the man who’s seen it all alongside coaching the grind and watching while the players rise and fall, especially in the NHL playoffs. And for Schmidt, this time isn’t just about proving a point, but “that it makes such a difference, because when guys are comfortable in the room, they’re comfortable on the ice, and they start to talk, and then the bench starts to run itself.” Now that’s the true spirit amidst the NHL playoffs, right?