It's a limited sampling but his numbers early on in his rookie pro season are even better than what could have been reasonably expected. Perhaps more importantly than a gaudy stat line, he, and Nico Daws, who is seven months younger than Schmid, give a sense of who is coming down the Devils goaltending pipeline for the foreseeable future.
With Scott Wedgewood being lost on waivers, it moved the Schmid/Daws duo one rung up the ladder on the organizational goaltending chart.
Schmid didn't necessarily see Wedgewood's departure as an opportunity, pointing out that the veteran pro offered guidance to him and Daws during their brief time together in the organization.
It has, however, provided some clarity and was a clear change of course from last season where the Binghamton Devils used five different goaltenders in just a half-schedule. Schmid was playing junior for Sioux City and Daws had a short stint playing pro in Germany and neither factored into that Bingo fivesome.
"We've showed we belong and can now be less stressed," he says of him and Daws with the Comets.
Schmid's journey to Utica has been among the more interesting of any Devils prospects. He came to North America to play junior hockey after being selected by the Devils in the 2018 NHL Draft (fifth round, 136th overall). That journey has included stops in Lethbridge, Corpus Christi, Omaha and Sioux City.
Despite the circuitous route, there was always a sense Schmid was going to arrive. But first he had to overcome hip issues that adversely affected much of his 2019-20 season. His trade from the Omaha Lancers to the Sioux City Musketeers just before COVID-19 hit was the impetus to have surgery and get the problem fixed.
"Like being stabbed," he described his chronic condition.
Just as the world was shutting down, Schmid went home to Switzerland. He had surgery about a month later. It eliminated the pain and eventually restored his full range of motion. Though not completely healed, he was able to start last season as the hockey world slowly returned to a semblance of normality. He only got better on the ice as his body fully healed.
"The doctor told me that it would take about a year for my hips and body to feel completely comfortable again," he said.
Likely, Schmid was going to be signed by the Devils at some point. But his outstanding play last season combined with his improved health probably sped up the process.
"There were some options in Switzerland, but I didn't want to wait another year (to turn pro in the U.S.)," he explained, "I felt like I was ready."
Decisions are still about six weeks away but Schmid's elevated play over the past year could make him part of the conversation for the Swiss Olympic team. The country is part of an interesting group that includes Russia, Czech Republic and Denmark. Barring injury, Devils Nico Hischier and Jonas Sigenthaler will be part of the Swiss team, Pavel Zacha likewise on the Czech squad.
Could there be a Devils organizational trifecta on Switzerland in Beijing come February?
On paper, it's hard to imagine Swiss hockey brain trust will deviate from the top two incumbents, a pair that includes former NHL netminder Reto Berra. That pair has helped the country twice earn a medal at the World Championship. But on paper Schmid is as good a choice as any for the third spot and injuries happen, as he well knows.
Taking the wider view, the fact that in the space of three years Schmid has gone from sniffing around for a place to play in the U.S. after his release from the Lethbridge Hurricanes, to being in the conversation to represent his country at the Olympics, all while battling significant injury, shows how time heals more than just the body.
Schmid acknowledged he'd be elated to earn an Olympic call - who wouldn't? But he also pointed out that sometimes national team duty is a double-edged sword: an honor but it can lead to a diluted focus.
"My main focus is here in Utica," he said.
