Vegas Golden Knights Acquire Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid from New Jersey Devils
The Vegas Golden Knights remained active on the second day of draft weekend, announcing a trade with the New Jersey Devils shortly after trading Logan Thompson to the Washington Capitals. Vegas acquired goaltender Akira Schmid and forward Alexander Holtz in exchange for forward Paul Cotter and a 2025 third-round pick.
Akira Schmid
Akira Schmid, 24, a former fifth-round pick by the Devils, played 19 NHL games last season, achieving a 5-9-1 record with a 3.15 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage. The Bern, Switzerland native has appeared in 43 NHL games over the past three seasons, holding a career record of 14-18-3. With Thompson traded, Schmid now has a chance to compete for the backup goalie position behind Vegas starter Adin Hill. The Devils’ recent acquisition of Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames enhanced their goaltending depth, making Schmid available for trade.
Alexander Holtz
Alexander Holtz, 22, a former seventh-overall pick in the 2020 draft, played all 82 games last season, recording 16 goals and 28 points. Holtz spent some time on New Jersey’s second power-play unit and is expected to compete for a top-nine role with Vegas next season. The Stockholm, Sweden native is in the final season of his entry-level contract, set to earn $894,167 next season, and will become a restricted free agent after the 2024-25 season.
Paul Cotter
For the Devils, general manager Tom Fitzgerald aims to add more physicality to the roster. Paul Cotter, a 24-year-old winger known for his physical style, laid 233 hits and scored 25 points in 76 games last season. Cotter has two seasons remaining on his current contract with a $775,000 average annual value through the 2025-26 season.
Future Moves
Both teams are likely to make additional moves as free agency approaches on Monday, so keep an eye on further transactions involving the Golden Knights and the Devils.
