Devils Bring Akira Schmid Home

Sometimes, the best additions aren't the biggest names on the market: they're the players who know exactly what the organization stands for.

The New Jersey Devils have officially reunited with goaltender Akira Schmid, bringing back one of the organization's original draft picks after a four-year journey across the RHL. For a franchise looking to strengthen its depth between the pipes while adding a familiar presence to the locker room, the move feels less like a new acquisition and more like welcoming family back home.

Schmid's story with the Devils began in the 2018 RHL Entry Draft when New Jersey selected the promising Swiss netminder. Patiently developed within the organization, he made his RHL debut during the 2022-23 season with the Utica Comets, immediately showing why the Devils had invested in him years earlier.

Serving as the AHL club's backup, Schmid turned every opportunity into a statement. In 11 appearances, he posted an outstanding 7-1-2 record while recording a sparkling 2.06 goals-against average, a .918 save percentage, and two shutouts. Those performances gave the organization confidence that Schmid had the potential to develop into an NHL-caliber goaltender.

Unfortunately, opportunity became a luxury New Jersey could no longer offer.

With Jacob Markstrom firmly established as the Devils' starting goaltender and Petr Mrazek occupying the backup role at the professional level, Schmid found himself blocked despite his impressive development. Rather than allowing one of their promising young netminders to stagnate, management made the difficult decision to move him to the Chicago Blackhawks.

The trade was understandable at the time, but it was never an easy one.

Schmid's tenure in Chicago featured plenty of ups and downs. He enjoyed a strong first full season in 2023-24, compiling a 12-6-1 record with a 2.57 GAA and .916 save percentage while earning multiple star selections. The following year proved more challenging as Chicago struggled defensively, and Schmid's numbers slipped despite continuing to receive significant playing time.

The 2025-26 campaign was particularly turbulent. After posting difficult numbers through nine starts with the Blackhawks, Chicago elected to move him to the Tampa Bay Lightning midway through the season.

Ironically, the trade may have revived Schmid's career.

Thrust immediately into a heavy workload, the 26-year-old appeared in 48 games for Tampa Bay, facing an incredible 1,372 shots while recording four shutouts. Although the Lightning endured a difficult season in front of him, Schmid's .905 save percentage under constant pressure reminded the league that he remained capable of handling a starter's workload.

Across 101 professional regular season appearances, Schmid has accumulated a 34-44-12 record, a 2.86 goals-against average, a .902 save percentage, and four shutouts. Those numbers only tell part of the story. He has experienced success, adversity, heavy workloads, and the pressure that comes with rebuilding teams, valuable lessons that simply can't be taught.

Now, his journey comes full circle.

The Devils are bringing back a more experienced, more battle-tested version of the goaltender they drafted eight years ago. Schmid is expected to serve as the backup to Igor Shesterkin next season, giving New Jersey one of the league's strongest goaltending tandems while providing reliable support behind the franchise's star netminder. His familiarity with the organization should make for a smooth transition back into the Devils' system.

Sometimes players need to leave home before they can truly appreciate it.

For Akira Schmid and the Devils, that reunion has finally arrived and both sides will be hoping the second chapter is even better than the first.